by David D’hose
Like every year, the Netherlands organized their annual spring seminar in Rotterdam on March 22 and 23. Senseis Imaura Chinobu, Kyoshi, and Conrad Buscis, Renshi, were the guest teachers at this event.
Imaura Chinobu sensei is the general secretary of the International Naginata Federation and came several time in Netherlands for the spring seminar.
Conrad Buscis sensei is Canadian and live in Japan for more than 30 years now. He practice naginata in Nagoya. It was the second time we had the chance to welcome him at the spring seminar.
Delegations from France, Belgium, Italy and a large delegation from Germany accepted the NNR’s invitation to follow the dynamic teaching of two teachers from Japan and Mark Berghaan, Renshi, who joined them to lead the course for the 35 participants.
Three groups were created according to rank, and the seminar took a highly technical turn. Between the study of shikake odji and Zen Nihon Kata, Imaura sensei invited participants to playful, dynamic exercises such as jan ken pon, at the end of which a guard had to be chosen. Whoever had the same guard as her was excluded from the exercise.
On Saturday evening we celebrated the course in a local restaurant as usual, discussing upcoming events.
Sensei Conrad Buscis was a great help in understanding how the Japanese Federation works, thanks to his many years of experience in Japan.
On Sunday, a kyu grading was organized by the NNR in parallel with the course, which ended at 6pm.
We parted by thanking everyone for this wonderful event and looking forward to seeing many of us at next summer’s INF course.