Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai

One of the final instructions I received from my late teacher Masayuki Shimabukuro was perhaps the most difficult. He prefaced it by saying that explanations of why he made his final decisions were unimportant and unnecessary for he or I to explain to others. I expressed my concerns about the future and the opinions of others. That is when he expressed the following: You will not have to say anything to others. Go to Japan and ‘swing the sword’. Words will not be necessary. ...Just swing the sword and they will all see Miura Sensei’s iai. He continued, When I am gone, continue to do kenkyu (research) as you have always done. Your iai you have learned through what you were taught, but mostly through the kenkyu you have always done. Just swing the sword and continue the kenkyu and I cannot wait to look down in five years to see how far you have grown. (here he was referring to both me personally and those who continue to train with us). Over the past eight years I’ve been asked by many students who have occasionally doubted their worth, their abilities, their commitment and dedication, what should they do to find their answers to their problems. My answer has always been the same...Swing the sword, swing it again and again. Just keep swinging the sword and enjoy the sword. These past eight years I have taken Sensei’s instructions to heart. I have continued to swing the sword. I have traveled around the world and trained with living treasures of the iai and kenjutsu world. I have allowed myself to be judged, critiqued and at times berated by others for doing what I was instructed to do. I have sat quietly as some have criticized the further insights that the research has given us. I now am beginning to understand why I was tasked to continue this training. It is because learning the truth takes courage. Learning the truth takes hard work, discipline, loyalty that will be tested at every corner in the road. Continuing to swing the sword takes guts and determination rather than resting and living in the past ignorance. These past two weeks in particular I have been delving deeply into one of our predecessors written texts on our iai. Masaoka Katsutane wrote that his personal philosophical principle of iai was Draw the sword, draw the sword, draw the sword again and again and continue to research. This is the way! So again those haunting words echo in my mind to continue to honor the teachings, the teachers and learn from the truth as it is presented and continues to unfold. No matter how painful that truth may be. For you see, the truth we find is not always the truth we thought we would discover. It takes great effort to accept the truth that may challenge your biases, beliefs and laziness. Swinging the sword and finding the truth is not an easy road. But it is the way of leaders. It is the way my teacher instructed me to follow. Swing the sword. ~ Carl Long

https://www.knbk.org Standing together so that we can lighten the burden for others. We wish all of our friends and colleagues safe journeys while we wait to be together again. The fight is easy to win during the planning but it’s in the execution that warriors hearts are revealed! ... Talk is easy, action is difficult. Let’s win together in action. See more

Current KNBK Member Dojo 2020

http://www.knbk.org/member-dojos/ Current KNBK Member Dojo 2020

Let’s look forward to next five years and the 50th Anniversary Celebration together!

Standing in the footprints of giants...

The 1st anniversary and 30th anniversary celebrations ...

KNBK Winter Training Gasshuku Feb. 14,15,16 2020 San Diego, CA Sun, Sand, Surf and Swords! ... Do you really need any other reason in February. For Registration Contact: Sensei Kako Lee See more

We can quietly celebrate the 45th year of Miura Takeyuki Hidefusa’s establishment of his Koryu Budo organization today. Our global family joined hearts and hands on this day in 2005 to celebrate his leadership and legacy. Shimabukuro Sensei was there for the very first anniversary and continued to be his most senior disciple for the rest of his life. Happy 45th to all of our MJER family.... CL

URGENT : This is the final notice to ALL Of the KNBK members who wish to renew their D.N.B.K. 2020 membership! The final payment to DNBK will be sent this week! ... Carl Long D.N.B.K. USA Shibu Rep.

The Enemy To: My fellow budoka, students and friends We are facing a foe that threatens to change the face of our planet, our families, our way of life. The pa...ndemic has been downplayed by politicians, the sheltered xenophobic uneducated masses, the self centered people who care only about how the truth will adversely reduce their 401k or their potential loss of investments. We as budoka have trained, invested in our ability to recognize a legitimate threat to our survival and those we value. We are courageous and do not hide from truths that may threaten our comfort. We take action when action is called for and remain calm in the face of adversity and discomfort. Our brethren around the world are already facing a serious crisis and we are affected and duty bound by their struggles. Their enemy, this pandemic , WILL come knocking on our doors to challenge us to take up the shield and the spear against this deadly threat. We must be prepared. It is our obligation to protect our families, our community, our future. It is a test of our training up to this point that will measure our true worth and that of our teaching and philosophy. To Serve...That is the obligation of the strong, the privileged, the people who claim to be the leaders and warriors. Before we meet the enemy we must fortify our homeland. We must begin by protecting our homes and ourselves from early harm. The social isolation policies are a preliminary strategy to curtail the fight until WE are ready to engage the enemy as a stronger and more cohesive team. It is not a cowardly society hiding from this viral curse. The curse is coming and our time to combat it will inevitably arrive. But we can prepare to fight it on our terms by giving ourselves time to be better prepared. Begin now by limiting your exposure to this virus. Begin now by strengthening and fortifying your homes and dojo. Begin now by protecting your families and friends from early exposure through better hygiene and education. Remain safe by educating yourself on the daily advances of both the science and progression of the virus. Our healthcare services will be overwhelmed very soon. We can better serve these public servants by protecting ourselves. Do not rely on others to do your work for you. Take action NOW! Be prepared, the weak and self-serving in our community will judge and condemn you for the things they are incapable of doing. Do not allow the weak voices of cowards to deter you from protecting them and others. Temporarily closing your business, school, postponing your recreational events, limiting your travel, sacrificing your income or savings to better serve your community and family are small sacrifices. In fact, if you are truly a budoka, they are insignificant annoyances you should be ashamed of allowing yourselves to even consider. Our true enemy has shown itself. It has already made itself known and it’s target known to us. It has killed and continues to kill. I encourage our budo community to lead by example and serve for the better good of humanity. That will be the test of your training. It will define who we are as a community within our nations. Character is defined through our actions. Service is defined through our actions. True understanding is reflected in our actions. Begin to act now. CL

Happy New Year! Please copy and save the current seminar schedule. Please plan in advance to attend and/or schedule a future event. All event schedule requests should be directed to Kako Lee Renshi.