The U.S. Federation of Battodo sponsored a weekend of seminars, testing, and competition this fall in Englewood, New Jersey! The event was open to all styles, and it was a fantastic opportunity for members of different sword schools to come together and learn from each other.
We had seminars from representatives of at least seven different ryuha. Special thanks to our guest teachers:
Dave Drawdy, teaching Nakamura Ryu
Bob Elder, teaching Toyama Ryu
Mike Femal, teaching Toyama Ryu
Masaki Kurihara, teaching Kendo
Carl Long, teaching Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu
Paul Manogue, teaching Yagyu Shinkage Ryu
Phil Ortiz, teaching Ryushin Shouchi Ryu
Congratulations on all of our competition winners
Kata — Mudan
First place: Jeffrey Young (KenKonKai Dojo)
Second place: Sebastian Garcia (Byakkokan Dojo)
Third place: Allen Ramirez (Brooklyn Battodo)
Kata — Shodan/Nidan
First place: Tristan Zukowski (Byakkokan Dojo)
Second place: Michael Shane (Brooklyn Battodo)
Third place: Ivan Guerra (Genbukan Dojo)
Kata — Sandan and Above
First place: Timothy Clear (Genbukan Dojo)
Second place: Noah Mitchell (Mountain Stream Budo)
Third place: Joshua Badgley (KenKonKai Dojo)
Tameshigiri — Mudan
First place: Sebastian Garcia (Byakkokan Dojo)
Second place: Richard Elder (KenKonKai Dojo)
Third place: Jeffrey Young (KenKonKai Dojo)
Tameshigiri — Shodan/Nidan
First place: Ivan Guerra (Genbukan Dojo)
Second place: Keith Weed (Mountain Stream Budo)
Third place: Anthony Deen (Brooklyn Battodo)
Tameshigiri — Sandan and Above
First place: Adrian Demoret (Konjaku Kioi Dojo)
Second place: Sherry Femal (Konjaku Kioi Dojo)
Third place: Charles Choi (Byakkokan Dojo)
Dodan
First place: Timothy Clear (Genbukan Dojo)
Second place: Adrian Demoret (Konjaku Kioi Dojo)
Third place: Jason Yoon (Byakkokan Dojo)
Fourth place: Joshua Badgley (KenKonKai Dojo)
Fifth place: Keith Weed (Mountain Stream Budo)
Team Cutting — 3 Members
First place: Russell Gordan, Noah Mitchell, Alex Odell (Genbukan Dojo & KenKonKai Dojo)
Second place: Richard Elder, Jeffrey Young, Joshua Badgley (KenKonKai Dojo)
Third place: Christopher Kim, Charles Choi, Robert Raimondi (Byakkokan Dojo)
Gekken
First place: Zach Biesanz (Brooklyn Battodo)
Second place: Jason Yoon (Byakkokan Dojo)
Third place: Adam Taylor (Seibukan Dojo)
Yusho Prize — Tai Kai Grand Champion
Jeffrey Young (KenKonKai Dojo)