a blog of Taras Filatov

A bokken is used as an inexpensive and relatively safe substitute for a real sword, in training for several martial arts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokken

Inexpensive huh? Have paid 124 euros to sensei for a bokken today. Anyway, looking forward to some stick practice

Yesterday I have passed an examination for 6th kyu which is a first step on aikido career ladder

I’m a real aikidoka now. Almost like Steven Seagal.

The summer school in Chester in 2007 was great, I’ve had a very pleasant time and have met a lot of good folk not to mention the everyday practice of aikido with the best senseis such as Kanetsuka and Sugawara. It’s like touching a legend. Still can’t really believe but I was there.

http://www.soton.ac.uk/~aikido/news.html

It’s a pity to leave the Southampton University dojo, I think Alex Megann is a great sensei. I hope I will be able to find some good dojo in Kharkov where I’m going to spend some time (probably about half a year) now.