Farewell to Stuart Shaw

I am writing with a little sadness to inform Club members that Stuart Shaw has made a decision to leave the Club.

Stuart has been teaching Chinese Martial Arts under the auspices of the Club for the past three years, and had at various times helped to facilitate Systema and Arnis sessions. He was instrumental in bringing Jugger to Toowoomba, and has been actively promoting the Chinese combat sports of Sanda and Dragon Wrestling. 

Unfortunately, after an extended period of negotiation, Stuart opted not to accept the framework agreed to by the rest of the Executive Committee for running classes under the banner of the Club.

I understand that Stuart has communicated in some way to his affected students, and that he is intending to take some time off from teaching to concentrate onother projects and recover from a few niggling injuries.

I would like to reiterate that all students/participants in Stuart's activities remain members of BBRD and are most welcome to participate in any of the other disciplines and activities that are supported by the Club. However, you will have to contact Stuart directly regarding his future plans for Tai Chi Ch'uan, Dragon Wrestling, Sanda and Jugger.

We wish Stuart all the best in his future endeavours and hope to see continued success for his initiatives in Toowoomba.

Date savers

Two things to note in the next fortnight. Michael will be going down to the Kenshinkai, Brisbane on a fortnightly basis, starting this Saturday, between now and the Australian Kendo Championships at the end of March. If anyone else is interested in coming down to train in Brisbane, please let Michael know as he would love the company in the car of a Saturday morning. We would be leaving at 6.45 am for an 8.30 am start in Mt Gravatt.

A second date claimer is for 12–4 pm Saturday 23 January. Holy Name Primary School is having a working bee in preparation for the new school year, and I would like to offer the services of Club members for that date. We can at the least take care of the Club's space in the MEAC, and provide assistance elsewhere in the School if needed. Please let Michael know if you are available for that afternoon.

Classes this week

We are almost back to what will be regular programming from this week.

At the MEAC, Jodo is scheduled for Monday and Wednesday, Systema for Tuesday and Thursday, Jujutsu for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and both Arnis and Iaido will be in their regular Thursday slots. In addition, Go is still being played at the USQ refectory (1 pm) on Tuesday, Gym and Swim will be back Tuesday and Thursday morning at Milne Bay.

Kendo is back at the PCYC on Sundays, though we will be another week away from USQ sessions. Just a reminder that from this year he USQ sessions will be on a Monday afternoon rather than a Wednesday afternoon (but still at 4 pm). Finally, we will see what the demand for a Posture and Flexibility class is, and we may start them up again next week. Please let Michael know what your availability is so that the classes can be planned.

Also ,just a quick note also to say that it is understood that Stuart Shaw's classes will be on a hiatus. Once more details are provided I will, of course, let everyone know what is going on.

Hatsu geiko: The first training of the year

We are now almost one week into the new year of training, and I just wanted to state my appreciation for everyone who participated in Keiko Hajime this year. As always, it was an enormous amount of fun to share some of the disciplines with folk who do not usually train in them. And for me personally, I must admit that I did smile as my suburi bokken was passed around as we finished up the Itakura sensei inspired warm up.

As I mentioned on the night, one of the gifts that the first training of the year provides is the opportunity to reflect on the opportunity in each and every training session to have a fresh start and fresh eyes. Much of what we practice at the Club is founded in the Zen principle of mindfulness and presence. What has gone before is irrelevant — previous success and failure are simply shadows. Instead, what you are faced with, the only thing you are ever faced with, is the moment of action you are currently engaged in.

In that spirit, I wish you all the best in your training year ahead. Do maintain your brightness of mind that you had during your first training for the year, even though family, professional and academic life will inevitably press in over the next twelve months. Be generous, be joyous, and be kind to yourself and others. Gambatte!

Welcome to the New Year!

I hope that everyone has managed to recover from their break, and are ready to get back into the swing of things from tomorrow night!

Keiko Hajime will be held Tuesday 5 January at the MEAC. We will be starting things off at 5 pm with a dojo tidy and mop down of the mats. Training will commence at 6.30 pm. Final schedule is still to be set, but there will be an opportunity to participate in (or have demonstrated) Arnis, Jujutsu, Iaido, Kendo and Systema.

If you have not already let us know, could you tell Michael ASAP if you are intending to be there so that we can cater appropriately for the light supper afterwards.

Arnis study group now starting at 5pm Thursday

Arnis study group will now be starting at 5 pm Thursdays in order to get a full hour of canes in. We want to have a look at the first few levels of the core curriculum in preparation for a visit by Don Ouellette late January, once he gets back from visiting family in Canada.

Please feel free to come down and have a go if you are interested!

Kendo news — QKR summer seminar and visit by Greg Nicholas sensei

This weekend, Collingwood Park Recreation Centre will be hosting the Queensland Kendo Renmei's summer seminar and grading opportunity in Kendo, Seitei Iaido and Seitei Jodo.

Practitioners from across the State will be coming to receive instruction fromhigh-level senseiin each of those disciplines. It will also serve as an opportunity to continue preparations for the Australian Kendo Championships, which will be held on the Gold Coast over the Easter long weekend. 

I want to wish everyone training and grading the best of luck with their efforts.

A result of this is that there will be a few changes to available training times in other disciplines this week. First, there will be no Jujutsu on Saturday as Michael will be participating down the hill.

Second, Jujutsu will also be cancelled for Thursday, as we have a visit by Greg Nicholas, sensei from the Kenshinkai, who is in Toowoomba this week with work. We will talk more about this in class Tuesday night.

New month in jujutsu — nage waza

With school out and summer in full swing, Jujutsu moves to the ground during December.

The Club is now responsible for ensuring the cleanliness of the MEAC till school goes back at the end of January and I just wanted to remind all Jujutsu practitioners that it is everyone's responsibility to maintain a hygienic training environment. Can everyone please bring to class:

• A set of footwear that can be slipped on every time you walk off the mat. This is particularly important if you are stepping outside or to the toilets.
• An old towel that will be used to give the mats a quick wipe down at the start of class. The dojo does have some spares if you forget, but we would like to share the laundry load around.
• A drink container to be left at the edge of the mat so that you can remain hydrated during training.

Farewell all, from MJER Iaijutsu and Naginatjutsu

Hello All,

After some lengthy consideration, I have decided to take leave of the club to offer training to the current iaidoka at another location, and under a different timetable.  I have not been able to offer regular classes lately, due to the requirements of the degree, and more lately, my casual employment, and so discussed my options with my students, before making a decision.  We have come to a more informal and private arrangement for the foreseeable future.  We will still maintain a relationship with BBRD, however, and will still possibly see you all, here and there. 

I'd like to extend a very sincere and humble thank you to Michael and Sian for all the astounding work they do for BBRD.  Without them, the club would not function. 

It has been a wonderful few years. Thank you.

Our last night of training at MEAC will be on Wednesday 02-12-15.

New addition to the dojo

After prevaricating for some time I finally decided to purchase a Mr Tamashigiri from Tozando.

Mr T will be used to help the Seitei Iaido better visualise teki in a more solid fashion. I am intending to pull out the cutting guide chart and transferring it so that we can evaluate whetherthe blade is travelling on the correct path.

Theoretically we can even practice our cuts on him (and his nine other friends that came in the box) with iaito. One step at a time though!