Thanks to Phoenix Central

I just wanted to announce that the Club has been just been awarded as a recipient of a $2000 grant through Phoenix Central for the purchase of more mats. While this is less than the Club had applied for, it is a very generous amount of money and will help to expand the training surface at the MEAC.

Ultimately, the Club is working towards a full sized Judo shiaijo, consisting of an 8 x 8 m yellow matted play zone and a 2 meter border surrounding that. Mats are expensive, costing approximately $220 per mat to purchase and ship to Toowoomba, so we will be holding a number of fund raising activities over the coming months to speed that process along.

Many thanks to Kate Charles and Peter Munster for their efforts on behalf of the Club, and we look forward to working with them to secure the extra revenue needed to obtain more mats.

Aikido moving venue

Thomas Banhazi has announced that the Aikido classes will be shifting from the Mort Estate Activity Centre to the Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre, Baker Street from the week starting 26 May. The new advertised training times will be:

Tuesday: 6.45 - 8.15 pm General/Weapon Class
Thursday: 6.45 - 8.15 pm General/Advanced Class

There will be a need to relocate 24 of the training mats across to the CBRC, and this will be undertaken on Saturday 24 May. Any and all assistance to help load the mats onto a trailer/ute and unload them at the other end will be gratefully accepted by Thomas, as the CBRC closes at 11 am on a Saturday.

Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo Intensive Week, July 2014.

This mid-year holidays will see the running of a SMR Jodo intensive week. Humberto Heyden, one of Nishioka Sensei's students, will be visiting Australia from Chile and we will be hosting him in Toowoomba for a week of evening sessions and a weekend of intensive seminar, where we also hope to entice Glen Henry Sensei and Arai Sensei up the hill to participate.

We will post details as soon as they are solidified. It will be an excellent opportunity to develop a foundation in this koryu discipline and one that we will actively encourage Club members to participate in, regardless of their "home" discipline.

Upcoming visit by Kurt Graham, Kyoshi

Over the past few months we have been negotiating the return to Toowoomba of Kurt Graham, Kyoshi. Final details are still to be ironed out, but he should be at the BBRD either the last weekend of June or the first weekend of July — so after USQ Semester 1 exams finish and still within the mid-year school holidays.

Of course, we will post more details as soon as they are to hand, including the format/areas of training and costs. Keep a eye out over the next few weeks and pencil in the dates!

Congratulations Toowoomba Kyokushin Karate

I wanted to express a big round of congratulations to Dave Johnson and all of he Kyokushin-ka who have made the move into their new premises at 114 North Street.

Kyokushin has been training out at the Mt Lofty campus of Toowoomba State High School for the past three years on a less than ideal floor surface, and are now back on hardwood floorboards. It is an excellent move, as the venue will be available for all fitness, kids and adult classes run by Dave.

Will certainly look forward to the upcoming open day at the new facility and provide the usual support that BBRD is known for!

Aikido special training this weekend

On Sunday 4 May, the Club will be hosting a special training session with Aiki Kai Aikido's Graham Morris Sensei, QLD Shibucho.

The even is open to all current Aiki Kai financial members, and will be held in  two session: Morning from 10.30 am – 12.30 pm and afternoon from 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm.

Please contact Thomas.Banhazi@usq.edu.au for further details.

Inaugural Seitei Iaido session this Sunday

This Sunday will be the first time the combined Toowoomba kendo dojos will be staying on after kendo keiko and spending some time with the Seitei Iaido kata.

We have agreed that the first Sunday of each month is a great time to come together and run a study group to increase the numbers of people practising Seitei Iaido. Over coming months we hope to entice one or more of the Sensei from the South East Queensland region to help us polish our understanding and practice.

Must say that I am a little excited that the number of people wanting to practice seitei iaido in Toowoomba has hit a "critical mass". Let me know if you are intending to come along so that we can arrange for sufficient obi and bokken with saya. So come and join us at the PCYC, James Street!

KJA sword raffle tickets now available

Komei Juku Australia are currently raffling 2 shinken (cutting swords) amongst their clubs.

Adam Brannigan Sensei has already sold some tickets amongst current Toowoomba KJA members, but has a few more available to BBRD members, if anyone might be interested.  

The raffle is in two rounds.  The first round winner gets first choice of the two blades on offer. The second round winner gets the remaining blade.  Attached are some photos of the blades; note the black blade, and note the furnishings which reflect the Komei Juku aesthetic (bamboo leaves of the tsuba and menuki).  

Tickets can be purchased from Adam, for $10.00 a ticket, during Iaijutsu class times or by directly contacting him (mob: 0407 236 994).  Very few of the first-round tickets are left. Good luck!

Images courtesy of Komei Juku Australia

Extra training this week.

With School Holidays still on and gradings coming up, we will be having a few extra sessions for training. Tuesday I'll be at the dojo at 11 am for anyone who would like to do some Jujutsu training (for instance if you were wanting to do some sharpening up before gradings coming up soon) and on Thursday at 4pm.

Would be great to see you there

Thanks for all who participated today

Just wanted to put out a word of thanks to all who participated in the Club demonstration today at Hall-Thorpe Sports. We had over 80 children at the event and all seemed to have fun, particularly with Jack and the re-breakable Taekwondo boards after the main demonstration.

Thanks to Aaron, Adam, Cody, Damien, Greg, Jack, Jason, Maaike and Michael for demonstarions of audience participation in Jujutsu, Taekwondo, Iaijutsu and Kendo.

And of course a thanks to Hall-Thorpe Sports Holiday Care Program for hosting us!

We'll put pictures up as they become available.