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Visiting other dojos

The network of Katori Shintō-ryū dojos across Europe and around the world is tightly knit. We strive to visit other shibu for training several times a year or invite other dojos to visit us in Berlin. One such dojo is the Chu Shin Dojo in Amsterdam, which we visited during a seminar in July 2024. This seminar was led by three shihandai (Malte Stokhof, Jacobo Rodriguez, Riichi Kitano) and included monjin from the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, the UK, Poland, and more.

Participants of the seminar in Amsterdam in July 2024
Participants of the seminar in Amsterdam in July 2024

In addition to building new friendships, training with international monjin helps us avoid becoming complacent with familiar partners from our own dojo and enables us to identify and address any shortcomings in our technique we need to overcome.

Members of the Katori Berlin Dojo at the seminar in Amsterdam
Members of Kōshinkan Dōjō Berlin at the seminar in Amsterdam

Training in Japan

Connecting with the origins of Katori Shintō-ryū is essential for every member of the ryū. Each year, our sensei invites a select group of members to spend a week training at the main dojo in Japan.

Otake Nobutoshi-sensei teaching a new kata at Shinbukan Dojo
Otake Nobutoshi-sensei teaching a new kata at Shinbukan Dojo

During their time at Shinbukan dojo, the monjin from Kōshinkan Dōjō will have the opportunity to experience deeper insights. Both the head teacher and the sempai play crucial roles in developing your understanding of the tradition. These senior students may act as mentors, helping you further grasp the ryū's techniques, rules, and values.