Thanks to all who helped!

Shoulder to shoulder ...

Stage 1 of the dojo/MEAC clean up was successfully completed on Saturday. I'd like to make special mention of everyone who turned up to help sort, stack and scrub in aid of getting a little more control over our space and equipment. (Thanks Adam, Andrew, Brady, Jen, Jess, Maaike, Tracey, Sian, and Stuart)

The floor of the MEAC should be attended to by the School's contract cleaners today, so we will be able to clear out the now (very) packed store room this week and lay the mats for the remainder of the school holidays.

Just a few housekeeping matters that arise from the clean up:

1. Remember that the MEAC is a shared space and that we each need to ensure that we always leave the space as (if not more) tidy than when we entered it.
2. If you are storing equipment in the MEAC, make sure that it is clearly labelled and neatly arranged among the Club's other equipment
3. If you use Club equipment, make sure that after you have finished it goes back to where it belongs (even if it "mysteriously" started off somewhere it ought not to be)
4. If you are borrowing something, please not that you have taken it on the Equipment Register, including its item number (instructions will be posted on the Club cupboard).
5. If something is broken/damaged, report it immediately so that it (a) is not a hazard to others; and (b) can be fixed or replaced.
6. Remember it's not just dirt, its spiritual dirt... Everyone has a responsibility for keeping the space clean as well as tidy. This includes your own equipment uniform...

Talent hunt: Making BBRD videos

Source: http://folkmedia.org/lights-camera-action-secrets-to-making-great-youtube-videos-the-first-time/

Just another quick call for expressions of interest ...

Over the coming weeks I am wanting to get under way with the long talked about series of short documentaries, promotions videos and technique videos. 

I know that we have significant talent in the Club, including those with experience behind the camera. So if you have an interest in helping to develop storyboards, camera/lighting operation, conducting some video interviews, or any of the other aspects of getting this project off the ground, Contact Michael ASAP!

Holiday planning: Extra training sessions

Approximation of Michael doing Combat Syncro at the Gym and Swim conditioning sessions

I'm keen to get a little more activity happening over the Spring holiday in some of the Club's disciplines that have been a little on the back burner the past month.

In addition to Stuart's heroic Jugger efforts, I know that quite a number of you have been beavering away at Arnis, Seitei Iaido, and Go (among the other activities people are becoming involved in). 

Let's start some more sessions over coming weeks so that we are able to head into upcoming seminar and training opportunities and the summer more generally at full throttle.

For instance, I am keen to get Friday Punchfit up and running again, but need to know numbers in order to get the right amount gear to the right place.  And don't forget the Tuesday and Thursday Gym and Swim sessions at Milne Bay Aquatic Centre. The outdoor pool is now open for the season, and the 4.0m depth is great to work in. Just remember your sun screen and/or rashie!

Holiday workshop: Martial arts equipment maintenance

Source: http://www.sameliasmum.com/2014/06/the-radiant-karate-challenge-giveaway.html

Given that we have holidays coming up, I was thinking of running an equipment (and uniform) maintenance workshop on Saturday 27 September.

If you wanted to know how to strip and service a shinai, look after your wooden weapons, get persistent stains out of your white dogi, look after indigo dyed cloth and a myriad of other small tasks, please let us know by Saturday. If there is enough interest, I'll run the session!

Expression of interest: Jujutsu training Sunday 28 September

Just a quick reminder to everyone who might want to participate Sunday week at the jujutsu and aikido training session at the North Lakes Koryukan next Sunday to let Michael know ASAP so that suitable transport arrangements can be made.

We will be leaving early Sunday morning in order to get to North Lakes by 10 am. It will be a fairly full training opportunity as the five of us who have to complete our NCAS Level 2 practical requirements go through our paces. It is a great opportunity to see some of the variety of approaches that come under the banner of the Australian Jujitsu Federation. 

As noted before, if there are more than five people interested we might look into hiring a minibus for the day, so we do need to firm numbers up soon.

Dojo clean up this Saturday 20 September

Spring is most definitely here in Toowoomba, with Carnival of Flowers this weekend and much of the town in blossom. It has certainly been warmer at evening training session too, which has been a welcome change.

As Friday is the last day of the school and the University term, we will be holding a clean up working bee to welcome in the new season on Saturday at the MEAC from 10.30 am.

Please consider coming past even for a brief while as there is a considerable amount of work to be done in tidying the storage area, putting together a full inventory of the Club's equipment, repairing what needs to be attended to, and giving the MEAC floor and the mats a good scrub down.

Remember that preparation, care and maintenance is an essential part of all martial arts training, and that the way we maintain the external physical environment is a direct reflection of the internal one.

Please let Michael know ASAP if you can make it so that we can best plan the spring clean. There will also be an opportunity to do some training afterwards, but ask your respective sensei in class this week for what will be available.

Seitei Iaido this weekend

It is the first week of the month, hence we are scheduled to have Seitei Iaido on this Sunday after Kendo.

Michael will not be in Toowoomba this weekend, so it is critical that you let him know by Wednesday whether you will be attending so that we can let Tom Johnson, sensei and James know whether it is worth it for them to come up the hill.

RAW Combat Toowoomba seminar Saturday 6 September

RAW Combat Toowoomba will be using the MEAC this Saturday 12-4pm to host a seminar by Luke Holloway, the creator of the RAW Combat system.

Price is $50

Contact Rob on 0405 887 582 for more details.

NCAS Step 1

Michael and Brady had a very long couple of days this weekend going through the process of obtaining their National Coaching Accreditation Scheme certification in Jujutsu.

The NCAS scheme helps to establish quality benchmarks for teaching jujutsu (and related disciplines). It was a great opportunity to touch base with the current thinking in teaching, catch up with old friends and meet new ones across the disciplines of jujutsu, aikido, hapkido and Brazilian Jiu-juitsu.

Michael will need to complete some post course work, including providing a 40 minute lesson for evaluation by, Peter Hills, his nominated mentor in a few weeks. For those interested, please think of coming down to North Lakes and participating to support Michael and the others Level 2 candidates by participating as students/uke!

NCAS Jujutsu coaching accreditation scheme on this weekend.

On a personal note I'm looking forward to this weekend where I will be renewing my NCAS accreditation for jujutsu. I will be a great opportunity to catch up with people I haven't seen in some time and to support the Australian Jujitsu Federation's efforts to promote quality benchmarks for instructors of jujutsu and the related family of arts.

It will also be Brady Albrad's first opportunity to have formally accredited teaching qualifications as an assistant instructor. I hope everyone extends congratulations to Brady on this first of many stepping stones towards his yudansha qualification over the next few years.