Crowd sourced funding: Training mats

The Club has been going from strength to strength this year, with peak attendance at regular training starting to crowd the mats, particularly when the training surface is spread across parallel classes. The Club Executive has been working toward organising a number of fund-raising opportunities to increase the size of the training surface, particularly going into a Queensland-based Australian University Games once again in 2015.

While we will continue to pursue those fund raising plans, I'd also like to promote an opportunity for people to directly donate towards them, particularly if people are stuck for Christmas gift ideas, or simply want to increase the ability for Toowoomba to host marital arts competitions and seminars.

The mats the Club trains on are the most crucial piece of safety equipment that we use. At present we have access to a little over one inner Judo competition court worth of mats (80 square meters, or 40 mats), but we need to more than double that to a size of 196 square meters (96 mats) in order to host an inter-club judo competition.

Each additional mat is roughly $200 to purchase and ship. They are the Club's most expensive and most important item!

More mats allow for more classes and more opportunities to service the University and wider Toowoomba community. Your donations will directly translate to a safer training experience.

You can make a donation by following the link to Campaigns and Donations

Make sure you spread the word widely, and let people know that if they are stuck for a Christmas or Birthday present idea, they could always make a donation to the Club. All donations will be gratefully noted on the Club's sponsor's page.

End of Year Dinner and Awards Night

This year has certainly flown by and seen a range of changes at the Club, with continued grown in both the activities supported by the Club and the number of members participating across all of those activities.

We are proposing that we stop and take stock on Thursday 27 November, as the MEAC will be unavailable for training that night. As we have done, we are proposing to go out to dinner and distribute awards and (outstanding) grading certificates for the year just past.

Make sure that you let Sian Carlyon know ASAP of your interest, or let us know via the Club's Facebook group page.

Look forward to seeing as many of you there as can make it. Details of where and start time will be posted in next week's Budo Bulletin.

Congratulation Myra De Smet

I just wanted to make special mention of Club member Myra De Smet who last week was not only ranked as Dux of Harristown State High School, but in doing so took out the subject prize in each of the six subjects she is studying.

Not only is she able to achieve near perfect results across all her academic subjects, she also is able to constantly push everyone she trains with in the Systema class.

Well done Myra! We are all very proud of you.

Sunday Seitei Iaido (9 November)

After a hiatus, we will be having a Seitei Iaido session under the direction of Tom Johnson, sensei on Sunday 9 November, right after Kendo at the PCYC. This will be the last opportunity to train with Johnson sensei before the QKR seminar and grading in December.

Hope to see you there for a 10.30am start at the Toowoomba PCYC, James Street.

New Arnis canes in stock

The Club has managed to secure a new bunch of Arnis canes for those interested in taking up the discipline or those needing to replace their existing canes.

The canes are 690mm long by 20mm diameter (approx) and are $20 per pair.

The canes are consumable items and if you are regularly training, you are expected to have your own pair. If you are wanting to hire a set for a one off practice, the cost is $5 per session.

Kyushin Ryu Jujutsu Grading

Over the weekend Michael (Michael was present as a member of the auxiliary grading panel), Lauren and myself had the privilege to attend the Kyushin Ryu Jujutsu grading in Brisbane. It was a great day, with some great work from the five participants - four attempting to grade to Niidan and one to Shodan. I would firstly like to extend my appreciation and congratulations to all participants: Dylan Voncina, Tom Serafin, Anthony Smith, Steffi-Louise Stackpoole (all of whom graded to Niidan) and Luke Schmidt (who graded to Shodan). Secondly, I would like to extend my thanks to Jim Stackpoole - Sensei for his generous invitation and all of his work leading up to and including the grading for all of these jujutsuka! Great work and congratulations to all participants!

What is Internal Power?

Internal power is often looked at as something mystical and perhaps out of reach of us 'normal' people. Perhaps 'normal' people don't achieve it because to gain such power requires an unusual amount of persistance, but it's not because you lack some special ability. This type of training requires deep intention on the training of muscle, connective tissue, skeletal alignment, intent and breath. How are you sitting now as you read this? Straighten up and slow your breathing!

Muscle. How much do you need? The right amount of course.
Connective tissue (or Fascia). These are the fibres running through and around every tissue of your body.
Skeletal Alignment. This allows your joints to be in the place for their optimal function. This allows your muscles and fascia to be at the right tension.
Intent. This is the link between thought and action. Intent is the movement inside movement.
Breath. Enlivens the whole body.

Just some thoughts for the week. See you Thursday night.

Pittsworth Judo Competition and demonstration

It was good to once again be invited to provide a demonstration of Kendo for the competitors and spectators at the Annual Pittsworth Judo Competition.

I was ably assisted by Jason Winchester in showing the core practice involved in Kendo, including ji-geiko for both itto and nito. We seemed to generate quite a bit of interest from the juniors in the crowd. We may even have one or two turn up to a Sunday morning training (with some luck).

Thanks to Craig and the rest of the Pittsworth Club for making us welcome and we look forward to coming back next year!