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Our goals for 2011 / Nuestras metas para el 2011

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 17:58:42 PST

With the dawn of the new year new questions arise for each and every kendoka. Should I train more and for longer periods? Should I purchase new uniform? Should I buy new bogu? Should I travel...

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Announcement / Anuncio

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 13:58:09 PST

Happy New Year 2011! Please take note that PAKA's website will be moving to a new web address therefore we will no longer post news and upcoming events regarding the organization. But don't...

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I PAKA Kendo Championship 2010

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:15:46 PST

En español The first Kendo Championship sponsored by the Panama Kendo Association (PAKA) was held at the University of Panama Gym on Saturday the 27th November 2010. A historic event as it was...

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2010 Ozawa Cup

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:17:19 PDT

En español Last weekend the Panama Canal Authority's gym became a martial arts stage as the 2010 Ozawa Cup was held. Organized by Juan De Leon's Traditional Karate International Ozawa-Ha, the...

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Back in the saddle again

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:06:36 PDT

Hello everyone! We have been absent for a month due to ongoing kendo activities that are taking place to improve student's training. Thank you very much to all of our loyal readers that remained with...

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Cooking up something special

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:58:46 PDT

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you may have noticed that things have been quiet during the past days. That’s because we're looking for new kendo topics to heat up the place. We don't want...

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Appropriate kendo flooring

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:27:29 PDT

For some time now we have been looking into expanding our dojo. Possibly we will begin practice at a more ample facility that, coincidentally, has wooden floors suitable for kendo practice. Wooden...

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First kendo exhibition

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:14:12 PDT

Our first kendo exhibition as members of the PAKA club took place at the Jose Beto Remon Municipal Gym (Panama City) on August 28. It was an exciting time for us as we had the opportunity to showcase...

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Kendo advantages

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:07:52 PDT

During your kendo career you will battle many people whose waza will be based on their height. The key to balance a match between two kendokas of different height is distance, speed and strikes...

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Friendship and camaraderie

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 07:35:29 PDT

From left to right: Sho-dan Rosemarie Read, Suyin Crook, Christian Alfredo Acevedo Herrera, Martina Aldeano, Alberto Prado and Javier Moreno PAKA’s kendo group is growing as you can see...

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PAKA’s tidbits

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:14:27 PDT

Against all odds When sho-dan Rosemarie Read and Delia Sanchez joined Lopez Q. sensei's dojo he had no idea that they had been practicing by themselves. Amazingly, Rosemary had formed a small...

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Waza and geiko: striking the perfect balance

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:54:47 PDT

Beginner´s kendo is always interesting: after a brief period of time you´ll witness a natural separation between those who apply themselves to waza and those that within minutes of starting class...

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Kendo rankings

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:57:04 PDT

It is understood that at some point in your kendo career you will try to achieve a rank. But, what does a rank really mean? Does it prove your true worthiness as a kendoka? Can it gain you respect,...

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Warm-up exercises: body rotations

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:42:16 PDT

Preparatory exercises help kendoka lift the mental anxiety he or she feels prior to kendo basic training. We will not go into each of the limbering exercises because many kendo books and videos offer...

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Local newspaper kendo article

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:13:44 PDT

We are very proud to share with you a clipping from Panamanian newspaper El Panama America. In this clipping there is a brief description of kendo as a martial art, a short commentary from Raul Lopez...

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Mokuso or Meditation: is it important?

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:15:27 PDT

Mokuso (pronounced "moh-kso") is Japanese for “meditation” and is performed before beginning a training session and following it in order to "clear one's mind of everything around you". I would add...

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Kendo wife

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:58:32 PDT

You’re at the movies watching a film about a woman who just started dating a kendoka. Fast-forward ten years, same woman wakes up next to an exhausted, stinking man. She leans over his shoulder and...

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Improving zanshin

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:19:32 PDT

Zanshin in kendo can be defined in many ways. Alertness, preparedness, completion of one’s technique; the last “ingredient “needed for a point to be considered during a competitive match. Have...

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Bogu maintenance tips

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:20:48 PDT

Bogu is kendoka´s biggest investment hands down. And we all want to take good care of our equipment so here are a few basic tips for bogu maintenance. Right after practice remove men and wipe...

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Makeshift arm protector

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:21:21 PDT

In my previous post I mentioned that Lopez Sensei crafted an arm protector out of old shinai parts. And, as promised I present a picture of the protector which was made with an old, worn-out kote,...

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Shinai and oil, do they mix?

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:22:14 PDT

All kendoka know that shinai need regular maintenance and care. Most kendoka know how to disarm shinai and replace all leather parts that wear out fast. And when you are all done changing sakigawa,...

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About practicing at home

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:13:15 PDT

Kendo is a way of life for all kendoka. That being said, you must practice at home when you're not at dojo facing sensei and fellow students. Practice time depends on kendoka's skill level: at least...

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Beginners' kendo

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:14:24 PDT

If you are interested in joining PAKA's kendo group, please contact Raul Lopez Q. Sensei at +507 6731 4502 or drop by the University of Panama gym during one of the regular practices to speak with...

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Have a kendo question? Ask Sensei

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:14:50 PDT

Raul Lopez Q. Sensei has been receiving many questions related to common kendo injuries and how to successfully recover from them. Feel free to drop Sensei a line and we will get back to you asap....

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Welcome new students

noreply@blogger.com (goldendragon) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 07:32:37 PDT

We are very excited to welcome newbies Ivan Chial, Rosemarie Read and Delia Sanchez. Rosemary (sho-dan) and Delia have previous kendo experience thus we are certain their experiences and individual...

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