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By
Eric Hufnagel
When Michael Alexanian Sensei told my father, Tom Hufnagel, and
I that he had a project for us, I was immediately interested because
Sensei always has very interesting challenges. He told us that we
were going to write an essay about studying Tamiya Ryu as a father/son
duo, but that we would individually write the papers from our point
of view, and they would then be posted on the TRI website. This
project was to be done during the holiday break and posted in the
New Year. After getting a little behind due to a busy holiday, I
am finally ready to give my view on studying Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu
with my father, Tom Hufnagel.
My father and I have always done many activities together, and presently,
we continue to actively participate in many activities together.
Dad and I golf together, work out at the Michigan Athletic Club
(MAC) together, and have been scuba diving buddies for the past
year and a half. Two years ago, he came to me with an interesting
proposal: studying a Japanese sword art. I have always been interesting
in swords and Japanese culture, so naturally I was interested. I
had never studied a martial art before so I felt that this was a
great opportunity. My first reaction to his proposal was, “Whoa,
do I get a sword?” We then joined the United States Tamiya
Ryu Iaijutsu Michigan Dojo and the rest is history.
Now, some may think that being in the same class, where I train
and practice kata with my dad, there would be a certain tension,
or a feeling of “I can do this better,” or “Can
you top this?” At first I thought that we would encounter
that, but we never have. This class isn’t like going out and
playing nine holes of golf (where I occasionally out-drive him,
and he puts me in my place). We are learning an art, we are studying
an art, and I have never once had a feeling of “Man, I can
do that so much better than he can.” We are studying this
art together and want to advance and make accomplishments together.
One of our first goals as students (Deshi) of Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu
was to finally test and receive our Hakama. Dad and I thought those
looked so cool on the graded students and we worked hard to earn
them. I love them because they look like something a Jedi would
wear, and they are so much more comfortable than the white pants
I started with (Man, were those a pain!). It was truly a wonderful
day for dad and I this past summer when we tested in front of Tsumaki
Sensei, Endo Sensei, Michael Sensei and Dianne Sensei, passed our
examinations, and received our Hakama. We worked hard for two years
together to reach this goal.
I love studying Tamiya Ryu with my dad because it is very different
from the other activities that we do together. We have a lot of
fun doing this activity, and have cherished these past two and a
half years. Now we are anxiously anticipating our next experience
together: visiting and training in Japan this May with other members
of the United States Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu Organization. Oh, what
stories and memories that trip will bring! We are both looking forward
to that trip and continuing our study of Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu together,
because that’s what our “duo” is about: working
together, and having fun… together.
By Thomas Hufnagel
In early 2003 I was looking for an activity that I could do with
my son, Eric, who was 17 years old at the time. We had played golf
off and on, but I wanted something where we could be together on
a more regular basis. It was at this time that I attended a demonstration
of Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu at Michigan State University in East Lansing,
Michigan. I was very excited after the demonstration, as Tamiya
Ryu Iaijutsu seemed to involve my interest in swords and Japanese
history and, at the same time, provide the possibility for a local
activity that I could participate in with my son. In
May of 2003 both of us were accepted as students (Deshi) of the
United States Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu Michigan Dojo and I must say that
I could not be happier with my experience to-date. From my perspective,
I think that training together at the same Dojo, and being in the
same class has worked out very well. We have taken Iaijutsu classes
together for over thirty months, as well as lessons in Japanese
language and Japanese calligraphy (Shodo).
Since Eric currently lives at home, we have had quite a few discussions
concerning form in our practice of Kata and have found that we can
help each other out with our problem areas. We have the ability
to point out flaws in each other’s form without causing problems.
Because my travel schedule for my job, and Eric’s work and
school commitments, we have not had as much time to practice together
as I would like…but the time we do spend together practicing
outside of the Dojo is enjoyable and productive.
I have not really seen any problems so far with taking Iaijutsu
classes together as father and son. I look at this as a lifetime
activity, and hope that Eric does too, and that through our practice
of Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu, we can continue to spend quality time together
for many years to come.
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