[Interview] Alexander C. Bennett - First steps in Japan and first contact with Kendo (S01E01)

[@artinhjollder4779]

Bennett sensei, with an authentic and rare warrior spirit illuminates this dull world and carries the true torch of Bushido.

[@davidjkelly1971]

I love his honesty in the video!

[@MinnanoKendo]

One of the great sensei in the world of kendo! Interesting footage btw ;)

[@GiorgosSardelis]

Beautiful video and interview. Thank you for sharing.

[@cristobalsantiago5730]

Wow! One day I would like to meet Bennett Sensei! He looks like a great guy!

[@kenkyukai100]

Does or did Mr Bennet train his students the same he was trained by his sensei ?

[@seidobudostudies]

That's also a question we will discuss in a future interview. From my point of view, I'd say that he is as tough as his sensei was with him (or close to that) because it's how Budo should be taught, but more friendly and communicative which makes it psychologically easier to accept. I imagine he also adapts to each student and give him what he needs to improve.

[@kenkyukai100]

Thank you for an informative reply . after 43 years myself of training and teaching karate , from the karate perspective , karate in my dojo in the 1970's was brutal at times , 40 odd years on ? well ? its very very different , i don't have many students that could deal with the older methods the i experienced . i would never have wanted it easy ! i have done a little Kendo in the past and loved it the training was very tough .

[@seidobudostudies]

I totally get your point and I'm still asking myself many questions... That's a subject often discussed in Judo, Karate, Kendo, Aikido... Both in and out Japan. Even tough I do believe that training in Japan has always been a bit 'tougher' than what we see (in most Dojo) in the west. Probably because Japanese students accept a significantly higher degree of sadism in their education (not that I think it's a good thing in general... it can be in Budo, with a proper teacher of course). Alex teaches in Japan to Japanese students (mainly), which probably gives him a different perspective. With the 'fall of Budo' (less and less serious adepts), the question of in which extent teaching must be adapted to students expectations in order to keep them practicing is a very interesting and serious subject actually. It's definitely something we'll talk about in a future interview.

[@Peekingduck]

Thanks for this amazing series with an amazing budo-ka and authority. But why start the episodes with Chinese music when they are about Japanese budo? Wish you had taken the extra ten minutes to do research for that.

[@seidobudostudies]

Thanks for your comment. Although taking roots in China (as many things in the Japanese cultures), the guzheng is also a Japanese instrument called Koto in Japan, and Japanese music also contains pentatonic scales. This is a discussion that we already had with a Chinese musician, so rest assured the choice of this music for the "Budo Studies" logo is made on purpose.