June 4, 2004

Relaxing through swordplay

By Bill Choy
Ashland Daily Tidings

With several swift movements, Ben Wagner moves his wooden Japanese sword (a "bokken") as it hits the sword of opponent Moses Ramos.

	Photos by Satsuki Doi | Ashland Daily Tidings Ben Wagner (left) of Portland gets a lesson from instructor Kit Crumb during a samurai sword class at Budo Ryu Martial Arts in Ashland.

Although they and the rest of the seven students learning the Japanese sword fighting technique of Ken Jitsu have been at it for only a few months, the students already seem at ease with their swords.

Instructor Kit Crumb looks intently at each movement, stopping them on occasion, and demonstrates how to make the right moves with their swords. Each move is highly choreographed to ensure everyone is safe.

"You need to pull and push down," Crumb said. "The movement should be nice and smooth."

The students are learning this ancient art at Budo Ryu Martial Arts on Water Street, which was started by Crumb in March.

Schools that teach Japanese sword fighting are unusual in big cities such as San Francisco, let alone a small community like Ashland, he said.

Crumb has had owned marital arts studios in Arizona, Montana and California, and has been teaching martial arts for 37 years. He learned Ken Jitsu from the Yagu Ryu School of Sword and Jo in San Francisco. He has lived in Ashland since 1993 and is also the owner of the Ashland Sports Training Center, which gives private lessons and trains sports trainers.

"It's in my blood," Crumb said about the martial arts. "It's a world that's organized and is about harmony, peace and controlled chaos. It's a way to find harmony within yourself."

Crumb limits each class to five students.

"I can focus on their individual needs," he said. "It's wonderful to be able to train three to five students at a time, compared to scanning a room of 25. I love being relaxed and being able to focus on my students and give them my full attention."

The students use the wooden sword and a shini, a long bamboo stick, during their training. It normally takes at least three to five years before students use a real sword, Crumb said.

Portland resident Wagner, a Southern Oregon University student, has been taking Japanese sword fighting for about a month.

"I've always have had a love of martial arts since I was a little kid," he said. "It's a very beautiful form of expression."

Having the opportunity to wield a sword is a great stress reliever, Wagner said.

"After going through school all day, you're just thinking and you come here and it's mostly about feeling," he said. "There's such support you get from working closely with your opponent and with [Crumb]. It's very spiritual."

Danya Rooden of Ashland has taken Ken Jitsu for three months. She was taking a class on the samurai spirit and wanted to learn these sword techniques herself.

"I enjoy being on offense and defense at the same time," Rooden said. "I love the intensity and challenge of sparring. You don't know what your opponent is going to do, so you always have to be ready. It's great for discipline."

So far, learning the sword movements has gone smoothly, she said.

"For me, it's natural, so I don't have any hesitation," Rooden said. "And Kit's great. He's open to any suggestions and if you want to go further, he teaches you what you want to learn."

Besides studying the mental and spiritual, Ken Jitsu is also great for physical fitness, Crumb said.

It works the shoulders and upper back, he said. For women, it creates strength, and for men, flexibility.

"I have a student who said he couldn't stand the gym workout anymore and wanted another way to get in shape," Crumb said. "It creates timing, focus and balance."

Budo Ryu Martial Arts is located at 38 Water St. Crumb also teaches Black Dragon Kung Fu, women's self defense, Tai Chi and Chi Kung. For more information on individual instruction or group classes call 488-8431.