Shintokan Hatsugeiko - January 11-12, 2024 at Shintokan Dojo led by Phil Relnick sensei - Washington state.  First major training of the new year at Shintokan, with lots of folks from: WA, OR, AZ, CA, NM, Brazil! There is no better way to knock the Christmas turkey out of you!

Shintokan Kagami Biraki - January 13, 2024 at Shintokan Dojo led by Phil Relnick sensei - Washington state. 

Shobukan Dojo Kagami Biraki - January 7, 2024 in Colorado 

Albuquerque Jo Seminar - March 22-24, 2024. The Jo group at the Albuquerque Shin-Budo Kai hosted a three day Jo seminar, with people attending from: WA, NM, AZ, NJ, CO. Great training and good New Mexico (no passport required) food.  

Denver Shobukan Jo Seminar - April 26-28, 2024

Brazil Jo Seminar - June 2024. In Brasilia, Brazil is a dedicated group of Jodo practitioners.  They sponsor a regular Jodo seminar each year (sometimes twice).  And members of this group often travel to Shintokan dojo in Woodinville for training. So once again there was a great turn out and participation!  

Denver Shobukan Dojo at the Denver Sakura Matsuri June 2024  

Fort Worden Gasshuku of August 2024 -   Wow, what an event! Almost 40 people from all over the USA and Brazil attended this wonderful training at Fort Worden in Washington state. So much training time together on a variety of subjects. The full Shinto Muso-ryu curriculum was explored in some very interesting ways. Also, logistically, everyone pulled together to make things happen in a smooth and friendly way. Kudos to Will, Amanda, and Anamara for their outstanding leadership and management of the overall event. 

Japan Trip for Shinto Muso-ryu in 2024 -  Below are several entries related to our trip to Japan in October of this year. It was an amazing trip, with opportunities to visit historically significant places, meet new people and become friends, to visit old friends, engage in a fair amount of Jodo training, and to strengthen our bond with the history and culture of Japan, and Shinto Muso-ryu itself. 

Paying our respect to teachers of Shinto Muso-ryu - October 2024 -   We visited the gravesites, called 'Ohaka Mairi - お墓参り, of Shiraishi Hanjiro sensei (白石半次郎), Otofuji Ichizo sensei (乙藤市蔵) in Fukuoka, and Shimizu Takaji sensei (清水隆次) in Tokyo.  Ensuring their gravesite is clean, offering flowers and food, along with prayers. Jodo has spread throughout Japan, and the world, mainly due to these three teachers in the last 150 years. We feel the connection to these teachers, through our own teachers. This is the chain of Shinto Muso-ryu. 

Climbing Mount Homan and visiting 'Fuchi no Kutsu' 普池の窟 (Muso Gonnosuke's Cave) - October 2024 -   Near Kamado Jinja in Dazaifu, Kyushu is Mount Homan. Legend tells that Muso Gonnosuke sequestered himself in this cave for 37 days, and finally had a vision, and message: "know the solar plexus [of your opponent] with a round stick" - "maruki o motte, suigetsu o shire"

丸木を以って水月を知れ

. We spent a day hiking to this cave, to pay our respects to Muso Gonnosuke and previous teachers of Shinto Muso-ryu.

Hono Embu at Muso Gonnosuke Jinja - October 2024 -   On the grounds of Kamado Jinja in Dazaifu, Kyushu is another small shrine dedicated to the founder of Shinto Muso-ryu Jo, Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi. In 1967 this shrine was built and dedicated by practitioners from all over Japan, but mainly the Kyushu and Tokyo areas. Our teachers Phil Relnick sensei and Nobuko Relnick sensei were present at this 1967 dedication. After properly arranging with the priests in charge of Kamado jinja and the overall shrine grounds, our group participated in a 'hono embu' in front of Muso Gonnosuke jinja. As a way to pay our respects to the founder of Shinto Muso-ryu, and of all the teachers that came after him. Up to and including our own teachers. It was a unique and rewarding experience for everyone. 

Meeting new friends & seeing old friends - October 2024 -  We were able to meet new Jodo friends during this visit. And to see old friends. Included during this time was a unique and interesting lecture on the history of Shinto Muso-ryu Jodo by Tominaga sensei in Fukuoka.   

Fun siteseeing around Japan - October 2024 -  This trip was not totally taken up with Jodo training (more's the pity). A lot of site seeing around Japan was done by everyone on this trip. The people,  history, and food of Japan was a wonderful experience.  It was so much fun to do this together!

December Shintokan Jo seminar - 2024 -  An end-of-the-year three day Jodo seminar at Shintokan dojo in Woodinville. Attended by fellow Jo trainees from around the USA. A great way to end the year!