Authentic Iai and Kendo martial activities with Trevor Jones

13,Jun 2014 Reviews

We had a very nice stay at Kifu No Sato Ryokan during the Easter holidays. The ryokan is amazing – super relaxing atmosphere with hot springs, great traditional food and fantastic hospitality. As part of our stay, Hiromi arranged for us to visit Musashi’s hometown in Miyamoto and spend time with Trevor Jones in a ‘hands-on kendo and iaido experience’.

The Musashi hometown was a great place to visit. As someone interested in samurai culture, I was keen to explore the sites of Musashi’s birthplace. It was fascinating to see such a historical site. But the essence of the place is the Japanese way of the sword and the hands on Kendo/Iaido session we had booked with Trevor Jones offered the opportunity to not only visit but truly immerse myself in its spirit and participate in this.

Having practiced martial arts since childhood, I was a bit skeptical. These types of activities can sometimes be very commercial or mediocre. Instead, I met in Trevor a true martial artist of the finest caliber, someone who has dedicated a big part of his life to the Japanese way of the sword. Most importantly, someone who showed true passion for the art and was passionate in sharing it with others.

One does not need prior experience in martial arts to enjoy the session with Trevor. He breaks down a complex art into simple concepts, he communicates clearly and is very engaging throwing in his good sense of humor. Besides having an authentic learning experience, I had a lot of fun!

Flo & Nancy

25 May 2014