October 2026 Newsletter
Training Recap
Last month, our Toyama-ryu Battojutsu program shifted our focus to how knowledge layers, evolves, and adapts. Having established the foundation of the first four kata of Ichi-no-Tachi in August, our training this past month pushed beyond rote mechanics. We challenged practitioners to take what they already know and use it as a scaffold for deeper development - the very essence of Shoshin (初心), a beginner's mind. Even when facing familiar material, we must continually strip away complacency to uncover deeper layers of understanding.
This pursuit of precision moved from individual execution to collective accountability through group formations, a critical exploration that directly honors the military roots of Toyama-ryu. While modern martial practices often isolate the practitioner, the reality remains that working cohesively as a unit exponentially elevates the capabilities of the collective far beyond the reach of a sole individual. This is a universal truth that translates seamlessly off the mat.
True group alignment requires an individual to suppress their ego, synchronize their timing with those around them, and read situational shifts in real time - skills that are directly applicable to navigating interpersonal dynamics at work, managing responsibilities at school, or building cohesion within a family. Translating these traditional forms into spatial configurations forced a heightened awareness of the environment, requiring exact spacing and precise body mechanics to ensure tight, deliberate movements that avoid unintended interference or contact with fellow practitioners.
We further tested this spatial acuity by moving the kata off a static line and into real-world application, integrating the techniques into active walking and running. This drill highlighted a critical structural truth: proper execution requires an absolute, holistic awareness of one's own body mechanics, demanding that a practitioner instinctively grasp how their physical frame organizes its weight and balance based on whichever foot last anchored to the ground.
This intense, deliberate focus reveals why training with a weapon offers such profound advantages for modern life. Even when working with a wooden training sword, the practice remains completely unforgiving, demanding an entirely different tier of mental focus and physical integration than standard fitness routines. The instrument acts as a direct mirror that amplifies every hidden tension, lapse in concentration, or structural flaw. Learning to manage this external tool requires an exceptional level of self-governance and internal alignment. For anyone seeking a meaningful, lifelong practice - or parents looking to instill an unshakeable sense of focus and accountability in their children - refining your movement with the sword becomes an intimate vehicle for refining your character, cultivating a sharp clarity and resilience that directly upgrades how you handle the pressures and chaos of daily life.
This theme of intention dictated our structural review of Suburi. We emphasized that distinguishing between techniques requires more than memorizing names - it requires embodying their specific tactical intent. For example, Ichimonji, meaning one line or one stroke, and Shiho, meaning four directions, project distinct tactical realities through the visualization of their names. In defining our vocabulary, we recognize that while a cut is simply a cut, Suburi represents structural blade mechanics, whereas Battojutsu dictates the complete, seamless cycle of the draw, cut, and sheath.
As planned, our systematic pressure testing has officially begun. This rigorous evaluation will continue through the end of the year as we forge ahead into the second half of our curriculum reset. These tests are designed to expose structural gaps, push physical limits, and actively cultivate the unyielding spirit of budo as we steady our minds toward Senshin (洗心), a purified and cleansed mind.
Announcements
October brings an exciting community outing — we have an open invitation for all practitioners to join fellow members of Renkishin Dojo South Bay who will be attending the Northern California Renaissance Faire on October 18 and October 24. The gathering on October 18 will span the entire day, whereas the gathering on October 24 will take place during the afternoon. If you are interested in joining the group, please reach out directly.
As such, the Sunday Intro Class for our Toyama-ryu Battojutsu program at Renkishin Dojo South Bay will not be held on:
10/18
Furthermore, the following dates for our programs will be Open Training Sessions rather than formal, instructor-led classes:
10/1
Additionally, all classes will be paused over Halloween weekend, and we wish a safe and happy Halloween to everyone in our community who is celebrating.
We are also looking for volunteers on October 13 and October 17 to assist our affiliate partners at the MHBCC who are running their annual Rummage Sale. Because our programs utilize the facility's annex, our community's support during this high-traffic event is vital. Please note the following schedule changes and opportunities to assist:
10/13: Volunteers are needed immediately after classes held at Renkishin Dojo South Bay to assist them with their event setup
10/15: Regular classes will be canceled as the facility will be fully utilized for the sale
10/17: Volunteers are needed following the conclusion of the event to assist with the final cleanup
Your support in helping maintain this excellent shared space and supporting our affiliates would be greatly appreciated! To coordinate shift times, please email us directly or check in with leadership at the facility.
As a reminder, all students with active Core Membership receive one Technique Check-In per month, which requires formal scheduling with KIDAKAYA in advance. These check-ins are mandatory for completing rank curriculum cover sheets, which is a pre-requisite for all rank-up examinations. Notebook Check-In will take place on its regular monthly schedule, and practitioners are expected to maintain their training logs diligently.
We are also introducing a new service to our online store this month. Beginning in October, we will offer a personalized outfitting service to source and provide martial arts uniforms and training weapons tailored specifically to individual students, ensuring all training equipment aligns perfectly with our precise curriculum standards.
Finally, please note that ongoing schedule updates for our Toyama-ryu program can always be found on the Renkishin Dojo South Bay website. Additionally, our special merchandise collaboration items with Renkishin Dojo South Bay remain live in the online store, giving you an ongoing opportunity to secure custom gear and represent our training community.
Monthly Reflection
Our experiences over the past several weeks have offered a closer look into what the journey into Martial Arts actually means. At the recent gathering in Folsom, the concept of lineage became very clear to everyone present. Seeing three generations in the same room brought the whole system into perspective: the leadership guiding the legacy, the instructors passing down the knowledge, and the students just starting their path. It is a continuous, natural cycle where today's students become tomorrow's teachers, and today's instructors eventually step up to guide the legacy.
This serves as a reminder that entering this world is not about feeding an individual ego, proving fighting prowess, or hitting isolated milestones. It is simply about being part of a greater whole. At its core, Martial Arts is a practical vehicle for community building, character development, and refining how we carry ourselves every day. It offers a clear path to personal growth by helping us shift our focus toward collective discipline and mutual support.
This dynamic was underscored even further during our September visit with Professor Rowdy Hall. Spending time with a foundational leader brought our actual responsibilities into focus. A living tradition cannot survive in a vacuum; it simply requires a healthy balance between two distinct duties. First, we owe it to ourselves to keep our personal training honest, rigorous, and deep. Second, we owe it to each other to preserve the integrity of what we were taught while actively working to grow the art for the people coming up behind us. We train to advance our own skills, but we also train to keep that bridge between generations completely intact.
Acknowledgments
September was a milestone month for our community, and we are incredibly grateful for the experiences that continue to bring our network closer together.
We want to send a sincere thank you to Professor Rowdy Hall for his instructional visit. His presence and insights throughout his time with us gave everyone an immense amount of energy and perspective, leaving our entire community with a renewed focus as we push forward with our training.
We also want to extend our deepest appreciation to everyone we connected with at The Gathering, hosted by the Martial Arts Collective Society (MACS) in Folsom. Spending time with such a dedicated group of people was a fantastic experience, and we want to give a special shoutout to the individuals who made this event unforgettable.
Thank you to Bruce Juchnik, the founder and host of the gathering, for taking the time to share the deep history of the event with our leadership and for inviting them to be part of the instructor lineup for next year. Our team had a great time learning iaijutsu from Jeff Driscoll, exchanging knowledge and practicing swordwork with Russell Hughart, and spending hours diving into weapons and footwork with Gurdev Nidar Singh Nihang Bhujangi, whose enthusiasm for sharing his craft was incredible. It was also a pleasure hanging out with Phillip Gonsalves and learning his practical, street-ready techniques.
Finally, a special thank you goes to Hans Ingebretsen, the current president of the Kilohana Martial Arts Association, for his vital work in helping all of us within the association - including KIDAKAYA - participate in this exceptional event.
Following the inspiring experience of connecting with these martial artists, our leadership plans to return to teach at the gathering next year.
Looking even further down the road, KIDAKAYA will be officially organizing a Taikai for Renkishin Dojo South Bay in October 2027. This will be a landmark event for our network, bringing people together for a full weekend of intensive training and community building. We will share full details, dates, and registration info as planning moves forward, but for now, definitely mark your calendars for October 2027.
KIDAKAYA Martial Arts & Fitness
Precision, Discipline, Intention
— We Gawin It™!
