Club equipment audit

Over the next two weeks, we shall be conducting a Club equipment audit so that we can properly check all of our assets, and see what needs repair or replacement. Over the years there have been a number of items that have gone out and not been returned, which impacts on our ability to cater for new students. For instance, there are many more keikogi than pants in the store, even though all of the donated uniforms started as complete sets. Likewise with obi, where there are far fewer in the tub than this time last year.

One of the things we will be doing is putting an identifying number on all Club items, and signing that item out to you against the register, so that we have a formal record of all equipment that you are borrowing.

If you have any equipment or uniforms at home, could you please bring it along to training so that it can be checked off.

Likewise, if you have any old equipment or uniforms that are in generally good repair and are not using any more, please consider donating them to the Club. This is especially the case for adult-sized bogu, as we are starting to grow numbers both in Toowoomba and in Gin Gin.

Tom Johnson sensei visiting tomorrow night (11 February)

Just confirmed that Tom sensei will be visiting Toowoomba tomorrow night for Iaido training.

Can those who are intending to be there please be a little earlier in arriving (around 7 pm) so that he is able to get away promptly at the end of the evening to head back to Brisbane.

BBRD Executive meeting this Saturday 12 pm

The first executive meeting for the year will be held 12 noon this Saturday, where we will be plotting out the strategic direction for the Club this year in the lead up to the AGM in April, and getting administrative things squared away for our promotional activities at the Student Life Expo on Wednesday 26 February.

One of the things we are going to be looking at is the fee structure for the Club, which has remained largely unchanged over the years despite the Club’s costs for insurance and space rental significantly increasing. We will, of course, be trying to ensure that costs are fairly distributed for activities.

In the lead up, we would also like the membership to give us feedback about our marketing channels. If you could make comment either on the Blog or Facebook regarding your thoughts. How did you find the Club? What do you think of the advertising material (flyers, posters etc.) we have currently — is there need for change in their content or new media entirely? What can we do to increase the number of folk training with us across all the various disciplines and activities we support?

I’ll look forward to reading your thoughts!

Toowoomba Taiko supporting Tyr’s Warriors’ fight night this Saturday, 15 February

Toowoomba Taiko have a gig this Saturday in support of Tyr’s Warrior’s medieval combat fight night just behind the Hear and Say Centre on Ruthven Street, where Taiko currently practice.

Entry is $5 with BBQ dinner and drinks available to purchase. Proceedings kick off at 6 pm. So come along as see the clash of steel, and hear the Taiko drummers perform!

Gin Gin classes to start next week

Regular classes for Iaido and Kendo will be starting up for the year next Wednesday, 19 February in the National Fitness Hall, Bruce Highway. These will be run as virtual dojo classes until I start to come up for the start of the academic year in the week of 9 March.

There will be a change to the time classes are run. Specifically, Iaido will start at 5 pm and Kendo at 6.30 pm for 90 minute sessions. This will allow for a few more adult members to participate in Kendo. Jujutsu will start on the 10th of March once I’m back, and given that it will parallel Toowoomba dojo class times on a Tuesday, we might see if we can get some virtual dojo link up during at least once a month.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone after the extended break. Just as a reminder, now would be a great time to have a look at your uniforms and equipment to make sure they are in good repair. Nothing worse than coming for the first session of the year to find broken (or worse still mouldy) equipment that prevents you from participating fully!

Keep up the good work folks!

After our call out last week to like and share BBRD posts on Facebook, we had a definite bounce in our analytic data for the week.

I’ll again ask that everyone once again like and/or share any BBRD post they see this week, just so that we can increase the share of the audience and bump up the occurrence of Club posts in members’ and friends’ feeds.

This week I’d ask three further things. First, if you could have a look at the official BBRD Facebook page and associated groups so that you can check to see if you are receiving all of the posts put up there. Second, please contribute some shared (or original) content to the various BBRD Facebook groups that you are a member of. Post your questions, observations, or just fun, martial arts related, stuff you come across when you are browsing.

Finally, could I ask that you make a comment on this post regarding what type of content you would like to see on social media, and, more importantly, which social media you would like to access that content on. Over the past few years we have started up some channels, but haven’t spent much time filling them with content outside of Facebook. So if you generally prefer to interact via Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or another media, let us know so that we can start to put the content you want in the media you access!

Rick Beal Kyudo Seminar 21-22 March

BBRD is looking set to host the first Queensland Kyudo Association-sponsored seminar on the weekend of 21-22 March.

Rick Beal, 5DAN is undertaking a tour of Australia, and the March seminar is part of that journey around the country. Beal sensei is one of the highest ranked non-Japanese practitioners of the art and a frequent visitor to Australia. We are expecting attendees from as far away as Atherton, QLD and even some interstate visitors to take advantage of the two day seminar. It will also be open to the public to participate or even just watch.

The seminar will cover all aspects of Kyudo, from the formal etiquette that is central to its practice through to live fire of the Japanese yumi (bow). A formal schedule and price for the weekend will be finalised in the next fortnight, and we will be promoting the weekend at the USQ Club Muster event on 26 February.

Call out for soft plastics

Rob Doncaster, Queensland Kyudo Association President, has asked me to put out a call for clean, used, soft plastics, which he is intending to make kyudo targets from, especially with the upcoming Rick Beal seminar next month.

Basically, he is looking for any old plastic bags that you can “scrunch” in your hands (and would ultimately be able to put into the red recycling bins outside of Coles). Clean is very important though, so if they have had direct contact with foodstuff, could you please give it a wash before you bring it in.

I will be arranging a bag to the MEAC store room where you can make your deposit.

No training this Thursday (6 February)

I’ve spoken to most students who are affected, but unfortunately the School’s P&C Committee have a function in the MEAC this Thursday. Tuesday and Saturday training will be as normal.

I’ll look forward to seeing you at training this week!