We have been in direct contact with Mr. John Chapman of WOS Wrestling Ltd., and have found his plans to be ambitious and interesting. While Kendo Nagasaki will not be appearing at the November 17th event at The Fairfield Halls, Croydon, we wish Mr. Chapman and WOS Wrestling well, and look forward to watching developments unfold, which will no doubt be of great interest to all British wrestling fans, and hopefully include extensive television coverage. The option of Kendo Nagasaki’s involvement in future events is certainly a possibility – watch this space for details!

We are proud to announce the launch of our new, up-rated Forum – it’s really impressive!

We’ve kept all the posts from the original forum, as well as everybody’s original usernames, so do please check it out, and start a conversation!

The only complication we had was that users’ original passwords couldn’t be carried over to the new Forum – passwords are encrypted, so we couldn’t access it at all, but at least it shows that such data is secure.

All previous forum users should have received an email telling them how to set a new password on their original account; you’ll only have to do this once, so please do come back and join in.

If anyone has any problems retrieving their old username, just drop us a line at admin@kendonagasaki.org.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the Forum!

Please Note: Comments on all Blog posts should be made in the Forum, which is the centre of discussions regarding Kendo Nagasaki.

Kendo’s Monthly Healing Messages will appear on his new Healing mini-site

In response to demand, Kendo has had a new mini-website dedicated to healing set up in its own space.

There is an initial explanation of the new mini-site, the theories and techniques of healing, how to get healing from Kendo, a Blog dedicated to healing, and a contact page – all-in-all, a small space dedicated solely to this important field.

As you will see, there is now a new link to the Healing mini-site on the navigation bar on every page of the main website, so anyone interested can access the new site easily at any time, and from anywhere else on the Kendo website.

We hope you like the Healing mini-site, and if you’re looking for June’s inspiring Healing Message from Kendo, you’ll find it on the blog on the Healing site.

Enjoy!

“Hacking” Crashes our Website…

As many of you will have noticed, the availability of our website has been patchy over the last couple of days – and it’s set to go off again as we work to get round the problems.

According to our web hosting company, the physical server on which our site is hosted has been hacked, and is now being remotely-controlled to launch attacks on other computers. This has resulted in the hosting company shutting the server down, and all the web sites on it – it’s not just us…

However, the same server stopped responding yesterday, and the company said that an “upgrade” needed to be installed – which it was, and now, this…

This may mean that the fault may lie with the hosting company, and possible questionable upkeep and administration of their servers. The hosting company should have been able to prevent any outside infiltration, and also bring the websites on a compromised server back on line with a simple switch-over… Our web hosting company is one of the biggies, and none of this should have happened – there are many questions to be answered, and we’ll bring you the benefit of our experience.

Unfortunately, all this has delayed our shipping orders placed on the store, for which we apologise profusely, but this situation has been completely beyond our control. Please bear with us as we recover.

We are now making preparations to circumvent such problems in the future.

The new Store is now WORKING!!!

I can’t promise that there will be absolutely no further issues, but the double-charging issue is now fixed!

This must have been what Kendo refers to as a “focussed obstacle” – an additional temporary challenge which arises in the heat of an intense moment to test what we’re all about; well, folks, in keeping with the Teachings, we’ve toiled ceaselessly to overcome the issue, not knowing how it would be done, but, as is so often the case, the problem emerged because it simply couldn’t escape the Kendo gaze!

Please accept our apologies once again for the setback – you may now shop with confidence! (Please do!)

Best wishes

Atlantis.

We Have Masks…

Nagasaki Media Ltd. is proud to announce the arrival of Kendo Nagasaki masks!

It has been a long and difficult process specifying how the masks must be made, finding tailors who could be trusted with the making of the masks, assessing the craftsmanship of the many sample masks submitted, applying rigorous quality control during the process of making of the masks, and ensuring that each mask is excellent value-for-money, but we now finally have the end result – Kendo Nagasaki masks of first-rate quality, completely authentic and good enough to be worn by Kendo himself.

The masks will appear on the Kendo Nagasaki online store during the first week of June, coinciding with the appearance of a re-launched and improved online store, and this, too, will be announced here.

The first set of Kendo Nagasaki masks to be made available are in all four traditional colours from Kendo’s World of Sport years – red, black, blue, and purple – and to help you decide which one you want first, they will all be pictured on the web store.

So, to all of you who have waited so patiently for an authentic Kendo Nagasaki wrestling mask, the wait is finally over! The stock is here, ready to be rushed to you as soon as everything is uploaded to the new web store. We guarantee that you won’t be disappointed!

Here at the Kendo Nagasaki Retreat, in line with Kendo’s teachings, we do not view passing as final – it is merely a change of state – the soul of Mick McManus continues on.

Kendo also says that people can have a karmic duty to fulfil a certain role, to portray a certain image, and, as a heel in the ring, Mick McManus challenged conceptions of right and wrong.

McManus also wielded influence behind-the-scenes as well – an excellent networker, he infiltrated the organisation of wrestling, to the extent of being able to influence the arrangement of matches, and even prevent his rivals from getting top-billing matches, booking himself instead. He eventually wielded very great influence in wrestling promotions in general.

Therefore, to both the public and to his contemporaries in wrestling, McManus was dangerous – intelligent, a subversive renegade – a karmic role he fulfilled very well.

Kendo would therefore say that there is more to Mick McManus than how he has been perceived, and this should be reflected upon; the actions of McManus have provided many and varied lessons for us all, but his soul is clearly that of a conscientious warrior, who has worked hard and successfully towards the enlightenment of people through his relationships. His lifetime has enriched the world for a great many, in ways they may not even realise.

Kendo Nagasaki’s position is that, in accord with the foregoing, the life of Mick McManus is to be celebrated, respected, reflected upon, and appreciated on many levels.

With the application deadline for attending Kendo’s Retreat Event on November 13th now passed, he is contemplating the entries.

In many cases, the quality of the reasoning and artistry submitted was outstanding, and Kendo will be relying on intuition from the spiritual planes to arrive at a final decision – it will take a little while consider all the applications and come to a decision, but we anticipate that it will occur within a week of the closing, or by 20th May.

Once again, all applicants are to be congratulated on their imagination, inspiration, reasoning, and the quality of their self-expression – it will not be an easy decision, but Kendo thanks you all.

Watch this space…

Here is a quick reminder that May’s Distant Healing Event occurs on Monday at 13:13 hours, or 1:13 pm.

Be prepared for your intuitive self to reveal subtle messages to you; in healing terms, Kendo’s empowerment takes the form of discovering the energies that have compromised your health, and, in discovering them, understanding how to re-direct them to restore personal balance and potency.

You should reflect upon Kendo’s Healing Message for May (below), and then concentrate on his Hand-Eye-Hexagram Empowerment image, then close your eyes and keep the image in your mind’s eye whilst reciting the Empowerment Mantra to yourself: “It is by harnessing the power of Kendo Nagasaki that I become the samurai master of my life.”

Any contemplation of Kendo Nagasaki is immensely empowering, especially in healing terms, and he wishes deep empowerment to you all.

In May, Japan celebrates Tango-no-Sekku, one of several “children’s day” festivals which occur during the year.

Specifically, Tango-no-Sekku is a celebratory day for boys, and, unsurprisingly, themes of power, endurance, and dominance are prominent. These strengths are symbolised by the carp, a fish considered by the Japanese to be the most spirited, which fights its way upstream against any current however swift. Such determination to overcome any obstacle is considered an example of courage, and the determination to reach the highest levels of achievement. Success is considered to be the result of such determination to overcome life’s setbacks and difficulties; whilst not only being qualities upon which to call in the face of any challenge, such traits are also considered manly, and are consequently encouraged in Japan’s male children.

The example of the courageous and indomitable carp is given symbolic life in the many carp streamers that can be seen blowing in the wind in Japan during May, one per boy-child per family. The carp streamers are often accompanied by long streamers which first saw use after the Hojo clan’s victory over invading Mongols in May 1281, repelling none less than the great Kublai Khan. Subsequently, Samurai families erected the flags and streamers in celebration of the victory.

Kendo Nagasaki encourages the use of any symbol which inspires the warrior nature, and May’s carp streamers are a fine example. An even stronger connection exists between Kendo and the Hojo who defeated Kublai Khan and his invading forces (twice) – Kendo Nagasaki lived and fought in the Hojo dynasty, so May’s streamers of courage have a special significance to him.

With spring having arrived, the cherry trees in bloom and in the warmth of the sun, May is a month of inspiration to action, courage, determination. Whilst one need not fly one’s own carp streamers and banners, even imagining them dancing in the wind calls to mind the determination of the carp, and, just as in Japan, Kendo would enjoin all his followers to be empowered by that mental image. Just as in nature itself, we, too, can fight to “overcome any obstacle” in our pursuit of health, excellence, and success, and once so motivated, just recalling the image re-energises the determination.

Kendo Nagasaki’s healing message for May is to follow the indomitable example of the carp, and overcome any and all obstacles.

I had to run an errand for Kendo today – collecting a couple of new chairs for the Retreat’s Meditation Suite – and, on such a beautiful spring day, every inch of the 80-mile journey was a delight. Needless to say, there were plenty of opportunities to put Kendo’s teachings to good use!

In such an excellent spring environment, it’s easy to feel the full majesty of nature, to visualise all the deities of nature which Kendo describes (the kami), manifesting in the trees, the fields, the sky, the earth, the air. I was pleasantly surprised at how many cherry trees I saw in full bloom – it was absolutely joyous!

On my errand, I had the opportunity to apply one of Kendo’s strongest messages, which is that of contrast – seeing the inner aspects of things through contemplation; this is an approach which is often seen in Japanese poetry.

Whilst it’s relatively easy to feel the divine aspects of nature on a lovely spring day such as today, Kendo would remind us to consider what’s going on during the depths of winter, when much of nature is hidden beneath frost and grey skies. The contrast Kendo would recommend seeking through “thought experiment”, is to recognise that all the kami of nature so easily perceived in spring are still there in winter. This exercise reveals that cold, grey winter has same aspects of inner beauty and power as spring, and an interesting side-effect of the exercise is that whilst imagining winter, the inner beauty of spring itself is revealed even more clearly.

Mulling this over as I drove enhanced my day even more, and I recalled Kendo’s advice to apply the same “visualisation of contrasts” technique to other aspects of life; I shall, but for the moment, I thank Kendo for giving me the opportunity to experience in even greater clarity the beauty of a spring day.

Only 13 days left to apply for Kendo’s 13th November Retreat Event!

We have been deeply impressed at the imagination and the passion shown in the applications received so far to attend Kendo’s mystical Retreat Event on 13th November – very well done to those who have already sent in their applications: it’s all powerful stuff…

However, whilst everyone remains in contention, the 13 places are by no means finalised! With just 13 more days to go, there is still time to get the creative juices flowing, and tell Kendo the 13 reasons why you should be there…

It’s going to be a spectacular event, so think of Kendo and be mightily inspired! Send your creativity to admin@kendonagasaki.org.

The November 13th Event – How to Get There!

Kendo Nagasaki has unveiled the requirements for attending his Anniversary Event on November 13th 2013 – and they take the form of a challenge!

When considering that it is to gain access to Kendo himself at his Retreat, this is ultimately not a surprising approach; such a prize is not easily won!

Full information is available in the Kendo Forum, where, as usual, discussion is welcomed!

Now, Be Inspired!

The 13th day of the month is with us once again, and so, at 13:13 hours GMT, it is the time to set worldly distractions aside, still the mind, and focus upon Kendo Nagasaki’s healing energies. In visualising Kendo’s red mask and his healing hands either side of his Hand-Eye-Hexagram symbol, with every slow, deep breath, the power of the universe will flow out of the symbol and into yourself. Continued for 13 minutes or more, this practice is empowering on all levels, particularly in restoring the balance of the life energies which are depleted, thus bringing about healing.

Kendo’s April Healing Message:

With the advent of the spring equinox, the sun can be seen and felt to be brighter and stronger, and the increased energy one feels can be directed into meditative visualisations of empowerment and renewal, which is the theme of April’s healing message.

In April, the cherry blossoms come out all over Japan. This event is hugely significant for the country, and has been for many centuries, for all strata of society, not least the samurai.

The cherry blossoms last for only a few days each year, but for that short time, present a display of breathtaking beauty. Arguably the most admired is the somei yoshino, which blossoms before producing any leaves, so every April, each tree is a mass of white and pale pink blossoms – one of the most beautiful sites in nature.

That such beauty is present for only a few days each year greatly enhances appreciation of it, and the experience is also viewed philosophically.

After the darkness and chill of winter, the fleeting nature of this spring beauty is much anticipated, and serves as a reminder of the cyclic nature of life – not only of the regularity of the seasons, but also of one’s own fortunes: there is more to be expected from life than wintry darkness, or even the scorching humidity of summer; every spring, promise blossoms anew.

After the end of the warring states period in Japan, the samurai turned their focus and discipline upon the study of aesthetics, and hence were born some of the most incisive art forms in the world, from the martial art sport of kendo, which Miyamoto Musashi himself developed from samurai sword skills, to Japanese calligraphy, to the austere elegance (wabi-sabi) of ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement), and much more.

A welcome insight provided by Western culture into this Japanese phenomenon was seen in one of the poignant back-stories depicted in the remarkable movie, “The Last Samurai”, in which Ken Watanabe plays the ferocious and supremely-skilled yet highly cultured title role: he was fascinated by cherry blossoms, making them the focus of extensive study, and appreciating their perfection until his last very breath.

Kendo Nagasaki is such a comprehensively cultured samurai soul, and he encourages us all to broaden our aesthetic horizons. Just as the stilled mind forms the basis of the finest weapon, opening the intuition to the power, the patterns, and the mysticism of nature and art and meditating upon what is perceived elevates all levels of the self beyond preoccupation with the material here-and-now, and, spring-like, re-kindles promise, possibility, inspiration.

Inspiration is the theme of April’s Healing Message from Kendo Nagasaki; the cherry blossoms represent the re-birth of the promise of the coming year, just as the dawn represents the birth of a new day and all its promise. From a healing perspective, nothing is more important than being open to inspiration from many sources, including the beauty of nature, the simple elegance of an austere flower arrangement, how the brush strokes of calligraphy have their own simple artistic elegance, and also say so much in so few words (as in Japanese Haiku poetry).

Indeed, there is a whole spectrum of inspiration to which Kendo Nagasaki can introduce us, all of it enlightening, uplifting, empowering, and healing. This month, he recommends that we contemplate the buds of spring, and share in their promise of renewal and blossoming.

The following is a set of interesting questions from one of Kendo’s fans, Kendodyl, and, because the answers seek to clarify some fundamental aspects of Kendo and Yogensha, they’ve been posted here for informational purposes…

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Kendodyl:

I’ve just watched “The Wild Bunch” again…

I find it incredibly fascinating to see the man behind Kendo’s mask coming through… You see humour, earthiness, and a real warm side to Peter. I do not think there was too much acting-out another character there, as the subject-matter was completely what Peter is all about. I find it incredibly interesting that Peter has this other deep side to him, that in no way would you associate with the character in The Wild Bunch.

1. How does he feel about his portrayal in that film? Will he admit that that was very close to his own personality, or one of his personalities?

2. Does he regret that role now? And was he trying to say, “this is the real me”? He seemed so comfortable that I feel that was him.

3. His other spiritual side dominates him now, will he admit that? And has he changed completely from the Peter I saw in the film. All very intriguing….

…and even more intriguing is: will I get an answer from Atlantis? With all due respect, Kendo’s fans do not seem to get rewarded for their patience – a patience and quality that says how much they love the Kendo enigma.

Dylan.

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Atlantis responds:

Hi Dylan;

Many thanks for your fascinating post!

“The Wild Bunch” was a drama, a fiction, a story for which the best and most convincing characters were cast, including some non-professional actors, such as Giant Haystacks and our own Yogensha. It is undeniably a compelling drama because of the quality of all the performances, for which all the actors are to be congratulated, but whether an individual acting role is capable of revealing the depths and complexities of the actor is a very good question.

Acting is, of course, a great skill; to be able to project a credible character from subtleties such as posture, timing, how long a glance is held, how other characters are related-to, reactions to dialogue and other aspects of the dramatised environment, all add up to the measure of a great performance. We should ask: have we been taken on a journey by each character, and indeed by all the characters working together? Have we been introduced to and immersed in novel, believable, and exciting situations by the way the scenery and props have been brought to life by the dynamic interplay of the cast?

In all respects, “The Wild Bunch” succeeds, and Yogensha’s performance, of course, contributes significantly to that success – I’ve watched the program many times, and every time I marvel at his intensity and versatility, and, frankly, how effortless he made it seem.

…but then, he’s an immensely complex and capable man – you simply wouldn’t believe the range of subjects in which he’s an expert, nor his range of skills; after all, he has brought together countless threads of spiritual wisdom revealed to him by Kendo, and woven them into a coherent philosophy of understanding, empowerment, and healing. Yogensha is simply the most accomplished, impressive, and inspiring human being I’ve ever encountered (including the classical philosophers I studied at university!), so whilst the quality and credibility of his acting in “The Wild Bunch” is excellent, it’s not that surprising!

Fundamentally, Yogensha is such an impressive individual because his comprehensive abilities were ignited by Kendo, and have continued to be fuelled over many years by his spiritual mentoring; consequently, Kendo employs Yogensha as his ambassador for the power of personal empowerment. In this light, it is unsurprising that Yogensha had no shortage of the one quality that an actor must possess in abundance as the foundation of a great performance – confidence.

Dylan, returning to your post, I find that while it speaks of real appreciation of Yogensha’s acting in “The Wild Bunch”, from your questions, I detect a feeling of disconnectedness from his spirituality, and a consequent questioning arising from the contrast you have perceived; on these points, here’s a little food for thought…

“The Wild Bunch” was first screened in early 1978, having been filmed before Kendo unmasked in December 1977. A further year earlier than this saw the printing of the TV Times feature on Kendo as a healer (December 1976), and needless-to-say, it took time for Kendo’s reputation as a healer to grow to the extent that he would attract national press. This is just one fact which illustrates that Kendo’s spiritual and healing aspects (as expressed through Yogensha) significantly pre-date “The Wild Bunch”, and have remained constant elements of the mystery of Kendo; far from your suggestion that Yogensha the actor is the “real” person, and that Yogensha has “changed completely” from the character you saw in “The Wild Bunch”, the reverse is true – he acted extremely well, but his spirituality remains an unchanging, life-long commitment.

I find it very refreshing to see that the “…patience and quality that says how much [Kendo’s fans] love the Kendo enigma …” of which you speak extends to questioning the fundamentals of the enigma, and such questioning is to be welcomed – Kendo Nagasaki is a rock-solid, bona-fide spiritual healer and personal empowerment mentor, and I welcome every opportunity to shed more light on him and all he has to offer us.

Dylan, I hope you find this clarification suitably rewarding!

Looking forward to hearing from you again soon.

Very best wishes

Atlantis.