BUDOKAN
MISOGI 7 DECEMBER 2024
LYMINGTON DOJO
A Misogi is an ancient Japanese Shinto purification ritual that involves washing the body and is also a method for personal development and transformation. A traditional Misogi usually involved standing under a freezing waterfall to cleanse the mind and the body of the participants.
Thankfully, the modern approach involves challenging oneself to do something difficult even if you are not guaranteed to succeed. The Misogi challenge is about doing something tough once a year that shapes how you will live the rest of your 364 days.
On 7th December 2024 the members of Budokan UK came together to prepare for the coming year and to celebrate the life of Saisho Passmore by engaging in a Misogi which Sensei Mike designed together with the Shihonkai. Significantly the date was chosen by Saisho who had intended that this would be the Budokan year end event. At the opening of the Misogi Sensei Mike welcomed the attendees and family members and reminded us that although this was a somber occasion it was also a joyous one which provided the members the opportunity to salute Saisho’s achievements and to mourn his passing.
What was most impressive was that the event was attended by twenty practitioners as well as other passed members who did not participate in the misogi. All who attended could only be impressed with the manner with which Mike attended to his management of the misogi.
In preparation for the Misogi, Kyoshi Darren prepared the Kamidana which was much admired by all those who attended. Its central position on the dojo floor made this the focus of us all. To spiritually cleanse the dojo Kyoshi Darren performed two Iaido kata which Saisho would have been proud of.
Sensei Mike reminded us that Saisho began each year with the test of a thousand cuts so naturally, after the cleansing kata, the Misogi started with that test. Doing a thousand cuts with a bokken is no mean feat and certainly challenged us all. Some of the senior citizens had to take a break during the exercise.
Just watching the practitioners, you could see the concentration etched on their faces. One need only look at Pat Miller to see what I mean.
At the end of the exercise, it was traditional to have the exhausted members hold their bokken on their arms stretched out. Saisho also used to bring along a very heavy bokken and, as was his practice, he would choose someone to hold the heavy bokken out in front of them (usually Keith) so it was great to see that sensei Mike keeping up that tradition and bestowing that honor on Keith again this time around.
It was great to have Joe Braconi with us, he having travelled all the way from Edinburgh to attend. We look forward to having him regularly attend down in Lymington and he has promised to do so again later this year.
After the thousand cuts Sensei Mike, Toby Mellows, Paul Floyd and James Bryden demonstrated one of Saisho’s kata for the members after which Sensei Mike demonstrate a Bunkai from the kata which the members practiced.
Sensei Mike and Shihan Toby went on to demonstrate 3 Bunkai from the Kata, which they went on to work with all the students.
We continued with a 20 minute Zazen which was very important to Saisho.
(to come a couple of articles that This was published within the 4th edition of Hanshi Hamada's book Quintessence of Japanese Classical Martial Arts).
It was with great pleasure that James Bryden was award his Nidan Certificate. James was the last student to be assessed by Saisho who determined that he qualified to be elevated to his second Dan grade.
At the end of the misogi the Kamidana was dismantled and Saisho’s katana was handed back to Katy Passmore for safe keeping. She is a member of Budokan and serves on the Shihankai and will keep the katana.
Part of the misogi ritual is the requirement that the dojo is again cleansed, and Kyoshi Darren very kindly performed the closing Iaido cleansing kata for us. This was a very moving ceremony and is followed by the spreading of salt around the dojo.
The evening was concluded by a curry a great gathering at The Chequer’s in Lymington.
Many story’s and laughter were shared by old and new members of the Budokan family.
There are a few students that for unforeseen reasons were unable to attend the event but were keen to be there in spirit, Peter Robinson, Hilary Crundwell and Nicky Charnick. Let’s hope we will see you all in June!
We will be holding A Flag Ceremony on June 21st 2025 – it is the flag that will be given to Saisho’s family from the DNBK.
For more information email: Info@budokanworld.com
Sensei Mike Clapham
Kyoshi Darren Waghorne
Pat Miller
Keith Molyneux
Kyoshi Peter Bush and Sensei Joe Bracone
Richard Cozens, Steve Hill, James Bryden, Nick Singleton
Sensei Mike and James Bryden
Kyoshi Darren
We were also very privileged to have several of the original members of Budokan in attendance. Pat Miller, and Roy Estabrook and Paul Smith.
We were very privileged to have Saisho’s children in attendance. Duncan, Caroline and Tilly Passmore
BUDOKAN
MISOGI 7 DECEMBER 2024
LYMINGTON DOJO
A Misogi is an ancient Japanese Shinto purification ritual that involves washing the body and is also a method for personal development and transformation. A traditional Misogi usually involved standing under a freezing waterfall to cleanse the mind and the body of the participants.
Thankfully, the modern approach involves challenging oneself to do something difficult even if you are not guaranteed to succeed. The Misogi challenge is about doing something tough once a year that shapes how you will live the rest of your 364 days.
On 7th December 2024 the members of Budokan UK came together to prepare for the coming year and to celebrate the life of Saisho Passmore by engaging in a Misogi which Sensei Mike designed together with the Shihonkai. Significantly the date was chosen by Saisho who had intended that this would be the Budokan year end event. At the opening of the Misogi Sensei Mike welcomed the attendees and family members and reminded us that although this was a somber occasion it was also a joyous one which provided the members the opportunity to salute Saisho’s achievements and to mourn his passing.
What was most impressive was that the event was attended by twenty practitioners as well as other passed members who did not participate in the misogi. All who attended could only be impressed with the manner with which Mike attended to his management of the misogi.
In preparation for the Misogi, Kyoshi Darren prepared the Kamidana which was much admired by all those who attended. Its central position on the dojo floor made this the focus of us all. To spiritually cleanse the dojo Kyoshi Darren performed two Iaido kata which Saisho would have been proud of.
Sensei Mike reminded us that Saisho began each year with the test of a thousand cuts so naturally, after the cleansing kata, the Misogi started with that test. Doing a thousand cuts with a bokken is no mean feat and certainly challenged us all. Some of the senior citizens had to take a break during the exercise.
Just watching the practitioners, you could see the concentration etched on their faces. One need only look at Pat Miller to see what I mean.
At the end of the exercise, it was traditional to have the exhausted members hold their bokken on their arms stretched out. Saisho also used to bring along a very heavy bokken and, as was his practice, he would choose someone to hold the heavy bokken out in front of them (usually Keith) so it was great to see that sensei Mike keeping up that tradition and bestowing that honor on Keith again this time around.
It was great to have Joe Braconi with us, he having travelled all the way from Edinburgh to attend. We look forward to having him regularly attend down in Lymington and he has promised to do so again later this year.
After the thousand cuts Sensei Mike, Toby Mellows, Paul Floyd and James Bryden demonstrated one of Saisho’s kata for the members after which Sensei Mike demonstrate a Bunkai from the kata which the members practiced.
Sensei Mike and Shihan Toby went on to demonstrate 3 Bunkai from the Kata, which they went on to work with all the students.
We continued with a 20 minute Zazen which was very important to Saisho.
(to come a couple of articles that This was published within the 4th edition of Hanshi Hamada's book Quintessence of Japanese Classical Martial Arts).
It was with great pleasure that James Bryden was award his Nidan Certificate. James was the last student to be assessed by Saisho who determined that he qualified to be elevated to his second Dan grade.
At the end of the misogi the Kamidana was dismantled and Saisho’s katana was handed back to Katy Passmore for safe keeping. She is a member of Budokan and serves on the Shihankai and will keep the katana.
Part of the misogi ritual is the requirement that the dojo is again cleansed, and Kyoshi Darren very kindly performed the closing Iaido cleansing kata for us. This was a very moving ceremony and is followed by the spreading of salt around the dojo.
The evening was concluded by a curry a great gathering at The Chequer’s in Lymington.
Many story’s and laughter were shared by old and new members of the Budokan family.
There are a few students that for unforeseen reasons were unable to attend the event but were keen to be there in spirit, Peter Robinson, Hilary Crundwell and Nicky Charnick. Let’s hope we will see you all in June!
We will be holding A Flag Ceremony on June 21st 2025 – it is the flag that will be given to Saisho’s family from the DNBK.
For more information email: Info@budokanworld.com
Sensei Mike Clapham
Kyoshi Darren Waghorne
Pat Miller
Keith Molyneux
Kyoshi Peter Bush and Sensei Joe Bracone
Richard Cozens, Steve Hill, James Bryden, Nick Singleton
Sensei Mike and James Bryden
Kyoshi Darren
We were also very privileged to have several of the original members of Budokan in attendance. Pat Miller, and Roy Estabrook and Paul Smith.
We were very privileged to have Saisho’s children in attendance. Duncan, Caroline and Tilly Passmore