Learn a Unique Japanese Martial Art in Canada

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PO Box 116 La Ronge SK S0J 1L0

Category: News

News defeyter

MSR Canada Updates in 2022

We are already almost three months into 2022, so it is time to focus on some exciting updates for the MSR Canada Branch. If you are a current member, you are already aware of these excitements. But if you are not a member, here is your opportunity to start learning Meifu Shinkage Ryu without any excuses.

  1. MSR Canada now has a dedicated Learning Hub for members across Canada. This learning hub contains various resources including videos to continue your learning in between your training sessions.
  2. MSR Canada now has incorporated the Hanbojutsu. A hanbo is a stick of 90 centimetres and is used in combination with the shuriken. A special version of the hanbo – called the Shuken –  is also taught to more advanced students.
  3. We now have incorporated Nikon or Nunchaku kata (forms). We use a safety version of the Nunchaku to teach members a total of 10 kata. The Nunchaku is a personal favourite of the current grandmaster of MSR, Soke Otsuka in Japan. He redeveloped these 10 katas to continue to enjoy learning.

Perhaps you have been wanting to learn MSR from home? Join MSR Canada Branch and start learning.

News, Seminars defeyter

Fantastic Seminar

On February 20 and 21 2018, the first Meifu Shinkage Ryu (MSR seminar was held in Calgary, Alberta. The Renert School in Calgary hosted the event. During almost 9 hours per day, participants studied the basics (kihon waza) of MSR. The participants were divided into two groups of 16, arranged by age.

Kids Group < 13 years.

The children who were younger than 13 were presented a dynamic martial arts program, combining the basics of Meifu Shinkage Ryu into a concept called SHURIKENDO™. The participants used ohashi (chopsticks) and small soft balls as alternative to the metal Bo-Shuriken. The targets consisted of puzzle mats with a sheet of carton in front to allow the ohashi to easily penetrate. Other targets made of plastic cups were used to practice thrusting the small bowls into the cups (focus and accuracy). Besides thrusting, kids also learned how to evade objects being thrown at them,

In addition to Bo-Shurikenjutsu, kids used safety soft Fundo Kusari to learn some basic skills from Kusarijutsu. They learned Osame (returning the fundo kusari back into the hand) as well as some basic strikes. Other concepts were distancing and general find and gross motor skills activities.

Teen & Adult Group >13 years.

In this group participants studied concepts from the official MSR curriculum. All participants learned the basic thrust (Shomenuchi) with the Bo-Shuriken first, from where they continued to study other Bo-Shuriken skills. In addition, the basics of Fundo Kusarijutsu were studied, using a soft Fundo Kusari.

Besides Bo-Shurikenjutsu and Fundo Kusarijutsu, participants explored aspects of Kenjutsu as it relates to using Bo-Shuriken and the Fundo Kusari.

Meifu Shinkage Ryu Canada Members.

Registered members also participated in 4 hours of private training, focusing on the Shodan curriculum for Bo-Shurikenjutsu and Fundo Kusarijutsu. New skills were studied, and previously learned skills were polished. This resulted in all MSR Canada members making tremendous progress. At the end of the seminar, two MSR Canada members successfully passed their examinations.

*Please note that photos from the Kids group are not included in this post and cannot be shared on Social Media due to LAFOIP restrictions.

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MSR Alberta Keikokai

Today, as authorised by Yasuyuki Otsuka, Soke (headmaster) of Meifu Shinkage Ryu, I am happy to announce the conception of a new keikokai (study group) in Canada. This provincial keikokai will be named Meifu Shinkage Ryu Canada™ – Alberta Keikokai (short: MSR Alberta Keikokai), and cover instruction for the 200 square kilometres geographical area around Calgary. MSR Alberta Keikokai will be operated by Mr. Tom Gillis, under leadership of the Meifu Shinkage Ryu Canada™ Branch.

The first activity of the MSR Alberta Keikokai will be the organization of the MSR Alberta Seminar, on February 20 & 21, 2018. From that point on, activities will commence slowly.

News, Seminars defeyter

Calgary Seminar

The first official Meifu Shinkage Ryu Seminar in Calgary, Alberta is scheduled for February 20 and 21, 2018. The branch chief of Meifu Shinkage Ryu Canada, Dr. Chris de Feijter, will teach the foundational skills of this exciting school of Japanese martial arts to groups of kids and adults.

KIDS GROUPS
Kids will be learning a safe and kids-friendly version of the Bo-Shurikenjutsu from Meifu Shinkage Ryu, called SHURIKENDO™. Through specially designed games, kids learn about accuracy, aiming, evasion, and work on their hand-eye coordination and fine and gross motor skills to throw soft shuriken at the targets.

ADULT GROUP
Adults will learn the foundational skills of Meifu Shinkage Ryu Bo-Shurikenjutsu and Fundo Kusarijutsu (safety version) through hand-on activities taken from the official Meifu Shinkage Ryu curriculum. This event is open to adults with or without martial arts experience. The training hours are 5:30pm to 9:30pm.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE
This seminar has guided components where instruction is provided, as well as self-directed components, where participants continue to practice what they have learned to progress their skills.

MEIFU SHINKAGE RYU MEMBERSHIP
After the seminar, participants who are interested can become official members of Meifu Shinkage Ryu Canada Branch. More information will be available during the seminar.

MATERIALS
All materials will be provided. Official certified Meifu Shinkage Ryu Bo-shuriken (handmade in Canada) can be ordered during the seminar.

COST
Kids: $75 for 2 times 4 hour session
Adults: $150 for the full seminar, including self-directed learning (2x 4 hours).

HOW TO REGISTER
Please send an email to tom.gillis@renertschool.ca with your intent to register. More information about registration will be available as soon as possible. Please note that spaces are very LIMITED.

News, Seminars defeyter

July 2017 MSR Masterclass

As part of our July training weekend, a two-day Meifu Shinkage-ryu Masterclass will be organised in La Ronge on July  20 and 21 (Thursday and Friday).  The Thursday will focus on Shodan curriculum and on application skills of shurikenjutsu. We will also be working on finer details of movement of Fundo Kusari. The Friday is all about self-training and collaboration amongst members.

At the end of the Friday, MSR Canada members from Saskatchewan Dojo, and leaders from Toronto Keikokai, and Manitoba Prairies Keikokai who are eligible for examinations will have the opportunity to do their examination for their next level under supervision of Chris de Feijter, Branch Chief. This may include Sankyu, Nikyu, Ikkyu levels and Shodan level examination.

Participation in the MSR Masterclass is free, however, examination cost are to be paid by each member who wants to do their examination.

In addition to Meifu Shinkage-ryu, the training weekend will also include Yagyu Shinkage-ryu Kenjutsu and Yagyu Shingan-ryu (jujutsu). Especially the kenjutsu component is extremely interesting to do as it will provide deeper insight into some of the skills within Meifu Shinkage-ryu. Participation in the Yagyu component has a cost attached to it because we are flying in an instructor. Please contact Chris for more details.

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MSR Canada Branch News

I believe in great branding, even when that is for nonprofit purposes. And that is the case for Meifu Shinkage Ryu Canada™.

Growing Meifu Shinkage Ryu in Canada under the Branch can best be done in a structured manner, in order to make the organisational structure as transparent and easy to access as possible. The first step was to incorporate as a non-profit. This happened in 2014 as a keikokai. The second step was to protect the Meifu Shinkage Ryu name in Canada with a trademark. This happened in 2016. The third step was to become a Branch, which also happened in 2016.

Uniting efforts to grow Meifu Shinkage Ryu as a quality martial arts organisation in Canada is vital to maintaining the integrity and authenticity. There are already too many martial arts organisations being too splintered, and unable to keep control of their members. Our Board of Directors does not want that to happen in Canada.

What to expect in 2017

  • Quality Growth: Although we started small, growth will be steady for 2017. Rather than thinking in quantity, MSR Canada Branch stands for creating a quality membership.
  • Keiko Cafe sessions: We will be offering online collaboration sessions for members to attend. These sessions are all about thinking, sharing, and growing together. Rather than online training sessions, the Keiko Cafe is more about philosophy as well as researching Meifu Shinkage Ryu and related arts.
  • Leader Group: A Leader Group consisting of Keikokai Leaders who are affiliated with the Canada Branch will meet online once per month to discuss direction of each Keikokai, celebrate successes of it’s members, as well as to plan seminars, workshops, and other events. In addition, leaders can support each other by providing curriculum and instructional supports. These sessions will be available using the GO TO Meeting System.
  • Library: The Saskatchewan Keikokai started to build a library of Budo resources, consisting of often very rare books. These books will be available to all MSR Canada Branch leaders for research and further learning.
  • Administration and Organisation: With our organisation now recognised as a nonprofit corporation, we are working to obtain a Microsoft donation of the Office 365 suite. In addition, we are trying to get a donated license for Skype for Business. If everything goes well, all Branch affiliated leaders will have access to one copy of the full Microsoft Office suite at no cost.
  • Email: Establishing Meifu Shinkage Ryu Canada Branch requires a professional appearance. An email accounts for all the leaders that can be managed through Outlook will be available shortly. Try sending an email to chris@msrcanada.ca…
  • MSR Canada Branch Website: All Branch leaders will have access to a protected area on the MeifuShinkageRyu.ca where training resources can be shared.
  • Group Websites: All Branch Leaders will be provided with web-space on our server at no cost so that each group can build their own website.

With many other aspects in development, I am very excited to continue to lead the Canada Branch together with Branch affiliated leaders. There are many things to do, however, each step forward creates a stronger system.

Chris de Feijter

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New Workshops

Excitingly we are announcing a series of new workshops, to be offered in Saskatchewan and Toronto. Four workshops about Bo-Shurikenjutsu as well as four workshops about Fundo Kusarijutsu are currently being designed. Please take a look at the special announcement page, https://meifushinkageryu.ca/workshop-small-weapons/

In addition, we are setting up regular Keiko Cafe sessions. Please see the Facebook group for announcements.