TOKUMEIKAN

Founder's Acknowledgements

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the following people, whose guidance directly or indirectly has helped to shape my thoughts and philosophies on swordsmanship and whose help has been invaluable:

Sugino Yoshio Sensei: for allowing me the chance to study Katori Shinto Ryu. I appreciated his generosity in having allowed me to join this most exclusive of martial institutions and the many kindnesses which he showed me while I studied there. When I was with him last, he was still practicing the warrior way at 90 years of age.  He has been and still is a source of inspiration to me to try even harder in my endeavours.

Sugino Yukihiro Sensei: for teaching me the finer points of swordsmanship in the Katori style. He has a warrior's heart and fighting spirit. A lot of what I learned about spirit I learned from him.

Sasamori Takemi Sensei: for his generosity in allowing me to study Ono-ha Itto Ryu. He is also a Christian priest besides being a swordsman and seeing a great teacher studying both military art and religion served to enlighten me to the necessity for hard work and research in any endeavour I may undertake and instilled in me a greater sense of divine forces in our lives.

Izawa Toshihiko Sensei: for his endless patience and understanding in instructing me in the fine art of iaido and kendo. He is the best kendo and iaido practitioner I have ever had the joy to watch. His quiet presence and graceful yet exact technique never ceased to impress me and encouraged me to strive for perfection in technique and spirit.

Mutou Masao Sensei: for our fine discussions on swordsmanship and his kindness in allowing me to study Yagyu Shinkage Ryu. Many of my ideas on teaching and running a dynamic, interactive-style class I learned from him.

Kusano Are and Eri Sensei: for their friendship and guidance. Practicing a variety of old budo, they are the primary source for classical Japanese warrior arts in Scandinavia. I would like to thank Kusano Are Sensei especially for his patience in spending extra time with me exploring tactical issues in swordsmanship and for his invaluable help.

Patrick McCarthy Sensei: for his kindness and generosity in allowing me into his home, for introducing me to the world of swordsmanship and for his friendship. For these reasons, I am grateful and indebted to him. He is the premiere source for true, original karate in the world. Although practicing a different art, his tireless efforts in researching the origins and fundamental principles of karate have inspired me to look deeper into the art of swordsmanship.