End of Semester 2 is nigh!

I just wanted to wish everyone preparing or exams and finalising assignments all the best as we count down to the end of semester. Training ought to be broadly back to normal this week, including a functionally clean MEAC to train in (thanks to Tracy and Kateena for their help on Saturday).  

We still need to do some more work over the next week and a half to make the MEAC look its best in preparation for the Glen Henry sensei seminar and public demonstration, as we are hoping to achieve some media coverage of the event. Therefore, could I urge as many folk as possible to come to the Saturday cleaning session 3 pm this week, so that we do not have to do as much hard work the following Friday when we set the dojo up. 

So stay dry and safe this week folks, and I'll look forward to seeing you in at the dojo! 

Date claimer Friday afternoon 27 October, Monday morning 30 October

I'd just like to ask that if we could have Club members available on Friday 5 pm of the 27th and on Monday morning of the 30th in order to help with picking up and dropping off of extra training mats for the SMR Jodo seminar and public demonstrations.

Thomas Banhazi has very generously offered to support our event by loaning his mats to add to ours. As he will be overseas at the time, we will need to arrange to pick them up and drop them off. Kateena has offered the use of her ute. However, we will need to move them from (and on Monday, to) their position in the Q block theatre, and more hands will make for much lighter work. 

This includes setting up the dojo for the following day, including cleaning the toilets, tidying the main hall, and giving the floor a mop down on Friday. Please let Michael know ASAP is you are able to help.  

QKR December seminar and grading

The date and place for this year's December seminar and grading has been announced. Unfortunately, Toowoomba missed out this time despite putting in a strong bid, and we will look to make another attempt to host the seminar in 2018.  

We will again be heading to the Gold Coast for the 2nd & 3rd of December, and be training in the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, Carrara, where this year's Kendo competition for the Australian University Games were held. It is $60 to attend both days of the seminar, or $35 for a single day. Family groups of three or more 

Gradings will be available up to and including sandan for both Kendo and Iaido. Grading applications and receipt of payment for the grading must be received by the QKR president no later than 18 November. Remember that your grading form must be signed off by myself for Kendo or Tom Johnson sensei for iaido as part of the registration process. 

We will be heading down on Friday 1 December and arranging to stay Friday and Saturday night as customary. Please let me know ASAP if you would like to stay in the group accomodation so that we can get the best deal for the size of group we have.  

Australian Kendo Team fundraiser

The World Kendo Championships is on next year, and Australian squad members for the women's and men's teams are in active preparation for what is building to be an intense competition in Korea.  

Sending teams is an expensive process, particularly for proper amature teams in niche sports, and the Australian Kendo Renmei is hoping to do some fundraising to help with these costs. The first cab off the rank are supporters t-shirts and tenugui. I've been asked to coordinate the Toowoomba based order by no later than the 20th of October. 

Have a look at the designs, and let me know what you would like to obtain. Pricing is:

  • T-Shirt & Tenugui Package - $40
  • Individual T-Shirt price Adults $25 / Kids $20
  • Individual Tenugui $20

Jodo demonstration 28 Oct.

Glen Henry Sensei and students will be making the trip up the hill to demonstrate all things related to Jodo (jo, ken, tanjo, jutte and kusarigama) on 28 October.  Come and see how dynamic and effective this Koryu art can be.  For a taste see the posting by Sensei Adrian Knight on the BBRD Facebook page on 3 July of him and Glen Henry Sensei doing the jo kata group Gohon no Midare.

This event will be open to the general public.  Time and venue to be announced in the Budo Blog...stay tuned.  This event will also be marked in the calender.

Eric

 

Jodo training times

Hello All,

For this Monday (9 Oct.) Jodo will start training at 1930 hrs (7:30 pm).  It will resume its 1900 hrs (7 pm) training time next Monday (16 Oct.)

Eric

No training at the MEAC this week

I have spoken with a number of you over the past week, but just to let you know that we will not have access to the MEAC this week as Holy Name Primary School will have it set up for their annual Art Show.  

This Sunday, as part of the festivities related to the Arts Show Carnival, the Club has been asked to do some formal demonstrations over the lunch period. We are scheduled to do a 15 minute slot at just before 12 pm and another around 2 pm, though we will have the marquee set up on the oval and conduct some free-form practice from 11 am. This is an excellent opportunity for the Club to formally engage with the school community, so they can get a little more accurate idea of what the "karate guys" do in their school hall of an evening!

There are still some details to be nailed down, and I will put out a separate "Special" Budo Bulletin with an update mid-week. 

We will do our usual spread of disciplines based on the availability of members to lend a hand, and what the weather has in store for us on the weekend. 

In memorium

I would like to again express condolences to Sian and Mark Carlyon on the passing of Sian's mother Jean. Jean passed on Wednesday in peace, after a short decline that saw her receive hospice care for a brief period.  

The funeral service will be at 10 am Thursday at St James Anglican Church, corner of Mort and Russell Streets.  

I know I speak on behalf of the membership when expressing sympathy for Sian, Mark and their extended family, and to say that we are eager to do what we can in the coming days and weeks ahead to do what we can to practically assist them.  

AUG Kendo and Judo — That's a wrap

Just a quick update post on the weekend just past. I'm still feeling the effects of a long and involved weekend of providing support to the AUG Kendo competition, and am looking forward to getting a little more rest in the coming week.  

This year was the first time that the three martial art competitions were held in the one venue. The newly built Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre was a fantastic venue to hold the event in, and we might be down there again in December for the QKR seminar if Tamura sensei gets his preference. 

I wanted to thank all the folk who came down and did the Club proud with the assistance they provided on the weekend — Jack, Kateena, Matt G, Sian, and Tracy. These weekend away are always a great opportunity to spend time with wonderful folk, and I do very much look forward to them as opportunities. 

I also wanted to thank David Fitzgibbon, the event manager, for his excellent organizing of the weekend. Many hours and late nights went into ensuring that the competition ran as well as it did, and it was an absolute pleasure to contribute to.  

It was wonderful to be able to spend some down time with friends from Kenshinkai, including Isaacs sensei, Shigeoka sensei, who is visiting from Japan, and it was really good to catch up with Randy Le-Bherz and Ryo Atsumi (we miss your presence at Toowoomba training sessions!)

Congratulations to Jack who fought well in the Judo. Making weight was a significant task successfully accomplished by an intense cardio session after spending a day on his feet helping with the Kendo. Congrats to friend of the Club John Taylor who took home Bronze in the Judo for USQ, to Anna Opertowski-Marshall from the Kenshinkai for her Bronze in the Women's Kendo Dan competition, and to all the competitors in the martial arts competitions held on he weekend. Whether achieving a place or not, there was an enormous amount of good will, respect and learning had by all!

And so we will start planning for next year's event, which will again be held on the Gold Coast. With 12 months of preparation, I'm sure that we can build o this year's achievements and field more USQ athletes, as well as provide support for the events.