in fact allow me to go ahead and say
DO NOT click the link that was in the original post
Even if it came to your email
Its spam - Porn
Now while some of you may be excited about the opportunity to watch spam porn, I think we should get back to the Rokudan Challenge here! lol
Haha Norm, love your reaction when you felt you were so close.
Iām also a bit camera shy but hey what can we do but keep on going?
I say it sounded great! My own experience is that I get sad if I just try and play one song. It gets boring after awhile and you just feel that you are not improving enough. Now that you have it posted, I recommend you playing at least one other song while still practicing Rokudan then and then.
Would be cool to hear you play live. Maybe you should tell your friends to film you somewhere, at some unknown time.
Ahahaha! Aw Norm! I love you, brother! The energy with which you play is infectious! And yeaā¦so close mutha F%$^#s! Damn! I feel for you! But regardless I really do love the way you put your full spirit into the Tsugaru Shamisen! And look what youāve done here to inspire so many players to post their Rokudan ! Congrats for making a difference here and getting many players motivated! Itās been a long wait for us to finally see your entry and as Karl says too, it sounded great! I miss you man! Look forward to hanging out sometime! Perhaps this year!? Hope so! Keep up the Bachiing!
Oh man, that is an EPIC first scene!!!
Whoo! If there was any nervousness in front of the camera, it wasnāt noticable. So much power and intensity in that performance!
Whew! After finishing the first link, time to check out your Rokudan challenge video! 
Again, I say, that is probably the most epic first scene to a semi-unofficial forum contest! Did you get discounted SLR equipment when you were a TV personality? Youāre gonna have to lock all your gadgets and goodies away when I visit your pad!
Da~mnā¦ Kevin had told me about your tataki when he visited Santa Cruz, and Iāll admit that is something Iāve been looking forward to seeing. That is very, very solid bro! Truth be told, after watching it, I started feeling a little self conscious about the power of my own strikes, and immediately checked my video to check. 
(Itās louder in person, I swear)
I fully agree with what Kevin says. The spirit in your playing really comes through. Whether or not you got every note in, your energy was so evident just from the swing of your bachi.
In my earlier youtube videos (pre-Bachido), I rerecorded my jonkara piece about 15 times before I got one without any mistakes. It felt important at the time, but nowadays, Iām appreciating spontaneity. If a few notes are missed here and there, it doesnāt really matter as much as I thought it did. Whatās more, having a few āmistakesā makes the presentation more real and human. You know, just like that porn you linked.
So, I think that was awesome, and if anything, Iām only disappointed that you didnāt complete the whole ichidan, capping it off with a Spinner.
But hey! Thatās something you can do for Part B! 
(Which is?..)
I can only agree with the power of the strikes. I compared it with my video and it almost looked like I was fondling with my bachi in comparison to the ferociousness of your strikes Norm!
That said, when I play I donāt feel the need to be louder. I guess I need a rival that requires me to play louder than him/her
Also Norm, your bachi looks a bit bigger than mine. Would you mind giving me the width of your bachi blade and the length of the whole bachi? I have been considering if I should have a larger bachi.
äøęćć, You are a wonderful player!!! APPLAUSE(^O^)
Oh man, that is an EPIC first scene!!! ā¦
Whew! After finishing the first linkā¦
Good laughs!
Norm! I have to agree with everyone, your strikes are motivating to say the least! Keep at it man! I think youāve got tons of great potential on the brink of realization! Go Go Go!
I also wanted to personally share my thanks for creating this thread. I unexpectedly learned a lot about my own playing and technique by viewing everyoneās performances throughout this thread. So to all those that submitted and shared youāre thoughts in this thread, great thanks!
Iāve definitely set some new personal goals and feel re-determined to some how clean-up my bachizuke, improve accuracy so I donāt miss or incorrectly hit the strings, and certainly Iād like to add more spirit into my playing. So one more time ć©ćććććØććććć¾ćć
When are we starting challenge part II ? ? ?
I feel we should have Akita Nikata Bushi challenge as well. Iāve been drilling it for the last couple of days and I have noticed a huge boost in my overall shamisen playing. Even if itās hard to play it fast, I think you can progress a lot by playing it slow as well.
I agree totally! Akita Nikata bushi is one of the coolest compositions for Tsugaru Shamisen (or would It technically be āAkitaā Shamisen?) either way oneās playing is never quite the same after Akita Nikata bushi. I noticed a build up in stamina and precision after playing it a bunch! Great idea Karl! Iām all for it! And like you said its usually played really fast but that should not stop anyone who wants to just learn the parts from going for it at a slower tempo. I know Norm has a plan to add more Rokudan challenges (presumably the next five parts) but this seems like a great idea for a new, separate challenge! I think you should be the one to initiate it Karl, since itās your idea! I can see it in lightsā¦āKARL HEDLUND PRESENTSā¦ THE BACHIDO AKITA NIKATA BUSHI CHALLENGE,ā !!! Haha, Yeah!
Oh nuts. Iāve been comfortably ignoring Akita Nikata Bushi for quite a while.
Well, it would be good anyhow. I do plan to make a Crash Course for that piece, but have just not thought about rebuilding the wrist strength for it.
or would It technically be āAkitaā Shamisen?)
Remember when we went to see Nishikawa Yoko (Chikuzanās student) in Aomori City?
She asked the audience for requests, and when I said, āAkita Nikata Bushi!ā She responded, āAkita? Akita? I play Tsugaru shamisen dayo!ā
Glad to hear you felt the same thing Kevin! Sounds like Iāll have to make the post soon. Itās just one thing that bothers me. Every version Iāve heard is different. It feels like you have these parts of the song and people play them in different order all the time, interrupting them and adding a part of another part in between. Iāve heard a minyo version of the song and that is different too.
So, what do people do with the song? Play it as if there was a singer, or do you just rock it out in whatever way feels best?
I think that wrist strength is not the first thing people will have to worry about. Itās getting the motion right. You just have to sit there and get into the flow.
I know theyāre not part of the challenge, but these girls win. Look at 'em shred. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcQXqvUjS5A
Hey Kyle A. ā¦ kidding
Kyle Aaron , actually this is their jonkara bushi,they are playing Ichidan in the beggining tho (-:
Oh, that is Ki&Ki. Norm Nakamura is acquainted with them (When he hosted the first Bachido gathering in Tokyo, he brought everyone to see them play)
Yeah, they are really awesome! And are certainly much nicer to look at than those who entered their Rokudan pieces. (Sorry KH)
Yeah, they are really awesome! And are certainly much nicer to look at than those who entered their Rokudan pieces.
Do you think I should have put on a yellow kimono?
Well, I hate to be one of those peopleā¦ but I mean, would it have killed you? I mean, at least show us a sarong. somethinā!
ok
So first and foremost, for those of you who tried out the pornā¦ Iām glad you enjoyed it!
Second, I am glad that you all enjoyed the challenge (and seemingly my entry for it).
I do plan on posting another entry for it eventually, but I have so much to work on in my technique right now, that what I have posted is about all that will be going up.
And Kyle, unfortunately, no discounted camera equipment, and believe it or not, that video wasnāt even taken with an expensive camera lol. Just a cheap digital camera. They are getting better and better these days~
and now I wanted to say
A little bit about the Rokudan Challenge
Bachido is one hell of a great place to gather, share, learn, and have a great time. It is more than just a website. It is a community. We have come together over shamisen (and such), and every community should have a goal.
Without a goal, a community is just a blob. (>_
O m g, the mood!
You were friends with the older of the Yoshida brothers right? That means that all of these hidden points hidden in the song should be something that you have been shown how to properly perform. Iād say we are requesting a video where you are going through all of the points. I mean if you donāt get it flawless on camera, we donāt care.
Played some shamisen today and Iām hitting harder now as a result of more force and a larger angle with the bachi like you are doing. Itās good stuff.
Iād say we are requesting a video where you are going through all of the points.
And if R Yoshida wants to personally add some suggestions as well, Iām sure we wouldnāt complain. He doesnāt have to be flawless on camera either. You know weāre very easy going.