some useful info from Princeton Kendo & Iaido Club

Dear Ken Wa Kan kenshis,

Just sharing with you some useful and knowledgeable information from Princeton Kendo & Iaido club. We may need a train about how to fold our hakama and gi properly later soon. Also, if you are interested in participating the event on 4/22, please let Jason and/or me know.

Meanwhile, if you missed the last 2 classes, I hope you can make it on tomorrow.

I'll see you in class.

Vincent

(Part of the following contents are quoted from Yang Sensei, Princeton Kendo & Iaido Club: http://www.princetonkendo.com/)

They are numerous interpretations for the meaning of the hakama pleats, following is how I been taught and it seems to be accepted by most Kendo-ka. These 5 pleats are called "Go Rin Go Jyo" (五倫五常).

5 front pleats of hakama (袴) are called:

Mercy 仁 ( pounced "jin" in Japanese)
Righteousness 義 (gi)
Etiquette 禮 (rei)
Wisdom 智 (chi)
Trust 信 (shin)

The back of Hakama often refers to as in-yo (in Chinese yin-yang) These are the two elementary and complimentary forces (Eastern Philosophy)

4/22/07
Japanese Cherry Blossom demonstration at Essex County 12:30am - 3:30pm -- !CONFIRMED!

Essex County's Cherry Blossoms Festival is the biggest in the U.S.!! Average 100,000 visitors each year will gather to see this event.
"Bring the whole family and enjoy free Japanese cultural Activities throughout the Festival"