Some 60 people turned up including members from Kagamishin, Gloucester Uni, Nagamitsu, Kobudokan, Kashi no Ki, Eishin Juku, Mumeishi, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial Uni, Kashiwa, Akai Ryu, New Port, Portsmouth, Ichibyoshi and Kodokan members and a few representing squad members. A former student from Bulgaria (he was National Coach there for 3 years) was also present. Several people also turned up just to say good-bye as they were unable to make the practice.

I still vividly remember his first day at the National Squad training two years ago August when he introduced himself to the members and made a brief speech about one day leaving the country. When meeting a person there will always be a time to say good-bye. This was indeed the day that we all knew would eventually arrive since then, but because of his tireless efforts and the depth of his teaching it made this departure even more emotional. Would we one day know a little bit of what he was trying to teach us? and will we be able to fully appreciate and actually understand the deeper meanings?

As he didn’t expect anything at all from us there is now a vast amount of time left alone for us to digest the past 2 years and for us to try and continue practice based on this amazing experience. He not only taught us Kendo techniques but also invaluable stories and knowledge and how one should study Kendo for both men & ladies and what Kendo should be similarly for juniors, with a deep understanding of the different cultures here in the West. It is difficult to list all that was explained and taught by him and I wonder what more was to come if he had stayed another year as the resident Japanese Kendo teacher.