Shin Ken Kai is a MUSO JIKIDEN EISHIN RYU (MJER) Iaido (traditional Japanese swordsmanship) group with its home dojo in Vancouver, Canada. Shin Ken Kai took part in the Kagami Biraki celebration at North Shore Aikiaki on January 17, 2009.

Aikido Dojo North Vancouver Aikiaki will be welcoming in 2009 in traditional Aikido fasion with Kagami Biraki, a japanese new years traditional ceremony that involves a special rice cake offering, often performed in martial arts dojos. North Vancouver Aikiaki will be offering an open house on Saturday, January 17, 2009 with a Kagami Biraki opening ceremony and demonstrations by students and weapons from noon until 3:30 PM. This event is a great opportunity for the public to become more familiar with the Martial Art discipline of Aikido. The opening ceremony will be followed by demonstrations by children and teens. The presentation will continue with demonstrations of Aikido weapons, Kobudo weapons presented by Shintokokai Karate and Kobudo dojo, and Iaido, or live sword drawing, presented by Shin Ken Kai Iaido dojo. That sounds exciting – its not every day you get to see real katana swords in action. Its a special occasion to see so much at an event like this – a traditional ceremony, student and special weapon demonstrations. That is why if you are interested in marital arts, you should not miss this event. The day will finish with an open house until 3:30 PM.

North Vancouver Aikiaki is a registered not for profit society dedicated to the teaching of Traditional Aikido, and is a member of the United States Aikido Federation. Dedicated to the art of Aikido, the lessons are lead by Chief Instructor Joel Posluns, 6th Dan and Shidoin who volunteers his time.

The website for North Vancouver Aikiaki, http://www.nsaikido.org, features more information about Aikido, their programs for kids, teens and adults and a gallery of videos related to the discipline.

Some more info about North Vancouver Aikiaki is also available at this CL posting:
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/com/966151884.html

Here is an Aikido demonstration video passed along to me from Joel Posluns:

More info about Kagami Biraki:

http://www.shitoryu.org/heritage/kagami_biraki.htm

http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=156