Background
Finnish Kendo Association is having 30th anniversary in 2016. On of the celebrations is a seminar for all four arts under the association: Atarashii Naginata, Kendo, Iaido and Jodo. Due to practical issues Naginata seminar is held separately, but on the same time as the anniversary seminar.
Location and time
Seminar was held in the dojo of KiKenTaiIcchi assosciaton in Helsinki. The seminar lasted 3 days, from 26h to 28th August.
Participation
There was total of 15 participants on the seminar. There were attendance form 5 countries: Finland (8), Japan (2), France (2), USA (1), Greece (1), Russia (1). Highest rank present was Kyoshi (Yondan outside of teachers). and lowest Mukyu. There were two teachers: Narita Toyoko sensei (Kyoshi, Japan), Mari Paasonen (Yondan,Finland). Narita sensei being the primary teacher. Katie Roche, Giraudet Cyril and Lauri Raiskila also helped as translators. Practical arrangements were handled by Finnish volunteers, led by Mari Paasonen who also was the prime organizer.
Training
There was total of 13 hours of guided practice and 5 hours of free practice during the seminar. During the practice wide variety of different techniques were practised such as, but not limited to, ShikageOji, Kakarigeiko, Jigeiko, Happoburi. Narita sensei was very inspirational and attentive teacher. She showed many techniques first hand and was able to give push, sometimes even literal one, for every participant to improve themselves and their naginata techniques. At the end of sunday there was grading for kuys grades.
Significance
This was the second international Naginata seminar held in Finland. As such it serves very important role of creating friendships and connecting finnish Naginata scene and practitioners towards others in ENF and INF. Even now it was clear that this seminar sprung will to have and attend more on international events. Second important impact for finnish and russian Naginata practitioners is that there was grading at the end of the seminar. Due to the relatively small amount of practioners and even less shodan or above, it is very difficult to arrange a grading in Finland or Russia. Thus the seminar filled the long overdue need for grading for several practitioners.
Jarno Yliluoma
Finnish Naginata secretary
