December Updates

Can you believe it's December already?  Here's what's new at Sword Class NYC!

The class schedule will changing a little bit starting Monday, December 12th:
Beginner Class: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 6PM at Joria Productions at 260 W. 36th St. 3rd floor.
Intermediate Class: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 7:30PM at Ripley-Grier Studios at 520 8th Ave.16th floor.  Check the monitors by the elevator to see which room we're in.
Advanced Class (by invitation only): Thursdays at 8:30PM at Ripley-Grier Studios.
*There will be no classes between December 26th and 29th.  We will resume training on January 2nd and there will be no Intermediate class on January 3rd.

On Sunday, December 18th will be the annual Sung Moo Kwan Holiday Party at our dojo in Dumont, New Jersey.  It will feature the first ever Siljun Dobup tournament!  The cost of participation is $20 and you need to register ahead of time, so just ask for a sign up form at your next class. After the tournament will be a kumdo competition and a pot luck dinner complete with karaoke!  It should be a great time and friends and family can come for free!

Finally, sword classes make a great and unique gift!  If you're interested in purchasing a gift certificate for the holidays, just let us know. 

Happy Holidays!

October Class Schedule

Starting October 3rd, our weekly class schedule will be:

Monday
6 PM- Beginners at Joria Productions
7 PM- Intermediate at Joria Productions

Tuesday
 6 PM- Beginners at Joria Productions
7:30 PM- Intermediate at Ripley-Grier Studios

Thursday
 6 PM- Beginners at Joria Productions
7:30 PM- Intermediate at Ripley-Grier Studios

Joria Productions  is located at 260 W. 36th St. (between 7th and 8th) on the 3rd floor.  You can ask which room we're in at the front desk.

Ripley-Grier Studios is located at 520 8th Ave. (between 36th and 37th) on the 16th floor.  Check the monitors by the elevator to see which room we're in.

Keep an eye on our Facebook page and Twitter feed, as well as this space, for any changes or updates to the schedule.  Feel free to e-mail us with any questions!

See you in class!

Level Test September 24th

The next level test will be on Saturday, September 24th at 2:30 PM at the Dumont dojo.  If this is your first test, it can be a pretty intimidating experience.  Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Don't forget to kiap!  Seriously.  You could do everything else perfectly, but if you forget this, you're going to fail.  No one expects you to be perfect at this level, but as long as you can demonstrate your spirit and commitment, you'll be fine.
• Maintain Zanshin ("remaining mind" or focus).  Even if you end up on the wrong foot or don't cut properly, don't let it show.  Don't make faces or heave heavy sighs.  Make any small adjustments you need to and just keep going.  Try not to let anything break your focus.
• Tap into your chianshim (power).  Make sure to engage your core.  A good cut comes from speed and  chianshim, not brute muscle.
• Relax and breathe!  Easier said than done, I know, but try.  Make sure to move slower than you think you need too.  When you're nervous, you'll speed up and make mistakes you wouldn't ordinarily make.  Practice going slower than you think you need to so that on the day of the test, you'll move at the proper pace.

Check in with the instructor if you're not sure what you need to do on the test.  Remember that you need to have your own sword and a uniform before you can take your first test.  It's best if you can practice in your uniform at least a few times first- hakama can take some getting used to!  The cost of the test is $40 and is due before the beginning of the test, along with the testing application form.

The dojo is easily reached by New Jersey Transit, but we are also arranging a car pool from the city.  Please let us know ASAP if you'd like to get in on the car pool.

If you can't make it to the test on the 24th, we will be offering an opportunity to take a video test on Monday, September 26th during regular class.  Send us an e-mail if you'd like more information or have any other questions about the test.

Good luck!

First Cutting Practice

This past Saturday, I tried my hand at tameshigiri (target cutting) for the first time.  This is an exercise for more advanced Siljun Dobup students.  We use (very!) sharp swords (shinken) to cut rice or bamboo mats (tatami) that have been soaked in water overnight.  The mats are rolled up and they are about as dense as human flesh.  Kind of freaky?  Maybe.  Harder than it looks?  Definitely!


I've been studying Siljun Dobup for just under two years and have been managing Sword Class NYC since last summer, but this was a brand new experience for me.  I had practiced the techniques hundreds of times, but holding that sharpened blade in my hands took my training to a whole new level.  Going into this training session, I was reviewing all the minutia of making a good cut in my head: Relax the shoulders; cut forward, not down; make a big circle; make a strong stance; don't overextend the wrists etc.  I was sure that if I could just make a good cut, this would be simple.  Definitely not the case.


Grand Master Seong complemented my form and posture, but when it came time to actually cut the mats, my blade actually bounced off.  I had this super-sharp katana and two years of training and I couldn't even cut a rice mat?!?  How embarrassing, especially in front of my teacher and fellow students, let alone the grand master and creator of the form!  I was frustrated with myself and immediately began running through the list again- Relax the shoulders; cut forward, not down. . ."  I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.  Master Seong told me I needed more "power".


As I watched other students take their turns, I started to see what I needed to do.  I am certainly no master of the blade, but I have the technical skills to make this cut.  My problem wasn't in my shoulders or wrists or even in my feet, but in my head and my heart.  I was simply using muscle to make my body do what I wanted it to.  Sure, my form needed some tweaking, but the real problem was that  I wasn't mentally or spiritually invested.  My desire to perform well and demonstrate my skill had derailed my focus.


On my next try, I shut down my litany of "Cutting To-Dos".  I narrowed my focus to only include my blade.  I gathered as much Chi (Qi ) as I could and trusted my muscle memory to get the sword where it needed to go.  It certainly wasn't perfect, but I cut that mat!


I orginally started studing this art partially for the physical benefits, but more so for the mental and spiritual ones.  In a city as fast-paced and busy as New York, we are all constantly multi-tasking.  We have our smartphones in one hand and our grande lattes with an extra shot in the other (I do, anyway.) and bounce from task to task to task all day.  Siljun Dobup gives me an opportunity to focus my energy on one thing and one thing only- my blade.  While this has always been something I am aware of while I train, my main focus has been on perfecting the cuts and forms themselves.  Of course this is important, but it can only get you so far.  I will continue to practice and refine my skills, but it is time to concentrate more on my chi.  It is a muscle like any other and can only get stronger with exercise.  It is difficult to apply the ability to cut tatami mats to your job or relationships, but strong chi will benefit every aspect of your life.


Watch out tatami mats!  I'm coming for you!






Check out the video of my cutting practice below and see more videos here. 

Sara is the manager of Sword Class NYC and a 2nd Geup in Siljun Dopub.  You can contact her via Sword Class NYC's  e-mail, Facebook or Twitter.  Keep your eye peeled for more of her blogging here!

Updates!

Hello there!  Long time, no see!

There has been a lot going on at Sword Class NYC!  We have been been steadily growing and expanding our class schedule.  Here's what it looks like now:

Beginner Classes
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 6 PM at Joria Productions
**Please email swordclassnyc@gmail.com to make a reservation.**

Intermediate Classes
Monday & Tuesday at 7 PM at Joria Productions
Thursday at 7:30 PM at Ripley-Grier Studios (8th Ave. Location)
**On Tuesday September 6th, Intermediate class will be at 7:30 PM at Ripley-Grier Studios**

We are still on the lookout for a space to call our very own.  Get all the news and updates on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and keep an eye on this page.

Welcome Yelpers!

$140 for Samurai Sword Class 3-Pack & Take-Home Sword (reg $240) at Samurai Sword Classes

Buy Now for $140

• Reg. Price$240
• Discount42%
• Savings$100

Time Remaining

25:26:57

22 Sold so far

Limited quantities available

What You Get

• Fierce samurai skills with this Package of 3 Group Samurai Sword Classes
• Proof that you’re legit - the traditional iaito training sword you’ll use in class is yours to keep
• 15% off your next group or private class
• Go with friends - you can buy multiples as gifts
• Classes held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and are by reservation only (call or email swordclassnyc@gmail.com), 48-hour cancellation notice required

Special Terms

$140 for Samurai Sword Class 3-Pack & Take-Home Sword (reg $240) promotion lasts through 4/30/2012. For another 4 years after that period, your Certificate is redeemable for the amount you paid, less any value that you have already received. Limit 1 Certificate purchase per person for own use, may buy multiple as gifts. Certificate redeemable starting 4/30/2011. One person may not redeem more than 1 Certificate during the promotion period. By reservation only, 48-hour cancellation notice required or Certificate is forfeited. All reservations must be scheduled by phone or email. Not to be combined with other certificates or offers. Subject to the Yelp Deals General Terms.

2011 H-Mart Asian Food Festival - Sword Demo

New Class Schedule!

Starting tomorrow (Nov. 30th), Sword Class NYC will have a brand new expanded schedule! We've added a second Intermediate class on Tuesdays from 6-7 PM and are keeping Thursdays the same- Beginners from 6-7PM and Intermediate from 7-8 PM. Now you can train twice a week! E-mail swordclassnyc@gmail.com with any questions and we'll see you in class!

SwordClassNYC.com is live!

I'm so happy to announce that swordclassNYC.com is now live! It still needs a few fixes, but it's very close to final form. It was created for me by the very talented and professional Amy Olchowski of AEO DESIGN. If you need a fabulous designer AND programmer who's very receptive to feedback, she's your girl. This is the next step in growing the business, and I hope that you'll enjoy the new layout, and possibly even share the site with your friends! Or even better, sign up for a trial class HERE.

;)

A special thank you to Emily Kelly who put my in contact with Amy.

To theDealist.com customers... Welcome!

Thank you for your almost overwhelming interest in Samurai sword classes! Because of the large number of purchasers, we've decided to make some changes to our class schedule.

Starting in October, we will be offering Intro classes on Tuesdays from 6-7 and 7-8 and on Thursdays from 6-7 and possibly 8-9. We will start scheduling people into classes once the promotion on The Dealist ends, which is this Wednesday at midnight. Once we start scheduling people, you'll be able to schedule all three of your classes at once, but we would like for you to attend three consecutive weeks (so if you choose a Tuesday at 6:00, you'll be on Tuesdays at 6:00 for the next 2 weeks). The classes will range from 8-12 people. You can schedule them up until basically the day before the class, but the further in advance you book, the better the chances of getting the dates you'd like.

I'm looking forward to meeting you!

Sab Bom Nim Raab Rashi

swordclassNYC featured on theDealist.com

swordclassNYC has been featured on theDealist.com! They are a social deal website focusing on the NYC region. For this deal, we are offering a package of 3 classes, heavily discounted at $25. One correction to what is listed on the site: I am NOT the founder of this martial art (I'm no where near bad-ass enough yet). Grandmaster Jin K. Seong is the founder of Siljun Dobup and received his training in iaido and Korean sword arts from his master, the late Grandmaster Young Dal Kim.

But welcome, visitors from theDealist! I hope that you'll have a fantastic experience and broaden your understanding of this fantastic and ancient martial art. Please contact me if you have any questions at swordclassNYC@gmail.com. I look forward to teaching you!

Sab Bom Nim Raab Rashi

Comic Con demonstration time announced!

SwordClassNYC and our parent company, the Sung Moo Kwan Kendo Academy will be demonstrating Kendo and Siljun Dobup ("Real Sword Training") at New York Comic Con on Friday, October 8th at the Variant Stage from 6:15 - 6:45 PM. That's not a lot of time, but I hope that you will be able to join us. At the panel, we'll be demoing:

- A brief history of the katana and the evolution of Kendo

- Kendo techniques presented by Kendo Academy students

- An introduction to Siljun Dobup and iaido

- Sets Jee, Su, Poong, and Hwa, or Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire, presented by Siljun Dobup practitioners

It should be a fantastic event, and I hope you can make it!

I can't wait to see all the costumes!

SwordClassNYC to perform at NY Comic Con!

SwordClassNYC (and our parent company, Sung Moo Kwan Kendo Academy) will be hosting a panel demonstration of Siljun Dobup and Kendo at NY Comic Con 2010! I've loved Comic con ever since living in San Diego, and can't wait to participate in this fantastic event. This will be our 4th (and certainly the largest) convention performance this year, and is a great opportunity to promote these martial arts and inform the NY community about Samurai Sword classes. I will post more details when I get them, including the time and location, but I wanted to share the good news!

See you at NY Comic Con! I'll be the one dressed as a samurai. :P

“Do nothing which is of no use.”

- Miyamoto Musashi

Midsummer Magick Renaissance Faire sword workshop

For those of you who don't know Jeff Mach (if that's possible), let me tell you that this guy knows how to throw a party. Let me back up a little. Jeff is an event organizer extraordinaire, and his events range from alternative bridal expos to renaissance faires to steampunk conventions. But one common thread through all his events is that it always feel like it's a huge party, and you have been specially invited. I have the good fortune of being able to call Jeff "friend" (and many other things, if I think about it), and am often asked to perform workshops at his events. Samurai sword training at a Renaissance faire? Sure! Why not? That's what makes his events different... special. At a Jeff Mach event, it will never be your typical {whatever}. It's not an event, it's an experience.

I performed a workshop this past weekend and it was fantastic! Even contending schedule-wise with the indomitable, fantasmigorical Daniel Greenwolf, the workshop was still well attended. The participants were interested, focused, and enthusiastic. What more could a teacher ask for? Oh right... 82 degree weather and busty lasses in corsets. Check out the pictures below, but more importantly, check out a Jeff Mach event!

Facebook | Michael Whitehouse's Photos - MMRF 2010 Week 3

New class in August!

I'm very pleased to announce that beginning Thursday August 5 Samurai Sword Classes will be adding an additional class from 7-8:00 PM. This will be an intermediate class, for people that are interested in attending regularly and really training intensively. The 6-7 class will continue as a beginner class, and will be open to first-timers, beginning students, and more advanced students that want to practice the basics and/or assist the first-timers.

Also, very soon we will be rolling out the new class website. Once the website launches (sometime in August), we will be referring to the class as swordclassNYC (website will be swordclassnyc.com). Good things are happening, and I'm happy that you, dear reader, are there to share it with me!

Classes are held from 6-8(!) at 260 West 36th St. 3rd Floor (Joria Studios). See you there!

Star Wars samurai art!

As you may or may not know, I am a huge Star Wars fan. I've always known about Star Wars art, and I remember when I was young it was always an incredible treat to see other artist's fresh take interpreting Star Wars. But then the future happened, and with the internet, Star Wars art became mainstream, and I'm glad it has! There are a few shining examples of how artists have reached back into the source materials of Star Wars, emphasizing its Samurai-esqu feel, but sometimes there are really fantastic creations. Here's one.

Check out Steve Bialik's blog to see more examples!

The kendo lifecycle | [ kenshi247.net ]

Check out this fantastic bog post about the lifecycle of a Kendoka (kendo practitioner). I started Kendo in my 20’s, and now that I’m in my 30’s I feel I’ve entered a new stage of my training. There wasn’t so much a conscious choice to alter how I approached practice, but my mentality has developed, matured as my skill increases. I practice Kendo less as a competitive sport, and more as an expression of my spirit.

The kendo lifecycle | [ kenshi247.net ]

Ancient Martial Art examination held for the first time in the United States

Palisades Park, NJ — Twenty students tested in front of visiting masters from Korea to become the first American black belts in the ancient sword martial art “Chosun Sebup.” The examination was held by the Korean Kumdo Association (KKA) and is the first ever held in the United States.

Chosun Sebup is one of the earliest written sword arts. Transcribed by a Chinese military tactician in the year 1621, Chosun Sebup is a section of codex “Mu-Bee Ji,” a compilation of martial arts and tactics from China, Japan, and Korea. It is separated into three chapters, Heaven, Earth, and Man. Each chapter details different sword techniques for use on the battlefield.

Students of the form are expected to perform the techniques flawlessly and must also complete a written examination to attain their black belt, or “Dan” rank. The prospective black belts are students from two northern New Jersey Kendo schools, Hung Moo Kwan and Sung Moo Kwan. Kendo, or “the way of the sword,” is the modern martial art of sword-fighting practiced by over six million people worldwide. Chosun Sebup, though a traditional Korean martial art, shares many similarities with Kendo including the concept of harmonizing the mind, body, and spirit.

# # #

This weekend there will be a very special event held at the Huang Moo Kwan Kendo school in Palisades Park, NJ. For the first time in the United States, a group of students will test for their 1st Dan (blackbelt) rank in a Korean martial art called "Chosun Sebup." I will be one of these students!

Chosun Sebup is a martial art detailed in the 17th century Korean military codex, 'Mu-bee-ji,’ a compilation of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese martial arts and tactics. Because of its shared border with China and long coastline, Korea has been in external conflict for much of its history. 'Mu-bee-ji' would have been written in a time when Korea was defending it's borders from the Manchu-Invasion, and recovering from the Seven-Year War with Japan. This is of important historical significance because most martial arts traditions of the time were passed down by word of mouth from teacher to student. The manual codifies, describes, and analyzes both friendly and enemy tactics and served as an important reconnaissance tool for the Korean commanders.

Chosun Sebup was the first inclusion in "Mu-bee-ji," and was practiced with a sword that was slung from the right shoulder and hung on the left side of the body, similar to the "tachi" (slung sword). It is unknown if the sword used in this art was a curved sword of Japanese origin (Katana) or a straight sword of the Chinese tradition (Jian). It is likely that both types of swords were used, depending on geographical location and access to trade routes. Another theory is that these two sword traditions were combined as the traditional Korean sword (Jingum) is curved like the katana, but incorporates the hanging tassel similar to the jian.

Chosun Sebup is divided into three sections, each with four techniques emphasizing a different form of attach and/or defense. These are:

Chapter 1. 천 ( Cheon) – Heaven
1. 거정세 ( Guh-jeong-se) - Making high stance as if one lifts a big pot.
2. 과좌세 ( Gua-jua-se) - Cutting from upleft to downright
3. 과우세 (Gua-woo-se) - Cutting from upright to downright
4. 탄복세 ( Tan-bok-se) - Thrusting at the belly

Chapter 2. 지 ( Jeeh) – Earth
1. 표두세 ( Pyo-doo-se) - Cutting the leopard’s head – Straight up to down cut
2. 좌협세 (Jua-hyeop-se) - Thrusting at the left chest
3. 우협세 (Woo-hyeop-se) - Thrusting at the heart
4. 어거세 (Uh-guh-se) - Sword at center position – pushing forward

Chapter 3. 인 (In) – Human
1. 은망세 (Uhn-mahng-se) - Silver Python
2. 전시세 (Jeon –shi-se) - As if one spreads wings
3. 요격세 (Yo-gyeok-se) - Cutting from upright to down left
4. 봉두세 (Bong-doo-se) - Beheading the Phoenix

A demonstration of Chosun Sebup performed by a youth sword team in Korea:

I can't wait to see THIS exhibit at the Museum of New York. I especially love this picture:

You can imagine this girl - a New York socialite, young and healthy - and her first experience with these foreign warriors, and what must have been going through her mind. As per most photographs of the time, their expressions are serene, as you had to wait for the camera to capture the image and it's much easier to maintain a placid expression. I suspect this was a much easier feat for the samurai, who were accustomed to keeping their expressions neutral, as was the cultural societal norm for the Japanese. Also, these were more than warriors, these were cultural ambassadors, charged with breaking Japan's self-imposed isolation from pretty much the rest of the world. What do you think they were thinking?

The exhibit begins this Friday, the 25th and runs through October 11th.