by Jeremy Chevaux
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”- quote from The Hobbit
Sometimes, life offers you exciting opportunities.
Over the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to travel a lot and meet fascinating people from various horizons. My friend Adil, dojo leader of Astana, is one of them.
During our conversations, we had mentioned the possibility that one day, I might visit him in Kazakhstan — a country I had never been to and about which I knew almost nothing. What was once only a possibility finally became reality in 2026, and I am very happy about it.
Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, was a wonderful discovery: vibrant, ultra-modern, and remarkably clean, while still deeply rooted in its traditions. The people there are incredibly kind and generous.
I arrived on the day of the Nauryz festival, a celebration symbolizing rebirth, renewal, and harmony between humanity and nature. Adil guided me through the exhibitions and introduced me to the country’s rich cultural heritage. We tasted truly unique dishes and drinks, listened to traditional music… there was so much to discover! What an amazing event!
We also went to Balqaragai, a cultural theme park, to complete this first experience. There, I had the opportunity to ride horses, practice archery, learn about nomadic life and even watch horseback wrestling!!! We were also lucky enough to visit the old town, (the soul of Astana), the national museum, and one of the largest mosques in the country. A thousand thanks to Adil and his family for these unforgettable experiences!
Beyond the purely touristic aspect of the trip, I traveled to Astana to share my experience in Naginata and Kendo, as Adil’s dojo offers both disciplines — the perfect opportunity to practice throughout the week with enthusiastic Kazakh budoka!
The highlight of the stay was, of course, the weekend, when I had the privilege of leading the classes (Kendo on Saturday, Naginata on Sunday).
In total, I taught 18 hours of martial arts classes during the week! We even made a brief introduction to Ishujiai (kendo vs naginata). The students were highly dedicated and curious, showing clear signs of progress in every session, which made me very happy. Keep it up, my friends — you are on the right path ????
Here are the regular class schedules for those who would like to join their training sessions:
- Monday 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM → Kendo
- Wednesday 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM → Naginata
- Friday 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM → Naginata
I can only encourage you to visit Kazakhstan. I was truly touched by the incredible welcome I received from the dojo students, but above all from Adil, Dayana, and their family.
I will definitely come back one day!
