Tokushikai Inside Look

Jade Fraundorfer is from Johannesburg, South Africa, and now living in Coral Springs Florida, USA. He’s been training for over 21 years, during which time he’s achieved the rank of 4-Dan Kyudo, 1-Dan Karate, and 1-Kyu Kendo.

Jade was instrumental in bringing Kyudo to South Africa, and founded the South African Kyudo Renmei, Kyudo Cape Town, and South African Kyudo Federation, helping the country become an official member of the International Kyudo Federation

In this wide ranging conversation, we talk about the humble beginnings of Kyudo in South Africa, about travelling to Japan and making a good first impression, about building a dojo from the ground up, and the efforts to have South African Kyudo recognized internationally.

Jade’s individual grit and resilience in the face of incredible challenges is an inspiration, and shows that an ambitious vision and unwavering belief in oneself can bring people together and  lead to incredible accomplishments. 

This episode is also available at the following platforms

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/tokushikaicanada

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/tokushikai-canada

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tokushikai-inside-look/id1523336799

Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yMzk0OWVhNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Mf1mrLTfVT3Sbu8XM032m

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1523336799/tokushikai-inside-look

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/tokushikai-inside-look

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/i9qbnxx7

Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/tokushikai-inside-look-We0ozJ

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Claudio Zanoni is from Turin, Italy, and has been training for over 23 years, during which time he’s placed first as an individual and in team an incredible 15 times in both the Italian National Championships and the European Championships, winning both tournaments last year in the 6-Dan category.  

Zanoni Sensei now holds the rank of Renshi 7-Dan in Iaido and 3-Dan Jodo, and was recently appointed Technical Director for Development of the Italian National Team.  

In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about how competition can change your mindset towards practice, we talk about the importance of mentors and peers that motivate and inspire, and discuss what it takes to persevere in budo over the long run.  

I was a little nervous preparing for this conversation with Zanoni Sensei, as I’ve only his reputation for success to go on, but his sincere and humble tone quickly put me at ease. Even with over two decades into the art, his passion and commitment to Iaido and the community feels fresh and uplifting. A true inspiration.  

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This episode is also available at the following platforms

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/tokushikaicanada

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/tokushikai-canada

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tokushikai-inside-look/id1523336799

Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yMzk0OWVhNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Mf1mrLTfVT3Sbu8XM032m

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1523336799/tokushikai-inside-look

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/tokushikai-inside-look

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/i9qbnxx7

Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/tokushikai-inside-look-We0ozJ

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Mary Phan is from Toronto, Canada, and has been training for over 10 years, during which time she has represented Canada as part of Team Canada in both 2015 and 2019, culminating in earning a silver with the women’s national team at the World Naginata Championship. 

Mary holds the rank of 3-dan in Naginata, and currently works as a lawyer in the provincial government. 

In this wide-ranging conversation, Mary speaks about her experiences with 

My favourite part of this episode was about how Team Canada dealt with the stress of training for and competing at the world championships, showing how even the most elite athletes will have their mental, physical, and psychological struggles.

It also demonstrated how a team built over the years, intentionally, and through shared experience can create a force that is capable of overcoming those with more experience. 

This episode is also available at the following podcast platforms

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Anchor: https://anchor.fm/tokushikai-canada

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tokushikai-inside-look/id1523336799

Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yMzk0OWVhNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Mf1mrLTfVT3Sbu8XM032m

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1523336799/tokushikai-inside-look

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/tokushikai-inside-look

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/i9qbnxx7

Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/tokushikai-inside-look-We0ozJ

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To get the latest on what we’re up to at Tokushikai Canada, subscribe to our newsletter at https://subscribe.tokushikai.ca and find us on Facebook and Instagram @tokushikai.canada, and on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/c/tokushikaicanada

Stephan Naji is from Paris, France, and has been training for over 17 years with extended stints in the US while teaching at New York University.

Stephan holds the rank of Iaido 5-Dan and Jodo 4-Dan and has earned several tournament honours including a series of Golds and Silvers in 2005 and 6 at the European Iaido Championships, the French Nationals, and the BKA International Taikai. He also achieved 3-Dan Bronze at the Ishido Cup in 2018 for Jodo.

In this wide-ranging conversation we talk about how he lucked upon an Iaido dojo, about different styles of teaching and leading a dojo, about the various ways in which the social aspect, the community, and the feeling of family can impact your life, not just the practice.

As a professor and researcher, Stephan’s eye of detail and spoken delivery of ideas and insight was such a delight. The clarity and conciseness of the different topics we discussed was so refreshing, and I’m looking forward to a round 2 to our conversation.

This episode is also available at the following podcast platforms

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Anchor: https://anchor.fm/tokushikai-canada

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tokushikai-inside-look/id1523336799

Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yMzk0OWVhNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Mf1mrLTfVT3Sbu8XM032m

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1523336799/tokushikai-inside-look

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/tokushikai-inside-look

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/i9qbnxx7

Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/tokushikai-inside-look-We0ozJ

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To get the latest on what we’re up to at Tokushikai Canada, subscribe to our newsletter at https://subscribe.tokushikai.ca and find us on Facebook and Instagram @tokushikai.canada

Eddy Varela is from Cuenca, Ecuador, and has been training for over 25 years, during which time he’s had many successes in national and international kendo competition, including: National Champion, Latin American Medalist, Pan-American Medalist, 2 times National Team Member and is also the first Ecuadorian to attend the International Budo University.

Eddy holds the rank of Kendo 3-Dan, Iaido 2-Dan, and 1-Dan in Judo and Taekwondo.

This interview was a fascinating journey through Eddy’s budo life that ranged from the study of sports and its relation to kendo, multiple mindset changes in how to practice and how to teach, and the challenges and rewards of starting a dojo.

This podcast was created to pay tribute to individuals like Eddy, and show fellow practitioners around the world that no roadblock is insurmountable in our pursuit of improvement, and no success comes without fear and doubt. Eddy is a wonderful example of what you can achieve with grit and perseverance, and I’m sure many of you will see a similar power within yourself as well.

This episode is also available at the following podcast platforms

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Anchor: https://anchor.fm/tokushikai-canada

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tokushikai-inside-look/id1523336799

Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yMzk0OWVhNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Mf1mrLTfVT3Sbu8XM032m

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1523336799/tokushikai-inside-look

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/tokushikai-inside-look

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/i9qbnxx7

Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/tokushikai-inside-look-We0ozJ

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To get the latest on what we’re up to at Tokushikai Canada, subscribe to our newsletter at https://subscribe.tokushikai.ca and find us on Facebook and Instagram @tokushikai.canada

József Bereczki is from Budapest, Hungary, and now living in Belgium

Jozsef has been training for over 17 years, during which time he’s had experiences with many of the traditional Japanese martial arts, and earned 4-Dan in Jodo, 3-Dan in Iaido, and 1-Dan in Kendo and Kyudo

Jozsefs budo journey has taken him many places, and in this interview we dove into his Year at the International Budo University, also known as IBU or Budai.

We talk about the application process and preparing for the trip, we talk about transitioning to life as a fulltime student of budo, learning how to behave in a Japanese dojo, and finding local hidden treasures like restaurants and bath houses.

While I’ve heard of IBU in passing over the years, I never really got a sense of what it would be like to be a student in the program. This episode was a fascinating exploration into that world and I hope encourages more foreigners to participate in this wonderful program.

This episode is also available at the following podcast platforms

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Anchor: https://anchor.fm/tokushikai-canada

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tokushikai-inside-look/id1523336799

Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yMzk0OWVhNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Mf1mrLTfVT3Sbu8XM032m

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1523336799/tokushikai-inside-look

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/tokushikai-inside-look

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/i9qbnxx7

Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/tokushikai-inside-look-We0ozJ

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To get the latest on what we’re up to at Tokushikai Canada, subscribe to our newsletter at https://subscribe.tokushikai.ca and find us on Facebook and Instagram @tokushikai.canada, and on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/c/tokushikaicanada

Genaro Luis Cervantes is from Mexico City, Mexico, and has been training in martial arts for over 28 years.

Genaro founded an Mexican Asia Budokan in 2003 and started teaching both Iaido and Jodo shortly after, currently holding the rank of 5-Dan in Aikido, 4-Dan Iaido, and 2-Dan Jodo.

Genaro is a huge proponent of Iaido and Jodo in Mexico, having organized seminars with Pam Parker Sensei and Thomas Groendal Sensei from the US, and Nicolas Diaz Sensei from Chile.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about his personal journey in martial arts, the primary motivations that drove him to pursue these disciplines and their development in Mexico over the last decade.

Genaro’s story is an important reminder for us that if we set goals in our lives, face challenges head on, and build relationships to sustain you, the results will come in good time.

This episode is also available at the following podcast platforms

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Anchor: https://anchor.fm/tokushikai-canada

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tokushikai-inside-look/id1523336799

Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yMzk0OWVhNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Mf1mrLTfVT3Sbu8XM032m

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1523336799/tokushikai-inside-look

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/tokushikai-inside-look

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/i9qbnxx7

Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/tokushikai-inside-look-We0ozJ

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To get the latest on what we’re up to at Tokushikai Canada, subscribe to our newsletter at https://subscribe.tokushikai.ca and find us on Facebook and Instagram @tokushikai.canada, and on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/c/tokushikaicanada

Patrick Demuynck is from Belgium, and has been training for over 40 years, during which time he has been running the dojo AGEHACHÔ, and is a member of Belgium Iaido/Jodo Technical Commission.

Demuynck Sensei holds the rank of Kyoshi 7D iaido - Renshi 6D Jodo, and has participated in EIC since 1993 and as a referee for the past 20 years

In this wide ranging conversation, we talk about Demuynck Sensei’s discovery of Iaido and the early days of Tamiya Ryu in Europe, we talk about how balancing budo and family, and the sudden events that may impact one’s everyday life and budo training.

It was a pleasure hearing the stories of grit and resilience in the pursuit of the practice from such an influential figure in the European Iaido community, and I hope the listeners are able to gain as much from this conversation as I have.

This episode is also available at the following podcast platforms

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Anchor: https://anchor.fm/tokushikai-canada

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tokushikai-inside-look/id1523336799

Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yMzk0OWVhNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Mf1mrLTfVT3Sbu8XM032m

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1523336799/tokushikai-inside-look

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/tokushikai-inside-look

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/i9qbnxx7

Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/tokushikai-inside-look-We0ozJ

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To get the latest on what we’re up to at Tokushikai Canada, subscribe to our newsletter at https://subscribe.tokushikai.ca and find us on Facebook and Instagram @tokushikai.canada, and on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/c/tokushikaicanada

Li Chak Fai is from Hong Kong, China, and has been training for over 12 years, during which time he’s achieved the rank of 3-Dan from the International Kyudo Federation and was a founding member of the Hong Kong Kyudo Association.

In this engaging conversation, we talk about the early days of Kyudo in Hong Kong, attending his first Kyudo seminar in Japan under the shadow of the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami, and the many lessons he’s learned and continues to share from Kyudo biographies and conversations.

As with many of the stories we’ve already heard about starting a dojo and federation where previous there was none, the Hong Kong Kyudo Association also came from humble beginnings and unique contextual challenges. What has remained consistent is the resilience and dedication the early practitioners have for these budo arts, and the patience they’ve shown to get their communities to where they are today.

This episode is also available at the following podcast platforms

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Anchor: https://anchor.fm/tokushikai-canada

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tokushikai-inside-look/id1523336799

Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yMzk0OWVhNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Mf1mrLTfVT3Sbu8XM032m

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1523336799/tokushikai-inside-look

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/tokushikai-inside-look

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/i9qbnxx7

Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/tokushikai-inside-look-We0ozJ

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To get the latest on what we’re up to at Tokushikai Canada, subscribe to our newsletter at https://subscribe.tokushikai.ca and find us on Facebook and Instagram @tokushikai.canada, and on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/c/tokushikaicanada

Takami Matsumoto Tanner is from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA, and has been training for over 35 years, during which time she’s earned the rank of Renshi in Atarashii Naginata, been a US National Champion in the women’s division, and actively promoted the art in the community, acting as a bridge for Japan Sensei.

In this wide ranging conversation, we cover the different goals and approaches to the practice of Naginata, we talk about motivation and the mindset of a teacher, and ultimately what matters most in this journey of martial arts and life.

All of us practice these arts for a reason, and along this winding journey, we can sometimes get lost or confused. Inspiration for continuing can come from anywhere, and many of the lessons that Tanner Sensei learned over 3+ decades and shared in this interview can help us when the time comes.

I hope everyone listening takes her advice to heart -- go slowly and steadily with compassion, and love.

This episode is also available at the following podcast platforms

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Anchor: https://anchor.fm/tokushikai-canada

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tokushikai-inside-look/id1523336799

Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yMzk0OWVhNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Mf1mrLTfVT3Sbu8XM032m

Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1523336799/tokushikai-inside-look

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/tokushikai-inside-look

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/i9qbnxx7

Radio Public: https://radiopublic.com/tokushikai-inside-look-We0ozJ

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To get the latest on what we’re up to at Tokushikai Canada, subscribe to our newsletter at https://subscribe.tokushikai.ca and find us on Facebook and Instagram @tokushikai.canada, and on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/c/tokushikaicanada