Training in the weeks ahead

It has been a nice start to my second block of clinical placement with four day weeks both the week just passed and this coming week. It has been somewhat of a break from the usual routine of training as I’m finding my schedule down in Brisbane, but I am hoping to start at least some Kendo and Iaido when the opportunity arises.

We have dates in December that members ought be working towards, including the QKR State seminar for Kendo, Iaido and Jodo on the weekend of 5-6 December and the Jujutsu shinsa opportunity on Saturday 12 December.

It was great to see everyone this Saturday. I am always impressed by members from our sister dojo in Gin Gin when they make it in to a Saturday in Toowoomba. This week, we saw Tamara K who was swinging through Toowoomba on her way to Jacobs Well with a home school excursion group. Unfortunately, Ivan H was unable to make it this time due to transport issues, and so we will very much look forward to the next time he is able to visit.

In the weeks ahead, I will only be able to make Saturday training in Toowoomba, and I urge everyone to try and make it in for the afternoon sessions. I have been speaking with Tom Johnson, sensei, and he is keen to make a trip up in support of Iaido in the next week or two, and I will pass on details as soon as we have bedded them down.

I am also wanting to better set up week night virtual dojo so that I can continue to provide input back in Toowoomba while I am away. We will be sorting out the technical end of this through this week, and hope to launch a fully supported live stream from the following week. And remember that if you are part of the Club’s diaspora, you are very welcome to participate in those ongoing virtual sessions.

Have a great week everyone! Train well, and as always I will look forward to seeing you in the dojo.

Successful grant application

One great piece of news this week was the notification that the Club has been successful in its application for a grant of $5000 to put towards the purchase of additional training mats.

The money received through the Active Restart Infrastructure Recovery Fund will contribute to expanding the matted surface to a 12x12 m Judo adult-sized competition court, with an 8x8 m centre and a 2 m safety border. It will allow for us to safely host even more members at regular training, and a suitable practice environment for members wanting to compete in Judo at the University Games.

We will be looking to order the mats in the next few weeks, and making some plans to host future seminars and competitions that the expanded surface will facilitate. So definitely watch this space for updates!

Tozando order

Our friends at Tozando in Kyoto have undertaken a significant update of their website, and are currently fine tuning some of their systems including being able to automatically add the Dojo Discount to orders placed, and a few of their for-sale items including Kyudo equipment. As a consequence, they are having to manually add the discount and items not currently listed as “addable” to the cart.

We are wanting to get a group order placed by mid next week so that we are able to kit out some of our newer members with uniforms and equipment. To aid that, could you please have a look at www.tozandoshop.com and then e-mail Sean Thompson at SeanSonOfThom@gmail.com by Friday with what you are interested in purchasing. He will then provide you with the details of how much you will need to deposit into the Club’s purchasing account (different from the one you usually place you Club fees into). Tozando lists its price in US dollars, so you will need to convert to Australian dollars. If you budget roughly for a rate where you multiply the list price by 1.26 you will get a rough approximation of what you will need to pay based on the current exchange rate and Club discount. This price is inclusive of shipping. The exchange rate is subject to variation, so you will be told exactly how much just prior to placing the order.

Once you have been told what you owe (and where to direct it), we will look to place the order mid next week.

Training this week

A very brief note this morning. I am rapidly coming to the end of my placement at the Toowoomba Base Hospital, and next week will be starting a 10 week period where I will not be in town for week nights. At this stage usual Tuesday and Thursday night should be covered by the relevant seniors for each discipline. Any variations and we will make sure that folk are given the heads up with plenty of time.

This week, Daen is out with a work commitment, so I will be picking up the Thursday jujutsu slot instead. Have a great week everyone, and I’ll hope to catch you in or out of the dojo!

Gin Gin trip this weekend

Just a heads up that the plan is for me to make a trip up to visit the Club’s sister dojo in Gin Gin this weekend. At this stage we will be running weekend classes as usual, though will let everyone know through the week if there are any changes/cancellations at the Toowoomba end of things.

I’m hoping to open up our usual virtual dojo links so that Toowoomba based budoka can join in real time with what the class up North is doing.

Train well everyone, and as always, I’ll look forward to seeing you in the dojo!

Many thanks for USQ’s Virtual Open Day

I just wanted to express a quick word of thanks to everyone who participated in the USQ Virtual Open Day on Saturday.

A fine set of demonstrations by Daen and Jon (Jujutsu), Sean and Lachlan (Kendo) and Tracy (Iaido) provided an accomplished backdrop while Jenny Rix, Student Guild CEO interviewed me about the Club and what it had to offer..

The interview was live streamed, but a recorded version ought be made available later this week. Once it does I’ll send out a link so that you can see how we did!

Reminder: Club participation at Virtual Open Day

Just a quick reminder folks, that the CLub is scheduled to participate in the USQ Toowoomba (virtual) open day at the CBRC this Saturday morning from 10–11 am. Could you please let your instructor know of your availability/willingness to participate to help put the Club on display!

COVID update

As most of you would be aware, Toowoomba has from today been included in the same level of restrictions that have been in operation within the Greater Brisbane area in order to track and trace the Wacol-centred cluster of COVID-19.

This does not directly affect the Club operations, as we have an active COVID-19 plan. However, I would ask that you please be diligent in following it. This includes ensuring that you set up your gear 1.5 m away from each other, and if you are unwell, please stay away from the dojo until your symptoms resolve and/or you have returned a clear COVID test.

On Saturday we placed a few more discrete markers in the dojo to help people gauge the distances around the perimeter of the keiko-jo. This included up on the “stage” area so that we can squeeze a few more “bays” into our available space.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either the relevant instructor or the discipline coordinator.

Could you please also check the Queensland Health list of identified “hot spots” even if you are feeling fine. Remember that the incubation period for COVID is 14 days, and people are infections for up to 4 days before symptoms manifest.

If you have been to an identified hot spot you must stay away from the dojo until you return a negative test for COVID-19.

In the swing, in the groove ...

I’m writing on a Sunday night for this week’s Bulletin. Regular readers might note that this is somewhat uncharacteristic, as my preference has generally been to do so on a Monday morning in time for our copy/distribution deadline at 10 am.

However, a Sunday session is likely to be my habit for the next 15 weeks (COVID-based interruptions not withstanding) as I embark on the next phase of my studies, with clinical placements for my Physiotherapy degree. 0730 work starts will do that to what has been a fairly leisurely Monday start for the last few months. This will no doubt also mean some interruptions to my availability in the Dojo and for administrative matters during this time. I would ask that if you have queries regarding issues at the Club, that you contact the discipline coordinators or Executive members in the first instance. as I may not be able to get back to you as quickly as I would otherwise like.

I wanted to mention how lovely it has been to see the influx of new faces into the various classes, and to see the dedication of our regular attendees as they polish off the bits of technical rust that developed over the lockdown period. We have had two visits from Ivan Hills, who drives all the way from Gin Gin for a Saturday Class. Folk continue to regularly attend the Zoom session for FlexiFit, and we are starting to get some interest in our regular class video stream. With the Club’s diaspora continuing to have an active role in what we are doing, it has been feeling a bit like “getting the band back together”, without the nuns, Illinois Nazis, or police car chase (well not yet anyway).

We continue to be living with uncertainty regarding how the next few months will pan out. We are only a few errors away from a Victoria-like situation, but can hope that with good planning and vigilance we can avoid this. Some things that I would certainly encourage at the moment include

• Be vigilant and methodical with your physical distancing and hand hygiene. Your small actions will have a material affect on others.

• Come into the dojo as often as you can, because you do not know when we may be forced to take another break, or for how long

• Check in with yourself and check in with your friends and family. Dealing with a pandemic is a marathon effort, and people become both mentally and physically exhausted from it.

So I hope that everyone has a good week ahead, in spite of some interruptions that have intruded on our plans. And as always, I will look forward to seeing you in the dojo (physical, virtual or second)!

COVID Update

Many of you will be aware that on Saturday the Queensland Chief Medical Officer provided an update on Saturday morning regarding the current status of the community transmissions of COVID that have been experienced in the greater Brisbane area. This has triggered further restrictions regarding private gatherings across the State, which are now limited to 30 people, except for the Greater Brisbane area, which is currently limited to gatherings of 10. Organisations with current COVID plans are not affected as yet.

As active current training members will be aware, We have asked that if you have visited one of the areas in Greater Brisbane that you refrain from coming into the dojo till at least this Saturday. While the Lockyer Valley Regional Council area is identified as one of the affected areas, the maps provided indicate that the area included is the eastern portion of the Region, specifically East of, but not including, Gatton.

This means that if you live/have family you visit in Murphy’s Creek/Upper Lockyer, or work has taken you to Gatton you are still fine to come in this week.

We ask though if you are currently experiencing any unwellness, no matter how mild, that you stay away from the dojo this week until the situation becomes a bit clearer. Remember that we will have the Zoom cameras up and operating in the dojo this week, so if you are stuck at home, you can virtually participate or just simply watch.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.