Third attempt ... Arnis session with Don Ouellette this Thursday

Don has confirmed that he will be in Toowoomba Thursday afternoon baring any unforeseen circumstances.

We will be holding the regular Arnis session from 6–7.30 pm in the place of Jujutsu. Tom Johnson, sensei is making noises that he would like to visit and run an Iaido class from 7.30–9 pm, so it looks like Thursday is shaping to be an excellent day for those with a weapons-bent!

I'm personally looking forward to both visits. Don has a bunch of new curriculum work to run through, and Tom sensei a bunch of pointers that he has brought back from the Nationals held in Perth two weekends ago.

Jujutsu: Kyusho waza

As always, a new month means a new focus for training in Jujutsu. We will be starting that focus on Tuesday night with some practice guaranteed to raise the heart rate and dust off any new year's cobwebs that remain.

Could all jujutsu-ka please bring their 4oz gloves, mouth guards and shin and instep protectors for this month. We have some Club ones that you can borrow (mouth guards excepted), but it is always better to bring your own!

 

BBRD Kendo this week

Kendo keiko at the CBRC will be on Wednesday afternoon from 4 pm.

Maaike Stehouwer is in town for her final USQ university examination in the morning, and would love an opportunity to have one last hit up as a USQ student! All are welcome. Let Michael know if you wish to borrow any equipment so that it can be available on the day.

 

 

Kendo on the move

I just wanted to provide the members and friends of BBRD and Mushin Itto the heads up that after more than a quarter century of Sunday morning training, we will have to find an alternative venue for weekend Kendo keiko.

Unfortunately, the redevelopment at the James Street PCYC has left us without a suitable space to train. Specifically, the sprung floor of the former basketball court is now occupied by gymnastics, and the former space where gymnastics was located is now a bare concrete floor. This is completely unsuitable for the practice of Kendo, as fumikomi on such a surface will inevitably result in injuries.

The Toowoomba-based Kendo seniors will be looking to find an alternative venue this week— most likely temporary at first to minimise the disruption to training, before finding a new permanent home. It does, however, provide an opportunity to revisit when the best day and time for Kendo training might be through the week, and this will be considered alongside plans to reinvigorate Kendo at USQ, and start a school-based Kendo program in 2016.

We will keep everyone posted as far as possible, though we are likely to use direct e-mail and Facebook to let people know of what is happening later this week.

Also, if you think of a suitable space for Kendo, let us know ASAP so we can investigate all options!

One last (minute) change for the week of training

I've just spoken with Don Ouellette and he will be in Toowoomba for work on Thursday. As a result we will be postponing the start of Arnis till 6 pm and run it in stead of the regular jujutsu class in the first session of the evening, and then a jujutsu flavoured Systema session for the second session.

For regular jujutsu-ka who haven't practised Arnis before, please do not be deterred as it fits in with this month's focus on heiki-waza (weapons techniques). That and Don is an excellent instructor who is definitely worth making the effort to train with!

Look forward to seeing you there!

Holy Name back to school this week

Holy Name is back for the new school year this week, with children starting classes on Wednesday.

This means that BBRD classes will be going to our regular term-time schedule. Start times for evening classes will be affected by the Extend after hours program, and often times we will not be able to access the MEAC till 6 pm. However, please be ready to walk in as soon as the space is available so that we can properly prepare the environment for an evening (see below).

We may also be changing the time for the Posture and Flexibility class from next week to a Wednesday from 6 pm, and there are plans to fill other available timeslots over the coming weeks. We will post updates as soon as we have the details confirmed.

Congratulations Maaike Stehouwer and Ryo Atsumi!

Congratulations to Maaike for her selection onto the Queensland women's Kyu team and Ryo Atsumi from Mushin Itto, who has once again been selected to represent Queensland on the men's Dan team at this year's Australian Kendo Championships.

I would like to wish both of them the best of fortune at the Championships, and we will all look forward to recounting their exploits! Gambate!

 

Australian Kendo Championships: Call for volunteers and participants.

The 41st Australian Kendo Championships are being held at the The Gold Coast Recreation Centre, Tallebudgera over the Easter long weekend. Friday 25 March to Wednesday 30 March.

Accommodation can be obtained on site at very reasonable rates at the Centre. Full details of the prices can be found at the end of the AKC Information pack.

The Queensland Kendo Renmei has put a call out to all affiliate dojo to ask for volunteers to help out. You don't have to be a kendoka to volunteer, as there will be plenty need for timekeepers, ushers, ribbon tiers etc that do not require technical knowledge or skills. QKR secretary, Dave Fitzgibbon has stated that he would like all volunteer registration completed and sent to me by close of business Friday the 5th February 2016 5:00pm. Competitors may also volunteer, and all volunteers are entitled to the following:

  • Free lunch Saturday and Sunday
  • Free attendance to the seminar (includes lunch)
  • Free 41 AKC tie
  • AKC competition bag

(note: a minimum number of volunteer hours applies)

Breakfast and dinner can be obtained for$10 per meal on site.
 
Volunteers also need to supply their own white button up shirt, black pants and black socks. The volunteer outfit will be white business type shirt, Maroon 41 AKC tie, black pants, black socks.

And if you are thinking of competing you must let either Ryo Atsumi or Michael Baczynski know ASAP so that the forms can be sent in one lot to Dave.

Tozando order to be made soon

We are likely to put in a Tozando order some time in the next fortnight in order to get a few things like zekken/nafuda for Iaido and Kendo.

Please let Michael know ASAP if you would like to purchase anything, and we need to ensure that the order arrives well before the Australian Kendo Championships. Have a look at what you might want, e-mail the page URL to Michael, and he will get back to you with an estimated price, taking into consideration to the Club's discount, the exchange rate, and shipping.