COVID-19 contingencies

This week has served up an important reminder that we are still a long way from a resolution for the difficulties we face as a community with COVID-19. Victorians are now in a six-week Stage 4 lock down, with movement restricted to within 5 Km of their residential address (save for very restricted circumstances). Here in Queensland, we have an anxious wait to see just how widespread community transmission may be given the surge in cases in both Victoria and New South Wales, and both the very public and more frequent but publicly “unknown” breeches of the Queensland border crossing regulations. Here in Toowoomba, we have been notified of one active (but not community-transmitted) case. And on Saturday, Queensland Health put out a bulletin alerting people who reside or have visited a number of Brisbane, Logan, Beenleigh and Ipswich locations/suburbs/post codes in the past two weeks to be extra cautious.

Michael C and I were discussing this on Saturday, and have concluded that we are going to play this very cautiously within the Club. We ask that if you have visited one of the identified areas, that you please stay away from the dojo for 14 days after your visit there. A complete list of areas affected can be found at: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/contact-tracing and remember that the entirety of the Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan and Beenleigh local government areas now are under restrictions with regard to aged care facilities.

While this may seem painful given the interruption to our recently restarted activities, I’m sure that everyone will agree that we do not wish to be in the Victorian situation in a month’s time.

Please be cautions when you do visit the dojo. Remember:

• If you are at all unwell, please stay away.

• If you have two or more of the known SARS-CoV-2 symptoms, please get tested immediately

• Come to the dojo clean (both yourself, your uniform, and your equipment)

• Sign in, and sanitise your hands

• Try to leave space between your equipment and others. Be mindful of distancing, especially during change overs and at the end of a training day.

• Follow an discipline specific protocols for the session you are training in

• Leave the dojo promptly. No not change at the end of your session(s) and please, do not linger. We need to be better with our “Get in, train, get out — no hanging about” mantra.

I will provide another update next week. Stay everyone!

First week back — solid foundations laid

It is particularly wintery this morning here in Toowoomba, and I’m currently sitting quite snugly inside looking out as Middle Ridge is being blanketed by misty rain.

One thing that is warming though is the embodied reminder of our first week back to face-to-face training and in our new location. All disciplines trained at the CBRC this week, including Daen F’s new Bankoku Jujutsu class on Thursday night. It was also lovely to see Student Guild CEO Jenny Rix, stop by on Thursday night to see how we were settling into the new space. It has been delightful to have been so warmly welcomed by Jenny and the rest of her team this week, and I am very much looking forward to building on that relationship.

We will still be bedding down a few things over the next couple of weeks. This includes taping out the keiko/shiai-jo areas on the floor, and sorting out specific protocols for placement of personal equipment for those training. We will also be looking to set up the virtual dojo links for the greater Club diaspora in the next two weeks so that people can join in with Hombu classes in real time.

What we have sorted though (for now at least) is the class timetable. I have done a bit of updating on the Club’s website, so that the times for training should now be all up to date. Major things to note are some changes to Saturday classes. Specifically:

• Having a Systema class, which will run 3.30-5.00 pm,

• A second Iaido class running straight after Kendo from 3.30-4.30 pm

• Jujutsu now starting at 4.30 pm and running through till 6.00 pm

FlexiFit will remain as a Zoom class on Sundays from 5.30-6.30 pm. It is a pleasant way to finish off a week, and makes sense given that a majority of the current class participants are now out of town/interstate. A link to register for the class can be found on the FlexiFit page of the Club website. Virtual classes are either part of your monthly contribution, or you will need to purchase a “Ten pack” of classes for $20. This can be done either through direct bank transfer, you you can purchase them through the Club website.

Just a quick note that until the CBRC is open for regular Saturday use, you will have to use the rear fire stairs to enter the dojo of a weekend. The sign-in/hand sanitising desk will be set up at that end of the room for you to do as you would for a regular weeknight class. Please remember street shoes off before you step onto the wooden floor area! We were noticing that the floor became quite slippery once wet, so we will need to be mindful of keeping it clean and dry.

So onwards and upwards everyone for the new week. I’m looking forward to seeing even more of you back in classes this week. Stay warm, be well, and happy training!

Reminder: Iaido and Kyudo training at Pine Mountain this Saturday

Just a quick reminder that we are scheduled to take a trip down to see Tom Johnson sensei, this Saturday morning to train Iaido, Kyudo, and possibly some ZKR Jodo. Could you please let either myself or Daen know ASAP if you are interested in going so that we can organise car sharing and sufficient equipment for the day. Training starts at 8.30 am, so for those of us leaving Toowoomba, we will be stepping off no later than 7.15 am.

I will be checking with Tom sensei this morning to see how long he intends to have us training through till. At this stage, we ought to make it back for 2.00 pm start of Kendo, but will let everyone know if there are any variations to that for this week through our group chat channels. If in doubt, please contact me directly from tomorrow onwards.

Tozando mini order

It was fantastic to see people using the various goodies from the Club’s most recently arrived order from Tozando on Saturday. For those that missed out on that last order, you have a brief window to put an order in before Thursday.

Tracy is taking the plunge and getting herself her very first bogu set, and has generously offered to coordinate this order for those of you noticing something missing or in need of replacment after our returning to the dojo after our COVID forced break.

Please let either Tracy or I know absolutely no later than at Thursday training. This is a hard deadline, as a number of Tozando special offers end on Friday.

New beginnings, big horizons

This week marks one of the biggest changes for the Club in many years, with our return to USQ Toowoomba campus after nine years of training at other locations. On Saturday we removed all of our equipment from the MEAC, gave the storage area a thorough clean, and transported all of our things to the along to the other end of West Street and into the Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre (CBRC).

I’d first like to thank everyone who came out to help on Saturday morning — Brady, Callum, John, Kateena, Michael C, Sean T (for his efforts in staring the ball rolling last weekend), Tracy, and Zane — for dedicating their time to get us packed up, cleaned up and set up for next week.

Next, I would like to thank Holy Name Catholic Primary School for hosting us in their Hall over the past 8 1/2 years.

Finally, I would like to thank Jenny Rix and her team at the Student Guild for welcoming us so enthusiastically. It has felt like absolutely the right move at this time for the Club, especially with us about to restart face-to-face classes after our COVID-19 generated slumber (more on that in a moment). And even more importantly, it allows us to better serve the USQ community that has always been the foundation of the Club.

As classes start this week, I hope to see many of the Club’s old faces return to our new digs. We will be easing our bodies into the new rhythm of training. Some things will inevitably change, but I can guarantee that we shall continue to be a vehicle for the practice of high quality martial arts in the Toowoomba community.

Return to face-to-face classes

This week will mark the first face-to-face classes that the Club will have been able to conduct since March. With the change of venue, and the ongoing restriction due to COVID-19, there will be some alterations to what have been normal practices over the past few years. I would ask that you be both patient and understanding with the changes we have made, and they have been designed to meet our obligations and make things as efficient as they can be under these circumstances.

We are all feeling our way through at the moment, and here will be some inevitable tweaks and changes to our protocols, so please keep an eye out for.

The most important first step for you is to have a thorough read of the BBRD COVID-19 Member Charter, which is now up on the Club website under the Policy tab. This contains important information about what you need to bring and what you need to do on your return to the dojo. The headline things to watch out for are:

• If you are feeling at all unwell, then you must stay away from the dojo. This includes as a spectator. If you become unwell, you must immediately stop training, notify the supervising instructor, and leave the venue. You cannot return until you have been cleared of a COVID-19 infection.

• You must be on time to the dojo. If you are late, which means that you arrive after the scheduled class begins without having notified the supervising instructor of when you will be arriving, you will not be permitted to enter the dojo.

• You will need to sign in and sign out at the start and end of your time in the dojo. There will be a table set up at both the entrance and exit for you to do so.

• It will be necessary to bring sufficient water for you to drink during the session. Bans on bubblers and other publicly available water are still in force. At this stage, it ought not be too complicated to bring sufficient, but we will have to be mindful one the weather starts to warm up.

• You will need to bring one personal towel for each session that you are participating in. This will be used to help clean/sanitise the training area at the end of each session, and you will need to launder your towels at home before you bring them in. We would suggest some type of waterproof bag to transport them (and any sweat soaked uniforms) in.

• We will be strictly enforcing the “street shoes” off at the entrance to the dojo, and the need for dojo specific footwear to walk around the wooden floor on. There are additional protocols regarding footwear/feet sanitisation that are discipline specific, and this will be gone through with you prior to any particular session.

• Face masks may be required as part of specific COVID-19 planning for particular disciplines/activities. Again, you ought to be getting a message from your respective discipline coordinators outlining what you will need for your first session, and will be taken through this before training.

• We are still being cautious over the next fortnight, just to see the lay of the land with respect to Toowoomba-based community infections post the school holidays. Events in Victoria and NSW are of concern, and we want to err on the side of caution before we fully embrace what we are able to do under Stage 3 easing of restrictions.

• Many of us have not been anywhere near as active over the past four months as is usual. We will be taking this into consideration and ramping up the physical workload over a few weeks to try and avoid injury. However, you will also need to be self-monitoring in this regard, and not push too far beyond comfort zones initially.

Make sure that you have a thorough read of the Members’ Charter. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact either myself or the relevant discipline coordinator — ideally before class starts.

We need to be extra vigilant at this point. None of us wished for there to be another months-long shutdown and time away from training face-to-face.

New discipline at BBRD: Bankoku Jujutsu

This Thursday will see the start of a new class for Jujutsu in the regular 6.30 pm time slot.

Daen Fryar, who holds a shodan from Kokusai Jujutsu Ryu in Bankoku Jujutsu will be offering classes using the KJR syllabus.

Bankoku Jujutsu is a more koryu influenced style of jujutsu with an emphasis on some truly spectacular projection throws (and learning how to land safely from them), and police/military tactics for self defence.

I’d strongly encourage everyone to come and participate. As interest expands we will be offering the classes for a second session in the week. I’ll be enthusiastically strapping on my white belt and taking part!

Kyudo and Iaido training day at Matsuyama Dojo, Saturday 1 August

For those of you interested in Japanese archery, the inaugural monthly Kyudo training session will be held on Saturday 1 August at the Matsuyama dojo of Kohokai, located at the Pine Mountain Hall.

We will be participating in the usual Iaido training beforehand, and then rolling in for a session focussing on Kyudo taihai and firing into makiwara.

If you are interested in participating, please let myself of Daen know ASAP so that he can ensure there is sufficient measures for COVID-19 requirements, including physical distancing and loan equipment.

AWF 2020

The (first time virtual) 2020 Australasian Wadaiko Festival was held on Sunday 5 July, for 2 hours via Zoom. Two members of our Toowoomba Taiko tribe participated: Arielle Bangalan, who appeared online with the UQ Taiko group, and me (Sian), who introduced our Taiko to the Australian and New Zealand audience of other Taiko groups and leaders/speakers. Each group had 5 minutes, which seems longer when playing and no time at all when speaking, to talk about our taiko people and practice.

Some groups have been in existence for 10 or 20 years and have very professional videos. Others have been in existence for five or more years so, at three years, our group is one of the newest. NZ has around 11 groups in the North Island and two groups in the South. Australia has more than 20 groups throughout most States, not all of whom were online yesterday. Taiko is alive and well down under! One group have spawned professional Taiko drum-makers as well.

The generosity of the Takatsuki drum donation and the short snippet of energetic video, playing Isamigoma from the Kajoku restaurant Takatsuki earthquake fundraiser, impressed the viewers too. I look forward to the time we can play or attend in person at the Festival and catch the vibrant atmosphere. Taiko in Australasia appears to be a pleasant and supportive community, committed to promoting an eclectic mix of traditional Japanese and Australasian-influenced music and culture.

Online classes this week.

There are a few changes to the Club’s online classes this week. First Michael C is on holiday, so there will be no Systema classes till Tuesday 14 July. Second, I am heading to Bundaberg on Saturday to finalise some matters related to my studies. I am seeing what possibility there is for running both an Iaido and FlexiFit class on Sunday in Gin Gin, and will let everyone know if we will proceed with that plan, and at what time to start.

Jujutsu will be as normal from 6 pm Monday and Thursday nights.

Hope to see you over the camera, of for those in the Bundaberg district, in person this week!