Ideas for a one person mini-demo?

[Mega Zenjirou Yoshi]

So a friend works for the Katonah Museum of Art, and has asked me for some help with the Lethal Beauty touring exhibit that will be there soon. On Sunday, October 19th, they will do doing a family event Samurai Sunday, with a parade, and some crafts for kids, like making menpo and kabuto (I'm assuming out of paper/cardboard)

 If there are any other SCA Nihon-jin in the Westchester county NY, or Fairfield county CT area who are interested in showing up, that would awesome!

Otherwise, any advice on presentations, activities, or like are most welcome. I am going to reach out to some local SCA groups, but don't know how interested they would be in a Japan focused demo.

As it stands, I plan on showing up in my armor, and answering questions as best I am able. I'd like to try to put together a brief hand out on armor construction, probably borrowing heavily from Sengoku Daimyo. Maybe cut a few dozen kozane out of plastic, and bring some lace to demo armor lacing... maybe make more out of cardboard and bring some shoe laces, so kids can do a hands on.

[Saionji Shonagon]

I'm going to leave these here - search.doverpublications.com/search?keywords=SAMURAI

You could photo copy pages from one of the coloring books and have coloring for smaller kids.

[Mega Zenjirou Yoshi]

Sept 18, 2014 11:58:27 GMT -5 Saionji Shonagon said:

I'm going to leave these here - search.doverpublications.com/search?keywords=SAMURAI

You could photo copy pages from one of the coloring books and have coloring for smaller kids.

Domo-arigato Sensei!
I own a few of these already, and most of the Dover coloring books allow limited free use.

[Deleted]

Sept 17, 2014 22:00:15 GMT -5 Mega Zenjirou Yoshi said:

Otherwise, any advice on presentations, activities, or like are most welcome. I am going to reach out to some local SCA groups, but don't know how interested they would be in a Japan focused demo.

Of course, I'll advocate kumihimo as a healthy activity for all ages. It's fast to make braiding disks from cardboard and use them for some of the simpler braids. People who start braids can take the disks with them and finish at home.

Sept 18, 2014 11:58:27 GMT -5 Saionji Shonagon said:

I'm going to leave these here - search.doverpublications.com/search?keywords=SAMURAI

Looks like my favorite one, Japanese Fashions by Ming-Ju Sun is out of print. The illustrations in that one are based on the displays in the Costume Museum.

[Lash]

I went to a demo once where there really wasn't much control or direction over what was being presented or the exuberance of all the un attended children ! I walked out into the middle of this anarchy and quietly sat in seiza just breathing. eyes closed totally relaxed just listening to the laughing kids. then one by one they came around to see what I was doing. the others seeing these children's curiosity came around also until after only 5 min I had all the children in seiza looking at me with questioning eyes. ok it was really FREAKIN COOL!! HAHA. so I talke very quietly and asked them if they heard the trees talking yet . they hadn't I said really? did you hear the squirrels? no? well listen now you'll here the trees laughing because the squirrels' claws tickle. they sat for at least 2 to 3 min listening then I explained about Zazen . and later about mushin . then I had them all sit in zazen talking them thru it and told them I was going to test them . I borrowed a wooden spoon and big pot and jumped behind them banging the pot and laughing at their squeels of laughter then let them settle down and reproached them for breaking zazen. I pulled a blade of grass and make a goose honk same reaction lol. I have to say this was fun lol. I walked around looking for the parents and had them sneak over and all tickled them at the same time it was awesome seeing the pure laughter. then when they calmed down I sat with them again and told them anytime they feel out of control or had feelings they didn't like they could remember this day and the laughing while sitting in zazen.
so Yoshi-dono you could have a lot of fun with this if you have children or even adults at your demo be creative and then later show the children mushin in fighting and sho-shin the beginners mind. its a huge lesson to learn to be able to hold still and think clearly in a crisis.

[Deleted]

Sept 20, 2014 17:42:23 GMT -5 Lash said:

its a huge lesson to learn to be able to hold still and think clearly in a crisis.

This is also an awesome story about how to "be the change you want to see in the world". Thank you.

[Lash]

origato gozaimashita!!! to be completely honest it was so darn loud I was getting a headache ahaha. had to quiet them all some way .

[Mega Zenjirou Yoshi]

May the Bodhisattvas grant me the mindfulness of Lash-dono's example.

I'm kinda out in the boonies from the local groups, and am lucky if I can make a fighter practice very couple months. I'm sure I have zero face-recognition or clout, but just sent announcements of this unofficial demo and the exhibit out to all the local groups' email lists and facebook groups.

Hopefully that wasn't political suicide. 

Anyway, I figure I'm in for at least one long conversation with a kid about samurai... that can't be a bad thing. If an enthusiastic parent joins in as well, that's just gravy.

[Lash]

no such thing as political suicide if you are a force of one ! ;-)
you will do fine make up a hand out of the code of bushido and maybe a few cool epitaphs . I don't have any power or clout I have been a karate and aikido instructor for kids so I have some experience in engaging them.
what kids really want is to be heard . give them 100% of your attention and make them at that instance the most important person in the world.