New to the board, moving to Okayama-ken and seeking advice

[Harmonious]

Hi everyone!

I have been gleaning good information from the boards for a few days now, and thought I should go ahead and register and introduce myself. I am 26 years old, I have been training in the bujinkan for 6 years, and I have really enjoyed every bit of training.

In August I will be moving to a small town in Okayama-ken called Takahashi, and I will be living there for at least the next 8 months. Possibly longer, depending on how well I take to it. I would like to further my training, and I know the closest bujinkan group in Kyoto is fairly far away, though I could likely make it to their training on some weekend days.

I am also very interested in pursuing training closer to my area, close enough to participate on week day evenings. In my research so far it seems that Takeuchi ryu and Hyoho Niten Ichi ryu have dojo in Okayama-ken. I think it is also fairly likely there will be Judo or Karate dojo somewhere closeby. Ideally, I would like to train in a jujutsu or a kenjutsu ryu close enough to Takahashi that I could regularly attend training.

So that is my status, and why I came to the board. I am seeking advice from anyone who has moved to Japan and managed to track down, and participate in some martial arts training that suited them. I would also appreciate the chance to communicate with anyone who has a degree of familiarity with Okayama-ken, who has trained or lived in that area, and who wouldn't mind telling me a few anecdotal things about their time there.

My Japanese is fairly poor, and improving.

Is it realistic for me to pursue training in a koryu dojo?

Is it likely to be easier for me to get in and train at a judo club?

Has any member of the board been to Takahashi in Okayama-ken?

Thank you for bearing with my long winded introduction, full of interrogatives and pleas for advice. I wish you all the best in your training

Matt H.

[Webmaster]

Welcome aboard Matt! I am moving your thread over to the Living and Training Aboard forum since we have a number of members who live and train in Japan, and you'll likely get a better response there.

Good luck!

[Mekugi]

Woa...way in the sticks bro! You're more likely to find a pottery school.....other than two schools of Takenouchi ryu (here: http://ww3.tiki.ne.jp/~rumiya/nissinkan.html ) If I were you I would check them out...it's your best bet and very cool! I'm sure you'll find it a great deal of fun.

I can't name anything other than that off the top if my head right now, I'll see what I can dig up.

I've been through Okayama once on a drive, saw the sign and kept on going. Looked very beautiful though (from the car). Good fishing from what I hear. Chugoku is pretty far out there...are you an ALT and just placed randomly?

Anyway, start taking Japanese courses *now* as you will most definately be in need (just for daily living, you'll find). Don't do what I did/do and put it off and just learn the hard way. Get to it.

It's possible for you to join and start learning koryu there, however you will want to learn more deeply at some point so language and a good attitude are the keys (and patience). You can be a perfect speaker and still be a total J@ck@$$, so keep that in mind.

I'll write back later, got some training of my own to do!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Harmonious]

Woa...way in the sticks bro!

Thank you kindly for moving my thread, this is definitely a much better place for it.

and thank you Mekugi for your reply. I specifically requested a post out in the sticks, as that sort of environment suits me nicely. Fortunately for me, I love to fish. The idea of practicing pottery sounds great as well to be honest, but I think it will be tough for me to find time for a new hobby, especially if I am able to train with any sort of frequency. Essentially yes, I requested a rural post and the first position I was offered was in Takahashi, which I accepted. Needless to say, I am very excited.

I have taken 5 semesters of Japanese in school, and spent 6 weeks travelling there in the summer a couple years ago. When I say my Japanese is poor, I mean that, but it is poor in a semi-functional sort of way and I have a marginal foundation to build on.

Ideally, I will do everything I can to avoid being a major fool. That being said, inevitably I will foul it up somehow.

Thank you for the informative reply Mekugi, and the link. It is fortunate for me that Takenouchi ryu has dojo in Kurashiki and Okayama, and they are so close to Takahashi, because you are likely correct in saying I would find it a great deal of fun. Its probably right up my alley.

If I may ask, what sort of training are you involved with in Kuwana? How did you first find out about it, and begin to train? What did you do to avoid being an ass-hat? Is it common or uncommon for koryu dojo to take on foreign students?

I've got questions for days because I am a curious guy, I hope you don't mind me asking them here.

Thanks again, good luck in your training.

[Abbax8]

Matt,

Welcome to BudoSeek and good luck in your travels.


Dennis

[Mekugi]

If I may ask, what sort of training are you involved with in Kuwana? How did you first find out about it, and begin to train? What did you do to avoid being an ass-hat? Is it common or uncommon for koryu dojo to take on foreign students?

I've got questions for days because I am a curious guy, I hope you don't mind me asking them here.

No problem.

Kuwana is in the sticks (more or less) outside of Aichi. I go to Nagoya to train. I studied while I was in the USA so when I got to Mie prefecture here in good old Tokai, (originally, I lived in a town called Yokkaichi) I knew what I was looking for so I went and found it in the next prefecture. So far it's worked out rather nicely.

I found that in order to avoid foot-in-mouth disease, I shut up, watch, listen and ask questions *only* when the time is appropriate. Most importantly, I follow all the wisdom my grandmothers gave me at the end of a switch. Be humble, be polite, mind your manners, respect your elders, chew with your mouth shut, et al. That pretty much sums it up.
One thing I found VERY helpful (and I learned it the hard way) is that you don't try to show what you know, but instead try to "show" what you are learning. That's probably the best advice I can give you. Drop your ego off at the door, walk onto the training floor with an empty head and walk out with it full. You're there to learn, they really appreciate it when you do so.

If what I just wrote seems like common-sense I believe that's because it is!
It's a little more subtle than the way I make it sound in the dojo, so keeping manners and purpose in mind will be imperative in the long run.

It's not uncommon for international students to join Koryu Bujutsu (that depends entirely on what they are), but it can be complicated. Relationships play a bigger part in the game here, gaining trust and being seen as competent and trustworthy despite your cultural "barrier" will play a big part of your training. All eyes will be on you for a while, gwai-lo. These are private schools, usually they operate as such, so the relationships you develop will be important and the way they perceive you will be crucial. There will be a honeymoon period that will eventually end, things will change immensely as it does.

Anyway, hope it works out. Try fishing for Chinu (Kurodai). They are most excellent.

[Eliz]

Welcome to the forum, Matt

[Harmonious]

Thank you for the kind welcome Dennis and Elizabeth.


You've given me very sound advice Russ, I appreciate it. I agree, it is common sense. That doesn't mean it comes naturally to me to be mindful of those things at all times though. It's always good to be reminded to show what you are learning, not what you think you know. Thanks for telling me about your experiences, as I am now firmly convinced that it is at least worth a shot on my part to try to make it happen. This is going to be a great big adventure for me, and I am very excited.

Russ I am curious about one thing: transportation. How much time do you spend travelling to and from training? Do you go by train, or drive? I am greatly looking forward to riding trains all over the place myself.

If I ever catch a Chinu I'll post a pic to the board.

[Mekugi]

Thank you for the kind welcome Dennis and Elizabeth.


You've given me very sound advice Russ, I appreciate it. I agree, it is common sense. That doesn't mean it comes naturally to me to be mindful of those things at all times though. It's always good to be reminded to show what you are learning, not what you think you know. Thanks for telling me about your experiences, as I am now firmly convinced that it is at least worth a shot on my part to try to make it happen. This is going to be a great big adventure for me, and I am very excited.

Russ I am curious about one thing: transportation. How much time do you spend travelling to and from training? Do you go by train, or drive? I am greatly looking forward to riding trains all over the place myself.

If I ever catch a Chinu I'll post a pic to the board.

Chinu make great "fishprints", make sure to get one done (it's easy and awesome). I travel by train 1 hour each way- two hours total. Yesh. Lots of reading and now that I have an iPhone, lots of music, movies and reading.

[Markaso]

Mr. Harmin

I have been through and stayed in Okayama for a long weekend or two. I am now in Kyushu. I live and train in Oita prefecture. In my experience, when I first came to Japan, I went looking for Tae Kwon Do .......no luck there ....I wonder why ....then one of the staff at a school I was working at introduced me to a Karate (Go Jyu Ryu) Sensei. I found out later that he was the owner of the Dojo. Well, I stayed with him for about 12 years in Kyoto and now I've been here in Oita-Ken for about 11 years now with a nother Sensei in the same style. If you can not find what you are looking for, see what is around you locally and sit in on a few classes to see what its like. you may just find something you may enjoy. Ask around ......someone should know someone that is teaching something. The others here gave you some very sensible advice as well!

Good luck and welcome to BudoSeek.