Natsumatsuri Demo

By Jesse Palmer

On June 24th in Mango Florida for the annual Tampa Natsumatsuri ( Summer Festival ) I demonstrated Toyamaryu kenjutsu and tameshigiri ( Test cutting on rolled-up straw woven mats ) Performing my first kenjutsu demonstration was perplexing at first, but I went with what popped in my head.

It was new so there was that feeling like a deer in headlights; wondering where to begin. I went with what was in my head at the time and chatted on a little bit.

I planned to cut several targets and do a couple kata. I did. It went well, I made clean cuts ( Yay not much clean up! ) and felt I spoke well enough.

The audience enjoyed it. I got claps and even a little chuckle out of them. It was good. No one dared ask me a question in front of everyone else, but after several people came up to me and asked me questions. I had some assistance from John McGee the Tampa Natsumatsuri's host. I really appreciated that.

I do wish I had cut up the futomaki more, oh well. The cuts were clean, though I need to pay the "shinbo" fee. I cut the stand's wooden peg on the final cut. I also just realized after watching my own video...I said I was going to do godangiri and rokudangiri, but skipped a cut on rokudangiri. What a polite audience (^^;).

I would certainly do it again, it was quite fun and people appreciated seeing this Japanese martial art. I believe I represented the dojo well.

Please enjoy the video