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The Capital Area Jodokai
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The Capital Area Jodokai was established in 2004 when a
group of Kaminoda Sensei’s students in the D.C. area
were invited to join the Capital Area Budokai. The
Budokai acts as a kind of “Japanese weapons arts
collective” that shares a dojo. In addition to jodo,
the Budokai has a kyudo, kendo, naginata, batto-do and
a mugai ryu group. There is also a group practicing Zen
Ken Ren iaido, and a group studying Muso Shinden Ryu
iaido (led by Corey Comstock).
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Corey & Dan on tanjo; Ray & Scott on tachi; Swordfest 2007 embu
(Right) Dan and Richard showing kenjutsu in Guelph, 1998.
The founding members of the Capital Area Jodokai are Richard Strausbaugh, Steve Hick, Dan Pearson, Ray Sosnowski and Scott Rakow. Corey Comstock was studying jodo in Japan in 2004 with Kaminoda Sensei, and joined the group as an instructor upon his return to the United States after 7 years of study in Tokyo with Kaminoda Sensei and then Sendai with Osato Sensei. All of us have been doing jodo for many years under Sensei’s direction.
(Left) Sensei continues the training in his room at Kashima with a hojojutsu lesson on Corey (Michael Rogers in background), 2005.
(Right) Corey displaying how well he learned his lessons with Dan on the receiving end, AnimeFest D.C., 2007.
Joining the budokai saw our group rapidly expand, and it now includes some 20 students. Women make up twenty percent of our membership. Our oldest member is somewhere over sixty and our youngest 16 when he joined.
Jasmine and Conor O’Regan on jo, Sakura Matsuri, 2007.
The Capital Area Jodokai was honored to host Kaminoda Sensei and a group of senior Nihon Jodokai members for a training seminar (gasshuku) in 2007.
International Friendship Jodo Seminar, August 2007, Washington, D.C.
Namiai Kusarigama Gasshuku, Embu, Taikai, 2005.
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Members of the Capital Area Jodokai also travel to Japan for gasshuku and taikai events on a regular basis. |
International Friendship Taikai & Gasshuku, Kashima, Japan, 2006.
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The Capital Area Jodokai performs demonstrations at many events around the D.C. area. If you are interested in having us show this magnificent 400 year old art, please contact Dan Pearson directly via e-mail. |
Steve Hick on jo. Sakura Matsuri D.C. 2004.
Dan and Richard showing some kusarigama, Sakura Matsuri, D.C. 2005. Friends from our dojo in the background (r) as well as friends from other places (l).
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