SMR Jodo

Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo is still training Monday and Wednesday nights at the MEAC starting at 7:00 pm.  I would like to invite Kendo practitioners in Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei Jodo (or Seitei Jodo) to come along and work on your Kihon and Kata with us.  There are but minor differences in the Kihon between SMR Jodo and ZNKR Jodo, and SMR Jodo practitioners in Toowoomba first start learning the Seitei Jodo Kata (again with minor differences to that of ZNKR Jodo) before moving on to our series of Kata.

So, if you would like to work on your skills with the jo, please feel free to come on Monday and Wednesday nights.  See you there.

Eric

Monday Kendo for the next two weeks

With public holidays for ANZAC Day and Labour day coming up, we are going to have to be a little flexible with our kendo training, as the CBRC will be unavailable.

Instead, we will train 4–5.30 pm at the MEAC for those of you who are interested/available to train.

Boxing & Systema

Well Anzac day is almost here, so I’m thinking it’s a great time to talk about the martial arts of Boxing and Systema, but before then, I’d like all of us to remember the ones that have serviced in combat zones around the world and at home, so we could be free thinking and to train and live life the way we choose too.

Now it’s being a great pleasure running Boxing & Systema at the club, were seeing an increase in numbers on both Mondays boxing Classes and also on the Thursday Systema classes, were seeing a lot of progress with both classes especially with Ray, Dillon and Peter from the boxing classes and I’m seeing a huge improvement in the whole group in Systema. 
So keep up the great work guys, 

Today's Systema Tip:  

"The person with the most flexible behaviour, will control the system" But be warned, not to overuse it!!! 

Sean C   

Congratulations to Rob Doncaster!

I wanted to pass on congratulations to Rob Doncaster who last week successfully graded to Shodan at the Kyudo shinsa in Nagoya.

Rob participated along side Tom Johnson sensei over the past fortnight at the annual opportunity for Australian kyudoka to train and grade in Japan. We are all looking forward to catching up and hearing Rob and Tom's stories when we next get an opportunity to train with them.

And we are still working towards a Toowoomba-based event later this year to showcase Kyudo and increase the number of practitioners based up the hill.

Jujutsu this weekend

A small change to jujutsu for this weekend. Michael will be unable to be there on Saturday afternoon. However, for those wanting to do some grading preparation, you are very welcome to come along on Sunday morning from 9.30 am to get in some semi-structured practice while Michael is teaching Kendo.

We will discuss grading matters some more at Training this week!

Welcome back for Term 2

I hope that everyone has managed to catch up on those odd things that creep up in a Semester over the past fortnight. This week we will be back to broadly regular programming in relation to Club-supported activities.

This week will see the start of an extra iaido session in the 7.45-9.15 session on Tuesday, and Jesse will be starting the fire twirling group Monday and/or Wednesday (as will be advised). We will be working hard to start the kids jujutsu and kids kendo classes in the coming weeks, and we are also still on the look out for a new permanent home for kendo with a suitable floor for practising on. 

We will have to play our Monday afternoon kendo training by ear this week — the CBRC might still be partially set up for the graduation ceremonies of the past fortnight, which will mean that we are unable to do standard keiko — as the MEAC is back to Extend use so we will not be able to relocate as we did last week. If that is the case, we will most likely do some kendo kata practice, either at the CBRC or nip across to the Japanese Garden.

In jujutsu we will be continuing with kansetsu waza. Could I ask that everyone try to get to the dojo 15 minutes before the official start of class so that we can have sufficient time to set up and engage with what will be a fairly packed month and a half leading up to gradings.

Given the shortening of daylight, could I also ask that those of you who are coming to Arnis bethere promptly to start on Tuesday.

And we still need to have some more volunteers to help with the regular cleaning of the MEAC. So please talk to any of the Executive members about joining the crew!

Jujutsu — pre-grading preparations

April has traditionally be the start of the preparation cycle for Jujutsu gradings here in Toowoomba, with the actual examination taking place in May before the cold weather properly sets in. We will be setting a date in the next fortnight, contingent on an appropriate grading panel being available.

There are a few things to do for those students wanting to attempt grading. First, in order to be eligible to grade, you must be a current financial member and have a reasonable attendance record. If in doubt, please confirm with Michael or Sian.

Second, make sure that you are aware of the requirements of the grade you wish to attempt. These can be found on the Club's Facebook group. If you can't access your particular grading sheet, please ask Michael ASAP. Carefully look at those requirements, and if there are aspects that you are uncertain of, make sure you clarify what is expected. The onus is always on the student to ensure that they are clear about what they have to do, and to what standard.

Third thing is to make good use of your training time. Grading examinations are an opportunity to demonstrate what you know, rather than tests of what you do not know. Make sure that you use the jigeiko time set aside in training well, and hone your practice to the appropriate standard.

And finally, be diligent in your attendance over the next month. One of the greatest correlations for success at kyu grades is the amount of time you put in "doing the miles", practising the fundamentals, and reflecting on what you are doing. Simply showing up for the odd class is a "low percentage" strategy that you ought avoid.

So good luck everyone! I'll look forward to assisting you on the mat over the next few weeks!

Autumn Dojo Day 2016

Thank you to all who came along on Saturday and made the Dojo Day fun as always. Saturday felt a little more like summer than autumn, but the dojo remained very pleasant throughout the day.

Big thanks go to everyone who ran sessions; to those that got there early to help give the dojo a spruce up before we started; special thanks to Kristie Greenhatch for going and organising lunch for everyone (I know Sian was especially thankful that she could participate in all session rather than have to cut off early); to those that too pictures — will have to upload them as we have them available; and of course to friends old and new that spent the day doing what we all love!

Vale Vince Mccann

I wanted to express on behalf of the Club condolences to the family, friends, and students of Vince McCann, shihan, who passed away on Friday 25 March after a long battle with illness.

McCann shihan has been a central figure in Australian jujutsu and has had an important influence on hundreds of jujutsu practitioners over the decades. He was a close mentor and friend to our Club's jujutsu patron, Steve Witney sensei.