My legs are officially jelly.

I spent this weekend training for Kenbu - Japanese Sword and Fan Dancing (I suppose it should be really called Kenshibudo, but whatever). Two sensei from Japan - Nagayama Sensei and Shoji Sensei - are down in Perth this week to help Ramon Sensei teach Kenjutsu and Kenbu.

Nagayama Sensei was instructing Jodo and Kenjitsu, but because I wasn't at least an ikkyu in Jodo I wasn't able to join that class. Shoji Sensei was taking Kenbu, which I had wanted to experience anyway, so I did that. Shoji Sensei is the Kenbu Sokei - a Japanese National Treasure. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn a new art from someone so qualified to teach it. It was a real honour.

I hadn't had the opportunity to meet the sensei when they were down last, but they're really nice. Shoji Sensei only knows a few words of English, but really got on well with everyone. Nagayama Sensei speaks enough English to get himself in trouble, but still really gets on well with everyone. I didn't get a chance to spend much time with Nagayama Sensei, except for Iaido training this morning (really good!), but he appears to have a really subtle sense of humour.

Last night we had a welcome dinner for the Sensei, which also doubled as a birthday celebration for Norma, Ramon Sensei's wife. She was dressed up in her beautiful Kimono, and was her usual cheerful self. Shoji Sensei had the three of us that were left from Kenbu (the others having other dinner commitments) perform a dance for Norma and the rest. Although I'd only "learnt" the two dances I did that day, I didn't stuff up too badly. Hans and Rebecca did more dancing than I, but it was Shoji Sensei that really stole the show - as you would expect. The sheer grace and perfection of her performance was really awe inspiring.

Although the seminar was this weekend, there may be more Kenbu training tomorrow evening that I can attend, before they head back to Japan on Tuesday. Shoji Sensei makes it look easy, but it's very exhausting. My legs and knees ache, and I was sweating profusely, but it was really great fun and I look forward to doing it again.