There was a long-awaited return to near normality over the weekend as indoor practice resumed at both Lewes and Tunbridge Wells.
Roald Knutsen sensei was able to attend both sessions and was welcomed back after a long period of enforced isolation.
Practice was conducted under covid-safe conditions, and was limited to individual exercises in kendo basics, using bokuto. The emphasis on basics will remain for some time yet, and it will be a while before we return to bogu and fully normal keiko.
It is with great sadness that we inform kendoka and iai-ka of the death of Chris Fox who was an excellent swordsman, student of Roald Knutsen in the Butokukan Dojo in Brighton and Lewes for the best part of forty years.
Continue reading Chris Fox 1943 – 2020From the Chairman of the British Kendo Renmei
Continued from part one.
There is no point in beating about the bush over the dangers of COVID-19 to our kendo and we are not fools. We are quite sensitive to the government’s concern with the problem and considered response to find a solution. These solutions may not seem to reflect our particular aims but nonetheless they must be taken into account and followed.
Continue reading Restarting Training – continuedKnutsen-sensei has set out some guidance below on how we might address the return to practice, when this becomes possible. At the moment, of course, the Government guidelines don’t allow normal dojo practice, but we hope there will be some relaxation in the coming weeks.
Continue reading Restarting Kendo/Iai training
The Renmei held a special practice in Tunbridge Wells on Sunday. Despite the efforts of Storm Ciara, members from many dojos gathered for a morning of instructive keiko with senior senseis.
We were particularly pleased welcome our guests, Paul Budden sensei kyōshi nanadan and Kazuyo Matsuda sensei renshi nanadan, from Kodokan Kendo in Watford.
