Training times this week.

There are some variations to the regular training schedule now that school is back and we have the Australia Day public holiday on Thursday. 

First, there will be no formal training on Thursday evening due to the holiday, though we may have an impromptu training session for various arts that afternoon depending on interest.  

Second, kendo will now only be on Sunday morning, starting at 10 am until we find an alternative venue to restore mid-week training. Sian and I are looking at a few alternatives this week to see if we can find something that meets our needs. However, I would ask that everyone keep an eye out and let us know if you have a lead on something that may suit. Effectively, we are looking for a minimum of 120 square meters of floor space with sufficient ceiling height and a sprung/wooden floor.

Jodo training 16-19 January

Hello All,

Jodo will have extra training sessions this week in addition to its regular training times. We will be having extra sessions on Tuesday and Thursday (times to be announced).

In addition, Sensei Adrian Knight will be joining us for training on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Eric

Last week of school holidays

While it seems that summer will continue to have a sting for some time, this week marks the last full week before school returns for the new academic year. This will mean that we will have to once again put away our training surface and accouterments each night, and make our contributions to the shared facility of the MEAC. It will also mean that there will have to be inevitable changes to the Kendo timetable, as we will no longer have easy access to the MEAC of an afternoon due to the Extend After Hours program. 

The first order is some housekeeping — we will take the opportunity this Saturday to do a very thorough clean of the MEAC from 2 pm, including our tatami and the storage room. I would like as many hands on deck as available to ensure that we can be as thorough as required.  

Second, we will need to again look in earnest for a facility to hold kendo practice, as a single Sunday session is insufficient to maintain the training momentum, particularly if we are keen to send competitors to the Australian University Games this year. Can I ask that everybody keep a look out for potential venues. In order of priority, we require somewhere with sufficient ceiling clearance and a safe surface (sprung floor ideal) and of sufficient size (minimum of 120 square meters). 

So I'll look forward to seeing many of you through this week!

Iaido seminar wrap-up

Saturday may have been one of the hottest and most humid day in quite some while, but the iaido seminar organised by the Kohokai and hosted at Kenshinkai dojo was one of the best training experiences I have had for quite  some time.  

Led by Toshi Tsukadaira sensei and Emiko Yaguchi sensei (after 90 minutes of kendo as a "warm up" for some of us) we engaged in a more Japanese-style seminar format, where we generally worked on kata of our choice and had the various sensei available provide input. This was incredibly useful in identifying and starting to address some of those niggles and rough edges in our performance, and I would love to see it employed more often as a seminar approach in the future.

Personally, I would like to especially thank John Isaacs sensei for the warm welcome, the considerable time he gifted to me to provide feedback on what I was doing, and the invite for Toowoomba-based kendoka and iaidoka to come far more often (and, indeed, regularly) to Brisbane to touch base and continue our improvements in both disciplines. 

I would also like to second Isaacs sensei's sentiment regarding Yaguchi sensei's  instruction. As he said, "sensei is the epitome of what a Sensei should be - humble, informed, great example, but most importantly she genuinely cares about the students and makes them the priority".

Many thanks also to Tom Johnson for having organised the event, which always takes considerable behind the scenes action. We are hoping to have another session with Yaguchi sensei before she leaves in March, and we will certainly look forward to that opportunity. 

Jodo additional training week of the 15th

Hello All,

The week of the 15th there will be the opportunity for some additional training for Jodo. In addition to our normal training on Monday and Wednesday (at 7:00 pm) there will be the opportunity for training on the Tuesday and Thursday as well.

Sensei Adrian Knight will have the chance to join us on Monday night and he will be participating on the additional nights of Tuesday and Thursday as well. Times to be announced (see Budo Blogs and What's On calendar [both under Member Services] for details once they are finalised).

Eric

Iaido and Kendo training opportunity this Saturday

Just a quick note to remind the Toowoomba-based iaidoka that this Saturday we will be travelling to Brisbane to train for the day with practitioners from across South East Queensland at the Kenshinkai, Mt Gravatt. 

Leading training will be Toshi Tsukadaira sensei, and it will be the first opportunity for Club members to be instructed by Dave Kolb sensei since he successfully challenged for his 6Dan. Yaguchi sensei 6Dan renshi), who is currently visiting the Tsukadairas, has confirmed that she will also be teaching, and both Stewie Owens and Klara Langtry will be up for the day from New South Wales. So it promises to be an excellent day for polishing one's kata and catching up with friends!

I will be confirming today with Isaacs sensei, but we may well also go down early and get a kendo session in before iaido. We are not sure yet whether this means being there for an 8 am start, or we just get a short sharp 1 hour from 8.30–9.30 am. Hopefully I can confirm at training this afternoon. 

This will mean that there will be no Saturday training at the MEAC for jujutsu as we will still be on our way back from Brisbane at that time.  

Sports Master order this week

I will be putting in an order with Sports Master later this week for a number of large bulk items including some kettle bells, a nagakomi mat and a few extra items for FlexiFit and Gym classes. 

If any Club member would like to get something in this order, please let me know ASAP so that we can work out the cost of the item and shipping. The Club has a wholesale account with SMAI, so enjoys a substantial discount on the retail prices displayed on their website. So if you are interested, please point your browser to: www.smai.com.au let me know what you are interested in before Wednesday and arrange to have the money deposited in the Club account by Thursday.

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.