Happy New Year and welcome back to training

 明けましておめでとうございます！Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! trans. "Congratulations on the dawning (of the new year)."

I hope that everyone in the extended BBRD community has had both a recharging and enjoyable time over the past few weeks, and that everyone is ready to engage with the year ahead with energy, joy and good humour.  

While I am sure some have already indulged in hatsu geiko, or their first training session of the new year, the official Keiko Hajime for the Club will be Tuesday evening starting at 6 pm sharp. Prior to the start of training we will have a general dojo clean up, including mopping down the tatami. I will be there from 3.30 pm and invite all who are available to come and ensure that the keiko-jo, store room and toilets are in a suitable state to formally begin our year. 

Could those who intend to be there for the evening please make sure that you let me know you will be attending. As with previous years, we will have some light refreshments at the end of the training session, so ideas on numbers will be important.  

The evening will be scheduled in a similar fashion to previous years, with a spread of activities representing the disciplines and activities supported by the Club, and I am looking forward to seeing as many of you there as possible participating.

2017 looks to be a period of considerable opportunity for the Club, and I am looking forward to building of the solid foundations laid down over the past twelve months. University Games is on the Gold Coast again this year, there are many upcoming opportunities to train with senior sensei and test our progress, and chances to share our passions with the wider community. 

However, as always, it is important to remember that the strength of any organisation is rooted in the people who comprise it. And I have been enormously proud to be associated with everyone here— active members, supporters, friends, visiting sensei. All our lives would be poorer for the absence of anyone in that  community. 

Last drinks for the year — Training this week

Just a reminder to everyone that this is the last week of classes for the year across all of the disciplines. We will be taking time off from (and including) Saturday 24 December till Monday 2 January. I'm both looking forward to having a rest and dreading being away from training, as usually happens at this time of year for me.

This week, we will be polishing the footwork in Kendo Monday afternoon, Fire and Flow will be on as usual Monday evening, we hope to have Tom Johnson sensei and Rob Doncaster come on Tuesday for Iaido, we will be finishing off our month of ground work in Jujutsu, working on breathing and movement in Systema,  perfecting the swing in Jodo (Monday and Wednesday), stretching out on Wednesday night in FlexiFit, and having one final twirl of the canes in Arnis on Thursday. 

Could I again ask that if you have any Club equipment, especially uniforms, that you are not actively using (i.e. It has been more than a month since you have put it on and come to training) that you arrange to return all items before New Year, either at the dojo this week or to Michael directly in the interval. We do need to have a stocktake and evaluation of all the Club's gear so that we can make plans for what we need to purchase in the coming 12 months. I will be chasing up with some folk, but please arrange a time to bring it in before I contact you ...

Keiko Hajime will be on Tuesday 3 January, where we will do our usual tradition of a New Year clean of the MEAC (and the tatami)  a spot of integrated training and then have some tea and nibbles afterwards. Could you please let Michael know if you intend to come to Keiko Hajime before the end of 2016 so that it can be appropriately planned and catered for. 

 

End of Year dinner

Dinner at Kajoku restaurant was an excellent way to cap off what has been a red letter year for the Club. Personally, I cannot think of much better way to celebrate the end of year than in the company of fine folk and excellent food.

I would like to send a hearty round of thanks to Sian Carlyon for organising the particulars for the evening. Sian has been the heart of the Club since its inception, and indeed has been the only continuously active Club member other than myself since the Club was founded in late 2008. It is not an overstatement to say that without her efforts, the Club would be a much poorer entity, if indeed it existed at all.

On one last administrative note: For those of you to yet attend to it, can you please put money directly into the Club's account to cover for your meal. If you are unsure of how much that might be, please contact Sian as she has the official receipt for the night. And should you require the bank details, you can find them on the Club's website under www.bbrd.org.au/fees

 

Dojo Day wrap up

A big thank you to everyone who participated in the BBRD Dojo Day on Saturday. Although the after-lunch sessions were a little down on numbers, those that were there for the day got much out of all the sessions.

Many thanks to those who took the extra time to properly spruce up the MEAC, particularly Adrian and Tracy who helped both Friday and Saturday morning. And thanks to Eric and Jesse for running their respective sessions. Fire and Flow was well attended in the morning as was Jodo in the afternoon, with a number of folk trying it for the very first time. I would be wonderful to convert some of them to more regular practitioners on a Monday and Wednesday evening!

This is our last "public" commitment for the year, though training will continue as usual over the summer holidays. The only major break scheduled is between the 24th of December and 2 January, though there may be some variations and additional classes offered on a discipline by discipline basis. Stay posted to the Budo Bulletin, the BBRD Facebook page and group, and announcements at regular training sessions for any changes.

Jujutsu grading results

I am very proud to announce the results of the Jujutsu shinsa held on Sunday morning, specifically that three candidates were successful in challenging for 7Kyu. Adrian Cooper, Jack Baker and Matt G all demonstrated significant spirit in demonstrating the requirements for the grade across all six curriculum categories, in most cases exceeding the level required for the grade.

Commiserations to Matt M, who was unable to complete the shinsa process. We will continue to work over the coming months to prepare him for another challenge for the grade, and I am sure that with continued application he will be successful in his next attempt.

Thanks also to Tracy for being the photographer for the day. We will be selecting a tranche of the best photos for everyone to have a look at later this week!

10.12.16 End of Year Dinner at Kajoku (Korean and Japanese) Restaurant

BBRD End of Year Dinner and presentation of awards will be held this Saturday, 10th December at Kajoku (Korean and Japanese) Restaurant from 6.30pm.

Please rsvp, with firm numbers coming along, by this Friday 9th to Sian.Carlyon@usq.edu.au directly or via our BBRD Facebook group, if you have received an invitation in that way.

Families or friends are welcome (but just let us know firm catering numbers, as we will be charged for each no show in our booking).

Looking forward to seeing as many as can make it along.

Please note: training does not stop for the year until Christmas and resumes in the New Year.

 

Dojo Day and end of year dinner this Saturday 10 December

I am certainly looking forward to capping off a fairly hectic two months at BBRD with our planned Dojo Day and end of year dinner this Saturday.  

We will commence the day at 10 am, though please ensure that you are at the Dojo by 9.30 so you are ready to go and can attend to last minute organisation of the space. Training will run through to 4 pm with a lunch break at 12.00 pm.  

We will then reconvene for dinner at Kajoku restraunt in the evening for a meal and presentation of awards! 

I'll look forward to seeing all of you there for the day! 

Dojo Cleen up

School is now on summer holidays, which provides us with the opportunity to utilise the MEAC throughout the week. It also means that we will be able to leave the tatami down on the floor during this period. 

In preparation for our Dojo Day this Saturday, we will be organising a major cleen of the dojo space on Friday. Please talk with Michael or Tracy about your availability on Friday. We are looking at commencing the clean around midday, but will confirm at training as the week progresses. 

Kendo in Toowoomba

Last Monday saw the final Kendo training session at the Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre after more than nine years of association there. Unfortunately changing priorities and significantly increased rents for the space have made it unviable to continue training there. We will be relocating to the MEAC over the school holidays and are currently looking for a new week-day training location over the summer. 

We will, of course, keep everyone posted with developments as the happen!