Gin Gin end of year trip

Plans are firming up for this month’s trip to Gin Gin. As regular readers know, BBRD will be going up to train with the Gin Gin Judo Club/Ken Jin Kan on the weekend of the 16 and 17th of November.

At this stage, our plan is to leave early Saturday morning, conduct a bogu and shinai maintenance workshop before lunch, then run training sessions of Kendo, Iaido and Jujutsu. Sunday we are proposing to start training early in the morning and fit in Arnis, Jujutsu, Judo and then a judo rules ne-wasa competition.

We will be inviting participation from the Bundaberg region’s judo/budo community, and finish off the event with a end of year pool party.

Can I ask that anyone interested in participating confirm you attendence this week so we can properly sort out transportation, accomodation and catering. I would strongly encourage you to come along if you can make it!

Remember that Jujutsu is shifting back to Tuesday

A brief reminder that starting this week, we will be shifting Jujutsu training to Tuesday nights (usual 6 pm start). Additionally, we will be adding a regular Iaido class straight afterwards (from 7.40 pm) running parallel to Systema and Jodo.

We are continuing our work preparing for shinsa in December across Kendo, Iaido and Jujutsu, and would strongly encourage you to come to as many sessions as you can.

Good luck all USQ students heading into exam block (and congrats to CQU students who have finished theirs)!

Count down to the end of the academic year is definitely on, with USQ students heading into their two week exam block and CQU students having just finished theirs (and awaiting confirmation of grades).

Happy hunting all those heading in, best chances for all awaiting results. But above all: GAMBATTE!

Back for the summer

Today marks the start of the first full week post- my academic year. It means that for the next four and a half months I will not have to face the weekly dislocation of the approximately 1 100 Km drive up to the Bundaberg region and back. While I am certain to miss the regular contact with everyone up north, I am definitely looking forward to being able to spend the next little while on projects around the house and dojo, and indeed on some regular self-focussed training.

There are a few things to note. First, we will again be running virtual dojo sessions between Toowoomba and Gin Gin, first for Kendo and then for Jujutsu and Iaido. This will be in aid of preparing folk for gradings in December.

Second, we are still in the throws of organising a road trip for mid-November to run a weekend training event in Gin Gin across the disciplines I support. The main aim will again be grading prep, but we will also be promoting the event to the wider Gin Gin/Bundaberg community to get some local interest happening over the summer. At the moment the proposed date is the weekend of the 16-17th of November, but we will confirm the date and the program this week.

Third, it is important to note grading dates. The QKR seminar and grading opportunity for Kendo, Iaido and Jodo will be held on the weekend of 7-8 December, and the Jujutsu grading opportunity has been locked in for 2 pm Saturday 14 December. I will be providing more information regarding both events in next week’s Bulletin, but if you have any immediate questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Fourth, with Monday night fencing ceasing, we are looking to shift Jujutsu training back to Tuesday nights so as to most efficiently use our time in the MEAC. Again, I will confirm this in next week’s Bulletin, but we are looking to start this in the new week/month. Given the closeness of gradings, training will be a little more tailored to preparing folk to perform well.

Fifth, I intend to run regular Iaido classes on the Tuesday night parallel to Systema, so that the current iaidoka can clock up some regularised group training each week, which is particularly important given Queensland will be hosting the Nationals next year.

Phew!

Much to organise and work on over the coming weeks. However, with the work of the wonderful (and growing) community we have here, I am sure that we shall get everything done with panache!

I will look forward to seeing everyone in the dojo (physical or virtual) over the coming weeks.

No Jodo until 4 November

Due to the MEAC being unavailable this week and to my being out of town until the start of next month, ther will be no jodo sessions until the 4th of November.

Training will resume at 7:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Eric

MEAC unavailable 14-19 October

Due to Holy Name holding their art show this week, training across all disciplines will not be held at the MEAC.

Please confirm with your instructor/coordinator whether your training will be cancelled or moved to another venue.

Jujutsu this week: Monday 7 - Saturday 12 October

Jujutsu will be held only on Thursday evening this week (Thursday 10 October). This is due to Monday being the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday and on Saturday, Brady will be attending a wedding and Michael will be up north in Bundaberg. In addition, Michael will be back in Toowoomba for regular training (both nights) from next week.

All the best to those who are finalising their uni semester (and good luck!) and best wishes to those who are beginning the final term of the year - both students and teachers.

Carnival of Flowers support

Just a quick note of thanks to Tomoko and the rest of the Toowoomba Taiko group for inviting us along to the Toowoomba Japanese Garden to participate in their Carnival of Flowers performance.

I had a wonderful day, and it was great to have Iaido, Jujutsu, Kendo kata and Jodo demonstrations. Horatio Davis from the Queensland Go Society made it up and set up some board to encourage folk to take up the game. I know there were many photos and video taken, so do look to our social media to see the footage over the next few days!

Push for the summit — End of semester/term in view

With the first week of USQ mid semester break kicking off (and associated school holidays), and Week 10 of 12 teaching weeks at CQU, we are all rapidly approaching the end of the standard academic year.

I am going to have to stay up in Bundaberg till next Thursday 3 October, and Brady will be away this week at his parent’s farm, so there will not be any week-night training for Jujutsu this week in Toowoomba. Brady will let everyone know about this Saturday, and next Monday. I will then be back to run next Thusday and Saturday’s classes as normal.

Sean T is keen to run Kendo sessions while am away, so please ask him directly about those arrangements.

Gin Gin Jujutsu, Iaido and Kendo sessions will run as usual over the next fortnight through the school holiday period.

For me, my studying year will be over by Friday 25 October. I will provide some updates regarding virtual dojo training times and visits to Gin Gin for the break till March once we work up the schedule. I would also like to pencil in a Jujutsu grading opportunity for the weekend after the QKR seminar in December, and will confirm more details over the coming weeks.

I would also like to wish all competitors at the Uni Sports Div 1 Nationals all the best for the competition starting this weekend coming, especially in Kendo and Judo. I would also like to thank Club members who are heading down to fill support roles for the event.

Have fun everyone and Gambatte!