Nichibukan Iaidō
Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido in New York City and New Jersey
East Coast Iaido Seminar 2016
The East Coast seminar was held on March 12-13.
Ji Ni took 3rd place in the 3 Dan Taikai, and two Nichibukan students were awarded the rank of 3 Kyu in their first Shinsa.
New Year 2016
Our new year practice and celebration at Hudson School.
New Saturday location
Our new practice space at Hudson School in Hoboken, NJ.
Last class at KHDT
After three decades practicing at Kazuko Hirabayashi Dance Theatre, we celebrated our last Iaido class there on June 28, 2014. The studio is being sold and we are moving to a new practice space.
2014 AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp
The 2014 AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp was held in New York City from June 12 to 16, 2014.
Jonathan Corum won the Murosako Cup in the 2-3 Dan taikai, and was promoted to 4 Dan.
2014 East Coast Iaido Seminar
The 2014 East Coast Iaido Seminar was held in Bensalem PA on Feb. 1-2, 2014.
Chihiro Kishimoto Sensei (Hanshi 8 dan), returned as the head instructor, and this year the demonstrations were performed by Kazuma Okuda Sensei (Iaido Kyoshi 8-dan).
Nichibukan members Sasha Corchado and Fank DiMarco tested for 3 Dan, and both were successful.
2013 AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp
The 2013 AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp was held in Council Bluffs, Iowa, from June 27 to 30, 2013.
Serena Tang took third place in the Ikkyu and Shodan division.
Shinsa results for Nichibukan/JSS members:
- 3-Dan: Cheuk Tang
- 2-Dan: Serena Tang
2013 East Coast Iaido Seminar, Shinsa & Taikai
The 2013 East Coast Iaido Seminar was held in Newark NJ and Bensalem PA on Feb. 2-3, 2013
Chihiro Kishimoto Sensei, Hanshi 8 dan, was the head instructor. There was a large turnout, including many Iaidoka from Canada, and despite the unheated gym (and cold toes) the attendees seemed to absorb a lot of instruction from Kishimoto Sensei.
Nichibukan member Sasha Corchado took first place in the 2 dan Taikai. Congratulations Sasha!
2012 AUSKF Summer Camp
The 2012 AUSKF Summer Camp was held at Pacific Lutheran University from June 20 to 24, 2012
Shinsa results for PIKC members:
- 2-Dan: Geoffrey Underhill
2012 East Coast Iaido Seminar & Shinsa
NJIT
February 5, 2012
Shinsa Results for JSS members:
- 2-Dan: Sasha Corchado, Frank DiMarco, John Libutti
- 1-Dan: Serena Tang
2011 East Coast Iaido Seminar & Shinsa
NJIT
January, 2011
2010 East Coast Iaido Seminar & Shinsa
New Jersey Institute of Technology
January 24, 2010
Shinsa results for JSS members:
- 1-Kyu: Serena Tang, Frank DiMarco
- 2-Kyu: Matt Orr, Sasha Corchado
Shinsa results for PIKC members:
- 2-Dan: John Shen
- 1-Dan: Geoffrey Underhill
- 1-Kyu: Andrew Walsh, Peter Walsh
- 2-Kyu: Robert Banas
- 3-Kyu: Devin McKernan
2009 East Coast Iaido Seminar & Shinsa
Polytechnic University
February 1, 2009
Shinsa Results for JSS members:
- 2-Dan: Eric Molinier
- 2-Kyu: Serena Tang, Frank DiMarco
JSS 25th Anniversary Budo Summer Camp
Bryn Mawr, PA
August 6-10, 2008
It included parallel seminars in Iaido, Naginata, Kendo and Jodo.
2008 AUSKF Iaido Camp
Brym Mawr, PA
June 4-10, 2008
Murosako-Cup (Shodan & 1Kyu) Fighting spirit award
- Arthur Cain
Shinsa results:
- 4-dan: John Prough, Sachiko prough
- 2-dan: Arthur Cain
- 1-dan; Ji You Ni, John Libutti
2008 East Coast Iaido Seminar & Shinsa
CERC, Jersey City
January 27, 2008
A large turnout of 116 also resulted in over 50 promotions. This include 13 of our members advances in their Iaido ranks. In particular two of our members were asked to recycle and try immediately for the next rank. These new Ikkyu are John Libutti of JSS and Weichi Chen of PKC. PKC's Michael Huang joined the Yudansha by passing his Shodan test. There were 3 more Yudansha that became Nidan. From the JSS Cheuk Tang and Lee Adamo and David Yang of PKC all joined the Nidan ranks.
JSS members
- 2-Dan: Lee Adamo, Cheuk Tang
- 1-Kyu: Philip Pellican, John Libutti
- 3-Kyu: Serena Tang
PIKC members
- 2-Dan David Yang
- 1-Dan Michael Huang
- 1-Kyu John Shen, Weichi Chen
- 2-Kyu Geoffirey Underhill
- 3-Kyu Andrew Walsh, Peter Walsh, Victer Razuk
2007 East Coast Iaido Seminar & Shinsa
Victory Hall, Jersey City
January 21, 2007
The mob from last year was cut by half. The final count for testing was a little under 50. JSS had 9 members testing and the Princeton Kendo Club had 10 testing. But, two of the Princeton club were not able to make it.
The Shinsa had many promotions for JSS members:
- Arthur Cain, Shodan (1st degree black belt)
- Cheuk Tang, Shodan
- David Yang, Shodan
- Chao I Huang, Shodan
- Lee Adano, Shodan
- Ji-you Ni, Ikkyu (1st grade before black belt)
- Michael Huang, Ikkyu
- John Shen, Nikyu (2nd grade before black belt)
- Philip Pellicane, Nikyu
- Kenji Horiguchi, Nikyu
- Takeshi Horiguchi, Nikyu
- Tony Gomez, Sankyu (3rd grade before black belt)
- John Libutti, Sankyu
- Weichi Chen, Sankyu
- Geoffrey Underhill, Sankyu
- Matt Kantor, Sankyu
- Serena Tang, Yonkyu (4th grade before black belt)
2006 AUSKF Iaido camp
Cincinnati, Ohio
end of Sept. to October 1
The Shiai had two winners: in Yamaguchi Cup for Shodan & Nidan, Jonathan Corum, 3rd place:
... and for the Nakanishi Cup for Sandan and up: Sachiko Yamauchi Prough, 3rd place:
The Shinsa on October 1, 2006 had several promotions for JSS members.
- Jonathan Corum, Sandan (3rd degree black belt)
- Mark Magpayo, Shodan (1st degree black belt)
- Cheuk Tang, Ikkyu (1st grade before black belt)
- Arthur Cain, Ikkyu
- Chao I Huang, Ikkyu
- Lee Adano, Ikkyu
2006 East Coast Iaido Seminar & Shinsa
Victory Hall, Jersey City
January 21, 2007
It was rather over subscribed with 144 showing up. 81 actually took a promotion test. Among our members who prevailed were:
- Ellery Engalla, Shodan (1st degree black belt)
- Yulin Zhang, Ikkyu (1st grade before black belt)
- Mark Magpayo, Ikkyu
- Cheuk Tang, Nikyu (2nd grade before black belt)
- Arthur Cain, Nikyu
- David Yang, Nikyu
- Lee Adano, Nikyu
- Philip Pellicare, Sankyu (3rd grade before black belt)
2005 AUSKF Iaido camp
Shiai and shinsa was held at Wilson Park, Torrance California in October. Sachiko Yamauchi Prough won the Yamaguchi Cup for 1st place in the Shodan/Nidan Iaido Championship. The next day judgement for ranks. Sachiko Yamauchi Prough and John Prough both were promoted to Sandan (3rd degree black belt).
2005 Iaido Seminar
Victory Hall, Jersey City
May 2005
2004 East Coast Iaido Seminar & Shinsa
CERC, Jersey City
October 24, 2004
Seven of our members tried for promotion, and all were successful:
- Jonathan Corum, Nidan (2nd degree black belt)
- Mark Lichtenstein, Shodan (1st degree black belt)
- Ellery Engalla, Ikkyu (1st grade before black belt)
- Dominique Roux, Ikkyu
- Yulin Zhuang, Nikyu (2nd grade before black belt)
- Lee Adamo, Sankyu (3rd grade before black belt)
- Margaret Welsh, Sankyu
2004 AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp
Hosted by the Yamakage Dojo at CU-Boulder
June 2004
Two of our members tried for promotion, and one was successful:
In addition, Jonathan Corum was given the Fighting Spirit award for his performance in the Yamaguchi Cup Taikai (shodan & nidan tournament).
Matsuoka Sensei Visit
In November 2003 we enjoyed our third visit by Matsuoka Sensei from Nagoya, who taught and demonstrated Shinkage Ryu iaido. The proof of his high level training in Seitei-gata Iaido from the AJKF was demonstrated last year when he was promoted to Hachidan (8th degree black belt) in Iaido. He was one of only 8 people out of over 200 who tried.
Fall 2003 East Coast Iaido Seminar & Shinsa
Shidogakuin dojo, New York
Sunday, October 19
Five of our members tried for promotions. All were successful. They are:
- Sachiko Y. Prough, Nidan (2nd degree black belt)
- Eric Molinier, Shodan (1st degree black belt)
- Jonathan Corum, Shodan (1st degree black belt)
- Ellery Engalla, Nikyu (2nd grade before black belt)
- Dominque Roux, Nikyu (2nd grade before black belt)
Spring 2003 East Coast Iaido Seminar & Shinsa
Shidogakuin dojo, New York
Sunday, February 23
Five of our members tried for promotions. Four were successful. They are:
- Eric Molinier, Ikkyu (1st grade before black belt)
- Jonathan Corum, Ikkyu (1st grade before black belt)
- Ellery Engalla, Sankyu (3rd grade before black belt)
- Dominque Roux, Sankyu
A great deal of their success was the wonderful help from Yamamori Sensei. Motohiko Yamamori is a visiting Iaido Sensei from the Nagoya area who is currently working in Long Island. He holds a Rokkudan (6th degree black belt) in Iaido and a Yondan (4th degree black belt) in Kendo. He has been helping with our dojo Iaido for the past few months. Our students have greatly benefited from his instruction.
2002 Iaido seminar
Shidogakuin dojo, New York
February 10
Three of our members tried for promotions. All were successful.
- Sachiko Y. Prough, Shodan (1st degree black belt)
- Eric Molinier, Nikyu (2nd grade before black belt)
- Michael Powell, Nikyu
November 9 and 10, 2001 we had our second visit by Matsuoka Sensei from Nagoya. He was accompanied by Mizuno Sensei from the EUSKF. In addition to his excellent instruction on Seitei-gata Iaido from the AJKF, he also demonstrated his Shinkage Ryu iaido kata. This was very interesting for all our members. He also brought from the children of his dojo senba-zuru (1000 folded paper cranes) as a memorial for the WTC victims. These were placed at the wall on the pier where the temporary morgue was set up.
2001 AUSKF Iaido Seminar
Portland Oregon
July 1, 2001
Three of our members tried for promotions. All three were successful.
- Louis Rodriguez, Sandan (3rd degree black belt)
- Derrick Wallace, Shodan (1st degree black belt)
- Sachiko Y. Prough, Ikkyu (1st grade before black belt)
