Samurai Sword Fighting (Chambara) Class has been held by Yoshi Amao and Bob Kuwayama from Samurai Sword Soul. The general class is open to everyone regardless of experience. You will learn very basic sword techniques such as breathing, walking, gripping, swinging, stances, forms, KIAI and different combinations, Then you can try KAKARI KEIKO (a real attack between offense and defense). After you learn how to make fighting scenes EXCITING but SAFE, some sword fighting scenes will be individually choreographed depending on the student's level of experience. The advanced class is for the people who have mastered every basic technique. You will experience more and more exciting choreographies and complicated movements and forms. You will be trained as a performer for the stage. "If you are looking for some exercises to sharpen your body and soul, please come here to work off your energy and release the stress of big city life!!" (Yoshi Amao) Samurai Sword Soul is a theater company, which was formed by Yoshi Amao with Yoshihisa Kuwayama in 2003, trying to spread the BUSHI-DO, the way of samurai, to the world. Their aim is introduce people the Samurai Virtue: Rectitude(gi), Courage(yu), Benevolence(jin), Respect(rei), Honesty(makoto), Honor(meiyo), and Loyalty(chugi). Believing this is something we all possess in each human being regardless of ethnicity, time and place, Samurai Sword Soul (SSS) sends the beauty of samurai spirit in this century, through their performance with Japanese culture, drama, humor and magnificent Japanese Sword Fighting technique. SSS sword technique is based on Waki Ryu Tate, which was created by Keihei Wakisaka, Seido Karate spirit and Kendo technique. Now evolved with more contemporary sense and own artistry, they have established unique Samurai Sword Soul Style. Their performance, variety of comedy, heartfelt theme, and powerful and exciting sword fighting, has been allured wide range of audience from little children to elderly in New York. SSS debuted in Cherry Blossom Festival 2003 at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and since then, they have been coming back to festival each year on prime time. The same year, they appeared in premier event of "Last Samurai." They also appears often on TV including NBC, NY1 News, CW11, CBS, FOX TV, Fuji TV and NHK, and in newspapers including such as New York Times, Daily News, New York Sun, Metro New York, Japion, Daily Sun. They extensively perform in many festivals, events, and schools through out New York City, and recently choreograph and perform in samurai films as well. http://www.SamuraiSwordSoul.com Samurai Sword Fighting Class (Tate Class) in 2007 Every Saturday 4:30pm-6:30pm(Open Level Class) until Peridance Center moves to a new location. No class on 9/15/07. Peridance Center 890 Broadway 6th Floor NY, NY 10010 (Broadway 19th Street, which is a temporary location) http://www.peridance.com 212-505-0886 Fee:$17 No Reservation is required Photo by Takahiro Ueno