TOKUMEIKAN
About Sensei Tong
About Sensei Tong
After graduating university, Mr. Douglas Tong quickly secured a job to teach English. He embarked to Japan in 1990 with views to broaden his horizons and learn a little about the world. Little did he know that what he would experience and learn there would change him forever and become a driving passion in his life. In his own words, he relates how he came to discover kenjutsu, the art of classical Japanese swordsmanship:
“My
journey into the world of kenjutsu began quite by accident about a month
after I had arrived in Japan. It was a warm summer day and
I was waiting for my train at Fujisawa Station to go to work. Along comes a
gaijin (a foreigner or in this case, a Westerner) strolling down the
platform and he stops by me. He looks me up and down and asks me quite
directly, “You aren’t Japanese, are you?” I was astounded. I am of Chinese
descent and was dressed in a business suit so I thought I looked like all
the other Japanese businessmen on that platform that day. I said, “No, I’m
from Canada.” And from then on, we struck up a long conversation. As it
turned out, this gaijin was Pat McCarthy, a fellow Canadian and famous
karateka. He asked me later if I would like to see a really old sword art
and I said sure, why not. The following Sunday, we arrived at Sugino dojo
and as I stepped into the dojo, I was met by a little man with white hair
and white beard (Sugino sensei actually). He was very polite and invited me
in and showed me a chair. I really didn’t know what to expect but once the
practice started, I was in awe. I felt as if I was in another time and
place. It was exhilarating and awe-inspiring all at the same time. At times,
I feel that it was a bit of destiny for this to have happened. Had I not
been standing there on that platform at that precise moment when Pat walked
by, I would never have met him and my life would have unfolded in a
completely different way. It is strange how life works.”
He would end up studying there intensively for years. He was one of Master Yoshio Sugino’s last direct pupils (1990-1994 at Sugino Sensei’s dojo in Kawasaki-shi, Japan) in Katori Shinto Ryu. His association with the Sugino family and his deepening involvement in the enigmatic world of kenjutsu would open up possibilities for researching and studying other equally famous styles of classical swordsmanship. Mr. Tong would leave Japan with an impressive base of first-hand experience and knowledge, having had the unique opportunity to have studied Ono-ha Itto Ryu directly under the legendary Master Takemi Sasamori, Yagyu Shinkage Ryu directly under Master Masao Mutoh, and Muso Shinden Eishin Ryu iaido and kendo directly under Master Toshihiko Izawa. Having studied at these most prestigious of sword schools, what has Mr. Tong taken away from the countless, invaluable experiences with his teachers?
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“I am an amalgamation of many of the
thoughts and personalities of my teachers. They each had something valuable
and unique to teach me and I am grateful to have had the chance to learn
from them. For example, from Izawa sensei I learned the meaning of dignity,
even under pressure. Win or lose, it is how you carry yourself. From Sugino
Yoshio sensei, I learned humility. No matter how great you become, you never
forget your roots. From Sugino Yukihiro sensei, I learned fighting spirit.
The spirit to press on no matter what the circumstances. Sasamori sensei is
a very compassionate man who was always very friendly and supportive. I
learned from him the value of patience and understanding.
Naturally, I did learn and develop the many technical skills necessary to become proficient in each style that I studied, such as how to cut, how to block, how to move, etc... But I think it was the ‘intangible’ things that were the real gems of what I learned from my teachers: their thoughts on the various technical issues in swordsmanship (ie., the value of chudan/seigan, importance of kamae, etc…), their ideas on tactics (e.g., controlling the opponent), and even their attitude and outlook (i.e., focus, diligence, honesty, responsibility, sincerity, determination, etc…). You cannot plan for or script these things in advance but I believe these ‘intangible’ things were certainly the most valuable and educational things I learned from my teachers. Of course, I had the good fortune of studying under teachers who were also extremely skilled in technique, the best in the world at what they do, and so they developed my technique (the technical side) very well too. But what impressed me the most about my teachers, and what I learned most from them, were their personal views, outlooks, and attitudes.”
Mr. Tong has been teaching kenjutsu ever since he returned to Canada in 1994 to continue his education. He would eventually graduate with four degrees: a B. A., B. Ed. (TESL), B.Ed. (Pre-Service), and an M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies). Currently, he is a school teacher with the Peel District School Board. As an educator in his professional life, the issue which has intrigued him has been the question of aims in education: the goals of specific educational systems and the goals of education in a general, theoretical sense. What is it that we are trying to produce through our educational system? This question has obviously spilled over to drive his ideas on educating students in budo as well, as he talked about in this excerpt from a recent interview in which he discusses what he tries to achieve in the teaching of his own students:
“I try to be a
role model like my teachers were before me. Hopefully, I can pass on what I
have learned, not just the techniques but the spirit and attitude of budo as
well. Qualities like dedication, loyalty, and hard work; compassion,
humility, and sacrifice. These are at the heart of bushido and what is
bushido but a code of ethics, a set of principles to live your life by?
Without these principles, kenjutsu becomes simply an art for killing. The
ethics must accompany the art to provide balance and develop the character.
In many modern fighting systems, they are great at teaching people how to
fight effectively. But not many also teach the students the ethical side of
fighting. This is what separated the samurai from a common thug: their sense
of ethics. It is a fine line between right and wrong. It is like what Yagyu
Munenori means when he talks about a death-dealing sword and a life-giving
sword. So in my teaching, I always try to remember that swordsmanship is not
just about techniques.”
Upon his return to Canada, Mr. Tong founded Tokumeikan, an organization dedicated to the study and promotion of kenjutsu, and he continues to travel throughout Canada and the U.S. teaching and promoting the traditional art of kenjutsu.