![\"IMG_0750\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_0750-1024x819.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n\tFrom 29 to 31 May, at the invitation of the Minsk kendo club \u201cShichiken\u201d and the \u201cMemory of Afghanistan\u201d Foundation, 11 Japanese sword masters led by Sensei Masahito Yumura visited the Belarusian capital. <\/p>\n
\n\tThe visa-free entry regime introduced in Belarus that year also played a significant part in making the visit possible.<\/p>\n
\n\tBackground:<\/p>\n
\n\t<\/p>\n
\n\tKendo (the way of the sword) is the Japanese art of fencing. It is one of Japan\u2019s oldest martial arts and among those most closely associated with the samurai. It originated from kenjutsu, the traditional samurai art of swordsmanship. Its aim is to develop a well-rounded personality and strong character by tempering the practitioner\u2019s body and will. The art and philosophy of samurai swordsmanship often prove highly valuable in the modern world as well. <\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_0646\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_0646-1024x603.jpg\")
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\n\tThe Japanese sensei held several seminars, giving participants an opportunity to learn swordsmanship techniques from highly accomplished masters and even take part in practice bouts with them using shinai (bamboo swords).<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_0703\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_0703-1024x833.jpg\")
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\n\tAnyone who thought that a kendo seminar meant sitting through a lecture was mistaken. A kendo seminar involves between two and six hours of continuous sword practice, requiring total mental concentration and considerable physical exertion.<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_0566\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_0566-1024x576.jpg\")
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\n\tAfter one of the training sessions, Sensei Masahito Yumura observed that a recurring mistake among many of our athletes was wasting too much energy on movement and on feints and inaccurate strikes. Energy should be conserved for a single effective strike: one delivered with the correct part of the sword, against the correct target and at the correct angle.<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_0776\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_0776-1024x1024.jpg\")
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\n\tDespite being well beyond his youth, the master himself showed no sign of fatigue and looked far fresher than many of the seminar\u2019s younger participants. This was despite completing the same training as everyone else \u2014 and even doing more.<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_0479\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_0479-1024x1024.jpg\")
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\n\t![\"IMG_0531\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_0531-1024x682.jpg\")
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\n\t![\"IMG_0496\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_0496-1024x517.jpg\")
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\n\tThe Japanese delegation had a very full programme in Minsk, including daily seminars, sparring sessions, guided tours and meetings. On the second day of their visit, following a training session lasting several hours, they visited the Stalin Line Historical and Cultural Complex near Minsk.<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_4586\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_4586-1024x682.jpg\")
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\n\tAlexander Metla, Executive Director of the \u201cMemory of Afghanistan\u201d Foundation \u2014 himself an active fencer and participant in the kendo seminars \u2014 gave the Japanese masters a guided tour of the complex, which included an opportunity to fire live weapons.<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_4653\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_4653-1024x682.jpg\")
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\n\tThat day, the Stalin Line was hosting a historical reenactment of a 1941 battle from the Great Patriotic War. Most of the sensei expressed a desire to take part in the reenactment on the battlefield itself.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe kendo masters were given an opportunity to change into Red Army uniforms of the period, received a safety briefing, and the battle began.<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_4687\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_4687-1024x682.jpg\")
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\n\tNo one doubted who would win if it came to hand-to-hand combat.<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_4793\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_4793-1024x682.jpg\")
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\n\tEach was assigned an assistant drawn from experienced participants in similar battle reenactments. The Red Army troops attacked the fortified positions of the German forces. The assault took place across rough terrain with numerous obstacles. To everyone\u2019s surprise, the Japanese \u2018Red Army soldiers\u2019 \u2014 none of them young men \u2014 negotiated the obstacles with ease, leaping over trenches and ditches and leaving their experienced assistants behind. The assistants had to pick up the pace to keep the attack moving.<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_4742-1\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_4742-1-1024x473.jpg\")
The final day was devoted to kendo kata: prescribed forms simulating real combat strikes and combinations, performed in a strictly defined sequence. For spectators unfamiliar with the finer points of kendo, this was probably the most spectacular part.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Japanese masters received a warm farewell. At the farewell meal, they were served Belarusian dishes, drank tea and sang \u2018Katyusha\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_4881\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_4881-1024x682.jpg\")
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\n\tArigatou gozaimashita, Sensei! Until we meet again.<\/p>\n
\n\t <\/p>\n
\n\tDelegation of sensei (Japan):<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_0763\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_0763-1024x345.jpg\")
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\n\tMasahito Yumura, born 1941 \u2013 8th dan, hanshi<\/p>\n
\n\tKoetsu Sone, born 1948 \u2013 8th dan, kyoshi<\/p>\n
\n\tFumio Mori, born 1954 \u2013 8th dan, kyoshi<\/p>\n
\n\tShigeru Yonekura, born 1955 \u2014 8th dan, kyoshi<\/p>\n
\n\tYorihiko Maeno, born 1939 \u2013 7th dan, renshi<\/p>\n
\n\tSinichiro Shimodaira, born 1946 \u2013 7th dan, kyoshi<\/p>\n
\n\tKazuhisa Inoue, born 1947 \u2013 7th dan, kyoshi<\/p>\n
\n\tKazuo Ueno, born 1949 \u2013 7th dan, kyoshi<\/p>\n
\n\tSakaji Aida, born 1950 \u2013 7th dan, kyoshi<\/p>\n
\n\tMidori Kikuchihara, born 1949 \u2013 7th dan, kyoshi<\/p>\n
\n\tKiyoko Inui, born 1954 \u2013 6th dan, renshi<\/p>\n
\n\tSeminar participants:<\/p>\n
\n\tMinsk Kendo Club \u2018SHICHIKEN\u2019, Minsk Kendo Club \u2018SHUBUKAN\u2019, Zhlobin Kendo Club \u2018KioShoKan\u2019<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"IMG_0766\"](\"http:\/\/stalin-line.by\/images\/News\/News2017\/2017-06-21\/IMG_0766-1024x682.jpg\")
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\n\tSeminar organisers:<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cMemory of Afghanistan\u201d Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Internationalist Veterans, Minsk Kendo Club \u201cShichiken\u201d, Stalin Line Historical and Cultural Complex<\/p>\n