Upcoming "clinic" by Dr. Duvon Winborne (khukuri & Bando). Input please.

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Bill Martino

Bill Martino

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Duvon has been in touch with me regarding a weekend khukuri-Bando clinic. Those who watched Duvon do his stuff at the convention already know he has a lot to teach and can do it well. Anybody who has not seen Duvon in action but wants to can order a video of the convention and demo.

The price is higher than I thought it would be -- $150 per person for weekend. The event will be held in Reno and you will also get a tour of the infamous "shed" to look over the khukuri inventory. Special deals for those who attend.

We need ten people at least to make the journey from east coast to Reno worthwhile for Duvon. And, we need to know what date works best for the most. I suggested September and Duvon said that was too late for him and he preferred a considerable earlier date.

Input?
 
Uncle Bill,

I'm in pretty decent shape, but have no martial arts training whatsoever.

What level of attendee is Duvon assuming at this point? I'm interested, but don't want to drag the level of the clinic down to a point where people with more experience will be bored, or irritated.
 
Might be interested. Not sure what I'll be doing in the next few months. Becoming a victim of technology. Will discuss this with Momma. Don't have the martial arts training either but still in decent shape.
 
Is there a LARGE shopping center in Reno where I could leave my wife while I take the lessons? Or maybe I could leave her in Tahoe and make it a vacation trip?
 
Leave her at a casino with fifty bucks worth of nickles.

My guess is that Duvon can adjust to the attendees. He runs into the same thing with Bando folks. Some are beginners and some are various levels of black belt but he gets the job done. He'll probably ask that you bring a WWII model for your drills.
 
Count me in! I need some time to make sure I can scrounge together the $, and June, July, or Early August work best for me because I don't teach during the summer, but I could attend at other times.
--Josh
 
Thanks, Uncle.

In that case, I'm interested. June or July works for me.
 
For those of you who are debating attending the weekend clinic, Duvon is an outstanding instructor, and a really nice guy as well. I've been thinking about his presentation ever since the convention. I think that a weekend's worth of instruction would give a person enough to study for quite some time. If you find yourself thinking that a khukuri is only good as a chopper, then you should really do yourself a favor and attend the clinic. Duvon opened my eyes to possibilities with the khukuri that I'd never even imagined. Plus, it's a good excuse to pick up an 18" WWII if you don't already have one:)
--Josh
 
Bruise French Bread dont count as a weapon, unless of course if its stale.:D :rolleyes: :barf:
 
My current state of unemployment keeps me poor and tied to the midwest, but that could change soon. I'd love to go, but cannot commit to it yet.

A suggestion for MA practice w/khuks: Wooden khukuris.
In Aikido and Kendo, Kenpo, you use a Bokken (or shinai), a wooden (rattan) practice sword. the european schools of fight use waisters, which are european style wooden swords. This keeps the novice from slicing off bits of themselves, and alows you to work up to the full deal with live steel.
This is especially useful when doing certain sorts of augmented grips, where you may actually be handling the blade or blade spine (see Duvon in the pix). Also, you can go close to full speed in sparring folks with these wooden khuks, and no one should be worse for wear.

These khuk 'bokkens' can be made by tracing the khuk or drawing the khuk onto plywood, then cut it out, then tape the whole thing with strapping tape or duct tape so there are no splinters or wood exposed. if it breaks during practice, the tape keeps it from becoming a splinter mine.

Just an idea, be safe!

Keith
 
Ferrous,

Was thinking exactly along those lines myself (not necessarily plywood, though). Any ideas for simulating the real weight of a WWII? Or would the plywood be close?
 
If I'm not mistaken, Duvon does not use training blades--if anyone else heard differently at the convention, please correct me. Personally, I think training blades are a great idea. I would imagine that thick plywood would be close in weight, though probably a little lighter than an actual WWII.
--Josh
 
I think Duvon is of the philosophy that training with anything but the real thing can lead to careless practices. I know I'd be a lot more nonchalant shaving with a straight razor made of wood than the real thing. "Look, Ma! No nose."
 
well, he IS a black belt of no mean skill. I'm jsut saying that if one has never handled live steel and whirled it about one's body at top speed (aardvark, hoghead metion a defecit of MA trainnig), there is room for error-critical error. This ain't choping logs, folks.

My Kensei in Aikido-Kobudo practised all his forms with live steel, but he was like roku-dan in the art. And he INSISTED that we students use bokken and tanto bokken to start with. Mind you, there's a lotta contacting the "blade" with the opponent. If Duvon's style of teaching does not involve sparring with an opponent, then the risk of hurting others is signifigantly reduced. Also, a 12inch piece of hickory is roughly the weight of the live steel counterpart. And I don not feel that it hindered the training.

"I think Duvon is of the philosophy that training with anything but the real thing can lead to careless practices"--Uncle

I agree, in the case of the whipping motion that you see Kendo practitioners use with the shinai--this is poor form and is deviating from the actual cutting technique.

"Josh was kind enough to be used as an opponent several times. Josh lying flat on floor, Duvon getting ready to neutralize him to the next dimension. Duvon is demonstrating one of the 'zones' in the chest area and I believe, the beginning of 'extraction/ Rend (push), rotate (pull) run (pry)"

Now, it could be my eyesight, or bad angle, but it loooks to me like Duvon is NOT using a khuk in this maeuver, but a hand used to simulate the khuk. Josh? Did he actually have a khuk pointed at yer gut? Would you be comfortable with that if it was a newbie?

Anyhow, each to his own. I am not a black belt, so I'll leave the curriculum to the experts.

I must decline the invite, for certain legal and physical ramifications could be uh, messy.

Keith
 
that last post came off as irritating. I come from another school of MA thought, apparently.

Been practicing armed combat since the 80's, and in each school of instruction (asian and european styles)we used wooden weapons to simulate Sai, Kama, Shuriken (just a round disc) sword, spear, dagger, axe, and so on. THese schools were very combat oriented, and pitted or or more persons against one or more other persons. The level of contact (light, medium, full) varied, depending on the defensive armor employed. I have witnessed and received injuries made with these practice weapons, and I was thankful at the time that the masters had the vision to use wooden facsimiles. Lives coulda been lost, and more blood spilled.

I am an avid fan of practice weapons when using combat techniques, but of course for personnal practice the live steel is more favorable.

Keith
 
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