Jujutsu grading this Saturday: Changes to the regular training schedule

This Saturday will be the first BBRD Jujutsu shinsa that we have been able to hold since December 2019. As such it represents the first opportunity to grade for a number of our new members, and long overdue opportunities for others.

As a consequence, there are a few changes to the regular schedule of classes this week. First, we will be providing an opportunity for session 2 on Tuesday to continue with grading prep, focussing on any areas that folk want to put a final polish on. This will be in place of the scheduled KJR Jujutsu class.

Second, there will not be any kendo or iaido on Saturday this week as the BBRD Jujutsu shinsa will be taking place at that time. Saturday Systema will be unaffected.

For the shinsa, the dojo doors will open at 2.00 pm. All those challenging for grade are expected to be there at that time. We will take approximately 30 minutes to set the space up, including a thorough clean and placement of the full formal kamiza. It is expected that the shinsa will take through till 5 pm, after which we will pack up and have some tea.

Observers, friends/supporters/family are most welcome on the day. We will set up chairs for them and ask that they please stay in the designated areas of the dojo space during the shinsa.

I wish everyone well in their final preparations this week, and as always, will look forward to seeing you in the dojo!

Our new mats are here (almost) …

Some exciting news is that the mats that the pub was able to purchase with the assistance of our successful grant application were scanned into Brisbane early this morning Toowoomba by Wednesday. Whether that actually means they will be delivered tomorrow or the day after I will attempt to find out later this morning.

I am very pleased that we will be able to have the new mats ready for the grading on Saturday, and the Club’s demonstrations for the Languages and Cultures Festival.

Can I ask that anyone who is possibly available for unload off the truck once they are taken to the CBRC please let me know ASAP. It will be during normal business hours, so I know for many of you this is particularly tricky. However, any and all help will be much appreciated as it will prevent me from having to solo shift 38 mats into the dojo space.

I will put more details via the Club’s social media once I know a more accurate ETA. If you are not regularly keyed into them and might still be able to assist, please let me know so that I can directly message you as well.

Toowoomba Languages and Cultures Festival Update

We are now just under three weeks from the 15th Languages and Cultures Festival, and we are needing to confirm who will be in attendance for the Club with the organisers by Wednesday.

The Festival will run 10am till 3 pm on Sunday 30 May, with bump in time from 8.30 am and bump out till around 4.30 pm.

This year, due to COVID restrictions, we are required to provide names, e-mail contact and phone number for each participant, as there is a strict ceiling of 10,000 people to be on site at the Festival through the day and organisers are wanting to ensure they can meet this requirement.

Can you please let either myself of your discipline coordinator know if you will be there to support the Club no later than Tuesday night. You don’t have to be there for the full day, but if you are to be part of the Club’s retinue (performers, support roles, photography, “meet and greet” etc.), you must be added to the official list.

There are 15 throws (in the nyumon syllabus) …

We are rapidly approaching the BBRD Jujutsu shinsa opportunity on Saturday 22 May. With some luck, we may even have our new mats to lay down for the event, and I am certainly looking forward to catching up with Jason Griffiths sensei, who will be coming up the hill to form a grading panel with me.

We will be spending the next few sessions fine tuning preparation for the day, and making sure there are no surprises for candidates in terms of our expectations regarding your evaluation. However, now is definitely the time to have a good think about which areas you might want to put a little more polish on with respect to what is required for the level you are attempting.

As shinsa takes some time to get through, we will be postponing Kendo and Iaido for that Saturday. We will open the doors at 2 pm for a 2.30 pm start, and expect to finish between 4.30 and 5 pm.

I hope to see everyone this week at training. And for those challenging for their 6KYU, remember, there are 15 nage waza (in the nyumon syllabus) …

QKR Kendo, Jodo and Iaido July seminar

Details about the next normal grading seminar in Queensland have been released. If you are interested in going, please talk with Michael, Sean or Sian and especially if you are thinking of doing your next (or first!) grading.

To be eligible to grade, you must have been a QKR/AKR financial member for at least 5 months. However, every current financial member is able to participate on the weekend.

The QKR will conduct its winter seminar on the weekend of :

DATE; 3 and 4 July 2021

PLACE; Tallebudgera Leisure Centre, 1525 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach

The seminar will offer training in all 3 Arts.

At this time, it is envisaged that we will offer gradings to the following levels in the respective arts.

• Kendo Grading Panel to 4 Dan

• Iaido Grading Panel to 3 Dan

• Jodo Grading Panel to 2 Dan

Grading and participation at the seminar is open to all financial AKR members.

Completed grading applications will be required to be received by the president@qkr.asn.au and treasurer@qkr.asn.au by close of business on June 18, 2021.

No late entries will be accepted.

The wearing of men-mask or face shields for Kendo members is required. Members are further advised to take care during training NOT to become over stressed or too hot.

The schedule will reflect the need for extra breaks to ensure the wellbeing of our members.

May days

May has always been my favourite month in Toowoomba. Cool nights, warm days and plenty of things to prepare for with respect to the Club. At the moment, it feels even better as I almost have a fully functioning bathroom again after renovations the past four weeks — just the shower screen to go. “Al fresco” is nice in the warm sun, but it has been pleasant to have “inside” showers again, particularly after training in the evening.

A few thing regarding the Club for this week to note.

First up, just a reminder that the BBRD Jujutsu grading is set for the afternoon of Saturday 22 May, and we will be offering and opportunity to grade up to and including 3KYU. If you have any questions about what you need to demonstrate for your grade, please contact me urgently. We will be working on grading prep this Saturday, and I would highly recommend that you come this week to just make sure that you are on top of things.

For those interested and able to challenge for grade, please let me know definitely by Saturday so that we can have sufficient time to organise the appropriate material.

Second, the Toowoomba Language and Cultures Festival is scheduled for Sunday 30 May. I will be following up this week with the organisers to get more details regarding our commitments there. We will need to know exact numbers of participants, and the total number attending this year (both participants and public) is strictly limited.

Third, and quite excitingly, the Club’s order of mats has finally arrived in Australia, and is being prepared to be shipped to Toowoomba hopefully by week’s end. It will be marvellous to have the extra room to train on, meeting one of our long terms goals for the Club.

Fourth, we will be coordinating a Kyudo training session down at Pine Mountain in the coming weeks. For those who have been interested in trying it out, make sure that you let me know and do take advantage of the opportunity once it is locked in.

And finally, we will be putting in uniform and equipment orders very soon. Please discuss with your instructors and coordinators regarding what you might possibly need so that it can be sent off in a timely fashion. Sean Thompson will be putting out reminders over the next fortnight to get your item list to him so that we can place the order pronto.

Have a great week everyone and as always, I’ll look forward to seeing you in the dojo!

Switch for Jujutsu classes this week

A quick reminder that we will be switching Tuesday’s 6 pm BBRD jujutsu session with a KJR class to mirror the swap we made last week due to Daen’s prior work commitment.

This will be a great opportunity for those who may not be able to make the regular KJR classes to give it a go! All other classes shall be running as usual for this week.

Back to the dojo

I hope that everyone has had a good Easter period and is back ready to take up the challenges as we head towards mid-year. We are back to usual programming from Tuesday night with a full dance card of BBRD and KJR jujutsu, Systema, and Iaido.

I’d like to thank Jon H for his generosity in allowing us to requisition his garage and driveway to run some jujutsu classes while we have been away from the CBRC this past fortnight. We will be taking back the dojo mats this evening (Monday) , so if I could ask that we have a few people at the CBRC on hand at 5.40 pm to help get them back into the GX room.

Just a reminder that we are still practicing our baseline COVID/infection control procedures in the dojo. Please remember to

• Bring a towel (small or large), and “in dojo” footwear,

• Try and keep your gear neat and separate from others — we have 1.5 m markers to help.

• Do not come in if you are experiencing and cold/flu like symptoms. And

• Make sure you clean/sanitise any equipment that you are using.

New extended Executive

We had the first meeting of the Executive for the 2021-22 year on Friday, and I’m very please to announce the full extended executive that was appointed at that meeting. The key people for the coming year will be:

Core/elected executive

• President: Michael Baczynski

• Secretary: Brady Albrand

• Treasurer: Grant Vickery

• General Member: Tracy Campbell

Extended Executive portfolio responsibilities:

• Daen Fryar: Kyudo coordinator, KJR Jujutsu Instructor

• Garry (Ralphie) Watson: Taiko co-coordinator

• Grant Vickery: Judo coordinator

• John Gillies.: Member Protection Officer

• Jon Hoskins: Jujutsu coordinator

• Sean Thompson: Kendo coordinator, Procurement officer

• Michael Conroy: Systema instructor/coordinator

• Michael Baczynski: Coordinator for Arnis, FlexiFit, Go, Jodo, Instructor for BBRD Jujutsu, Kendo, Iaido

• Michelle Wiersma: Taiko co-coordinator

• Sian Carlyon: Iaido coordinator

• Tamara Kelly: Gin Gin/Club Diaspora coordinator

The folk who have been italicised above are taking on new responsibilities this year. I would like to welcome them into their new roles, and for some, into the Club executive for the first time.

If you have any queries regarding a specific supported discipline, please contact the relevant coordinator or instructor as your first line of enquiry,

Toowoomba Languages and Cultures Festival 2021

We are starting to get more details regarding the 2021 TLCF, to be held on Sunday 30 May. The Club is looking forward to once again supporting this highlight of the region’s community calendar and will be providing general demonstrations and Taiko performances.

This year is still restricted due to COVID-related considerations. There is a maximum of 10,000 people allowed to participate, whether performers, slat holders or the general public. Therefore, all members who are interested in supporting this will need to confirm their availability by week’s end so that we can register you as a participant in the event.

We will be continuing to provide details as they firm up over the next few weeks, so please ask your instructors and discipline coordinators for any further information regarding this event.