Aikido and Iaido demo?

[dj 8-ball]

So I've seen different martial arts demos in the pass at Fanime cons from Juijitsu to Wu-shu. Nothing against them (cuz Wu-shu is cool) but since Aikido is a Japanese martial art and the con is well...Japanese culture based I think it would be cool to see an Aikido demo. After all, half the con goers are wearing hakama anyway so the Aikido practioners would fit right in!  ;D

Thoughts?

[Yoshokatana]

I'd really like to see an iaido demonstration. I practice Aikido, but I've only heard about Iaido (due to the fact that there aren't any dojo in my area). I've never seen someone perform it.

[kimu]

Because I train in iajutsu, I agree that it would be nice to have some various Japanese martial arts demonstrations at anime cons, including Fanime.
But I'm not sure you could ever get a group from a dojo to do it? Would need manga/anime/video game fans who'd be willing to go to a convention...and I know among the dojo I go to, there's only been a couple anime fans. (Very sad fact, I think!)
And then probably the group would have to get special permissions from the con for showing up with swords/weapons at a con, let alone what might happen if some people/kids got a little too inspired by the demos and tried to practice on fellow congoers...yikes! ;p

(Side note: all my cosplay swords are safe-as-I-can-make-them wooden props that would never hold up to sparring.)

So until there's a martial arts demo at Fanime....
If you live in the Bay Area, in June in Santa Cruz at the Japanese Cultural Festival, there's usually at least one sword school doing a demonstration, along with a number of other martial arts. Also usually an awesome display of Kyudo or the Japanese bow, too.
A number of Obon festivals in the SF region down to Salinas and Monterey have kendo or iado sword demonstrations, my dojo only does one public demonstration a year, at our area Obon festival.

[Kava]

Just for the record, we already had a weapons demo with live swords last year. It's possible we'll have another one this year. It does require special handling - I believe there were actual police that escorted those doing the demos to and from the demo - so basically, the entire time the swords were out.

Also, it -is- possible to get panels or demonstrations sometimes that are put on by groups who aren't terribly interested in Anime. Someone doesn't -have- to attend the con to put on a demonstration or a panel. Of course, it helps if they're attending, because then they're already there... but it's not necessary.

That still means you'd have to find someone who actually -wanted- to do it though. xD; Just noting that it's not impossible. ^^

[kimu]

Awesome to hear there was one!
I was only there for one day last year...

I'll hope there could be more again, in the future.

[THEBROTHERHOOD_CEO]

I used to do Kendo at SJSU, and I know a bunch of people who do Iaido at San Jose Iaido.  What me to talk to them?

[ManWithDoor]

Aye, my group was the one doing the sword demo.  We're the Twilight Knights Renaissance Guild.  We are going to be doing another demonstration and panel this year, and are currently under negotiations to hold all-night boffer battles, from midnight to 6 am each night.  Should be fun.  If anyone wants to come to one of our fighter's practices, we hold them every Saturday afternoon in Cupertino, CA, a few miles west of San Jose.

[dj 8-ball]

Unfortunately my dojo can't do a demo this year. It was just a simple matter of not being able to get mats for the area we would need to demo on. MAYBE a weapons (bokken, jyo, tanto) and Iaido demo that seems unlikely also at this time since there are only 4 of us that practice Iaido at the dojo and only the dans (whom 1/2 can't make it) would be allowed to do the weapons demo.  :'(

Well, at least I get to wear my hakama around (SOUJIRO!) as usual.   :)