by Connie Borden and Sarah Baker
Sixteen people attended a six-Keiko workshop on Kenjutsu with guest instructor Pierre Quettier, 5th Dan Kenjutsu and Shintaido General Instructor. Assisting him were Shintaido Kenjutsu Yondan’s Connie Borden and Robert Gaston. The three-day workshop from 11-13 October 2025 was held in Rohnert Park, CA. The theme “Deepening Connections” suggested both a deepening into our traditions with Japanese sword and a blossoming of potential new classes and new students.
Organizers Connie Borden, Robert Gaston, and Lee Ordeman welcomed participants from both the east coast and the west coast of the USA. Lee, as team leader of the service teams, set the tone of joint collaboration to connect with each other and provide a sense of shared community. Sandra and Sally provided nourishing on-site lunches which served to keep us in community each day of Keiko. Martha, assisted by Dan and Gorazd, did sensei care to ensure our instructors were warmly cared for and allowed instructor’s Pierre, Connie, and Rob to share their lived wisdom from their practice of Kenjutsu. Jennifer, assisted by Laura and various students, did hakama care. Sarah videotaped the six-Keiko to give us a record for future studies. Mike assisted by Bevis, helped prepare the dojo space and ensured the needs for safety and comfort were met as the dojo team. Tom and Jason kept the group informed throughout with timely announcements, including use of WhatsApp. Robert was the facility liaison for smooth and clear communication with facility staff.
As most people stayed in the Rohnert Park area, Saturday and Sunday evenings included time for conversations. People were curious about many topics and had various inspirational moments. Lee Ordeman reflected in these post-Keiko discussions with a quotation from Chapter six of Shintaido: the body is a message of the universe. The quotation is “What is kiru-‘cutting’? The locus of one swing of the sword is itself a sign. Only that. Nothing more.” Lee also explored a quote from Sekiun teachings of being natural, moving like a baby in contrast to the typical advice of cutting with power. In another post-Keiko discussion, Tom Abbott shared his thinking and questioning about tenso, heaven and the word “surrender.” Pierre shared his perspective of teaching beginning students the martial art of Kenjutsu. Beyond the discussions there were opportunities to be together for breakfast, dinner, and relax in the pool or hot tub!
Over the 3 days we had six 2-hour Keikos. Three Keiko we practiced in one large group. Two Keiko were practiced by skill level in three smaller groups. The final Keiko was saved for a review and demonstration.
Connie challenged those with beginning sword experience with the practices of Diamond 8, Tenshingoso Kumitachi no ken, Shoden no Kata Sei, and Go Ho Batto Ho #1 & 2. Robert worked with a group of intermediate level students working on Go Ho Batto Ho #1, 2, and 3 with bokken, the form of Chuden no kata, and Jissen. Rob’s group also joined Pierre’s group for some additional study. Pierre’s primary group of advanced students studied Go Ho Batto Ho #1 to #5 using iaito (practice metal sword), and the form of Okuden no Kata.
Occasionally, Pierre combined his and Rob’s group to practice collectively. In this combined group, they worked on Chuden no Kata with applications with kumitachi (partner practice) of possible attackers from several possible directions and Jissen forms including Dotoh (#2), Gasshi-uchi (#3),Ryuhi (#4), Kasumi (#5), Iwao (#6), Kusanagi (#7), Kokuken (#14), and Aikiken (#17).
The final Keiko led by Pierre included demonstrations of what had been taught over the weekend. Connie led the entire group with Tenshingoso no Ken followed by kumitachi (partner practice). Each group showed their Go Ho Batto Ho practice. More advanced students demonstrated with iaito (practice metal sword) the Go Ho Batto Ho. Connie led those in her group to demonstrate the application of Shoden no Kata with Tenshingoso no ken kumitachi blended. Groups two and three showed several of the Jissen techniques they had studied.
Pierre performed 8 sword techniques called Toyama-ryu Batto Ho Kata with his iaito. His demonstration showed clarity of cutting in different directions while also showing his soft, flowing, effortless mastery of the sword. In a cascade of demonstrations, each group did their kata (as mentioned above), finally all groups did Shoden no kata together. After three days of practice the group was unified in doing the kata as if they were breathing and moving in concert with each other.
Gratitude was expressed to Pierre at the closing ceremony for his time, wisdom, and teaching. Sally Gaston shared “Awesome weekend-thank you everyone.” John Bevis said “I enjoyed the workshop pace. Every section expanded what we did in the prior section.” Pierre shared his view that Shintaido of America Kenjutsu practice was on their way “with enthusiastic learners running ahead.” In departing, Pierre shared that the enthusiasm of the group “renewed (his) energy and inspiration to go on and to refine further our common good of Kenjutsu practices.” Throughout the practice, Ito Sensei was honored for his Kenjutsu legacy with his photo hanging beneath the Shintaido banner.
Glossary:
Diamond 8 – the creation of Masashi Minagawa for sword (and open hand)
Tenshingoso Kumitachi no ken – using the sword to do one of three core Shintaido movements
Go Ho Batto Ho – five drawing techniques for the bokken or iaito
Iaito – metal practice sword
Jissen – sword techniques for the bokken beyond the 9 basic Shintaido techniques taught with Boktoh. These twenty- two techniques have both names and numbers.
Shoden no Kata – the first of three Kenjutsu kata for sword
Chuden no kata – the second of three Kenjutsu kata for sword
Okuden no kata – the third of three Kenjutsu kata for sword (also know as the wisdom kata)
