Kyudo at Pine Mountain this Saturday

The next Kyudo session at Pine Mountain is scheduled for this Saturday 6 November.  While we have started to do some regular taihai in Toowoomba, I would strongly encourage you to make the trip down to solidify what we covered in the previous session. Tom and Madoka will be leading the session again, and Tom has just recently purchased some lighter weight yumi to make it easier to create shape and fire, and fixed the rubber on the gomuyumi so that we have a full set available for use.

The plan is for Iaido to run from 8:00–9:30am, and then Kyudo from 9.45 am till about 2.30pm, dependent on weather/ heat, with sandwiches again provided.

For planning purposes if you could let myself and Tom know if you will be able to attend by Wednesday.

Back to regular training this week

After a week broadly of “rest” from the regular intensity of training, I managed to make it back into the gym this morning for the first time in way too long. The regular time slot of 9:30 am, an infinitely respectable time to womble in and work out has been closed, and I got the courage to front up at 6:30 this morning to a much more packed space filled with young (i.e. school aged) athletes going through their programs.

It is always a bit confronting to feel a bit flat and be in the midst of everyone else seeming to be getting on with their own thing with far more grace and dignity that you feel you can muster. For myself, my continued struggles with my shoulder injury, lack of cardiovascular fitness, and just that niggling feeling of being a little bit too fat and a little bit too old have chipped away at my confidence. Normally, the gym and dojo feels like a refuge. I’ve noticed that for the past few months, it has been a bit more of a struggle.

Everyone goes through crises of confidence with their training at some stage, and with life in general. The real test is what you do once you hit the wall, not just as a test of character, but also as a process of living. There is a Japanese phrase, most often used in Judo and Jujutsu circles: Nana korobi yaoki (七転び八起き). Fall down seven times, get up eight.

Impermanence, transition, change, struggle. These are all givens of life. Sometimes it can feel much more negative than positive as we try to cling to the safely of the familiar and lament the passing of what we thought we had. However, in that discomfort is the opportunity to gain through getting through life one step as a time.

One phrase that has always stuck with me that Matt G introduced to the vernacular of the Club was “in one year, you will be glad you started today”. Today creates an opportunity to recommit and re-engage to the person you want to be. It doesn’t mean that there wont be hard days, days that you just can’t feel a connection to the process, or the point of continuing. However, in focussing on just today and picking yourself up and taking that one step to deal with the task in front of you, you build the foundation for resilience, and take that one step closer to achieving your goals.

So today I pick myself up. Been to the gym, have some tasks to sort out before evening, and planning to go for that run this afternoon. And the “regular” training for the rest of this week. One step. One time.

Take care everyone, be kind to yourself. I’ll look forward to having you all help me on my journey forward, and in my turn helping you with yours. Till we see each other in the dojo!

Kyudo beginner’s day

I would like to thank Tom Johnson and the Kohokai for organising the first QKA beginner’s day on Saturday. It was hot and steamy down at Pine Mountain, but we managed to gather 11 people from Sunshine Coast, Brisbane Ipswich and Toowoomba to step through the basics.

Special mention must go to both Tom and Madoka for leading us through the basics of etiquette, movement and shooting. It was wonderful to witness the enthusiasm of those for whom it was the very first exposure to Kyudo,

The plan is to hold fortnightly sessions at Pine Mountain on a Saturday morning after Iaido, so that everyone has the opportunity to build up their muscle memory and ingrain the fundamentals. We will now be looking to wedge in some time to do similar in Toowoomba, just so that we are able to keep the momentum up as well.

If anyone has any questions regarding Kyudo, please do not hesitate to contact either Daen or myself so we can include you on the communications list for various opportunities over coming weeks.

And for those that might hav caught the “Kyudo bug”, have a chat to either Sean or myself regarding the next Tozando order to get some equipment for yourself!

Tozando and Grapplingstore orders to be finalised this week

As we are rapidly approaching the end of the month and hence the time window to have orders arrive prior to December seminar and grading opportunities, could I please ask that you ensure you have told either Sean or I regarding any items you may wish to purchase by the end of this week. We will be ordering in a couple of stages. First will be any weapons or customisation that will take the longest to ship after manufacture. Next will be “off the shelf” items like standard uniforms protectors and maintenance equipments. Third will be any items to be purchased from Grapplingstore. However, we would ask that you nominate what you want no later than Thursday, so we can start to plan our purchases.

We will remind people in class this week, and let you know how much and where and when to pay for items by next Monday.

Gin Gin redux

It feels a little strange here this morning writing the Budo Bulletin having completed the last assessment item for my Physiotherapy degree. It was an intense couple of days preparing the final touches to the oral presentation of our major research project. In the wash up, we did very well on the day, acquitting ourselves very well to our examiners.

While up in the district I took the opportunity to run some training in Gin Gin across Jujutsu, Kendo, Iaido and Jodo. First I would like to thank Tamara Kelly for her hospitality and steadfast support of me over the past 3 1/2 years of coming up to Gin Gin. It has certainly meant that over this time I have had an incredibly important sanity break from the intense pressure of the travel and study I have been doing over the course of my studies.

It was marvellous to reacquaint myself with the now refurbished National Fitness Hall, catch up with long time dojo members and meet some of the beginners that have been training over video link to this point. I saw some great progress just in the course of this week, and it was so satisfying to see everyone’s enthusiasm and commitment to training.

I will be very much looking forward to the next scheduled trip up in support of a kendo intensive weekend mid November. Till then, I’ll hope to see folk over camera to keep the momentum going, and again want to extend an open invitation to all coming through Toowoomba to stop past and train.

Date reminder for the remainder of this year

This past week we have managed to lock in a number of dates to put into your your calendars to fill out the rest of this year, starting with this weekend. Please make note of:

Saturday 23 October: QKA Kyudo beginners day, hosted by the Kohokai at Pine Mountain Hall. There will be Iaido before Kyudo from 8:00–9:30am, then the rest of the day doing through the fundamentals. There will not be any Kendo or Iaido in Toowoomba as a result.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12. 13, 14 November: Kendo intensive, National Fitness Hall, Gin Gin. Aim will be to head up Friday to train all day Saturday and morning of Sunday. Jujutsu and iaido/jodo TBC, but will most likely be Friday evening. BBRD are being supported by the BKC to help our sister Club in preparation for the QKR’s December seminar and grading. Kendo and Iaido will again be cancelled at the CBRC for this weekend.

Saturday 4 December: BBRD Jujutsu grading, so-honbu dojo, CBRC.

Saturday and Sunday 11-12 December: QKR Summer Seminar and Grading, CBRC. Opportunities for training and grading across Kendo, Iaido and Jodo. The event is open to all currently financial QKR members.

Thursday 23 December: Keiko yame — Last regular evening of training for the year.

Tuesday 4 January: Kagami biraki— keiko hajime, CBRC formal start to the training year with a vignette seminar provided by the Club’s disciplines.

We will certainly be providing more details as each of the dates draws closer. We will most likely be subject to ongoing COVID-related considerations, and there may have to be alterations to this schedule at short notice.

So certainly a busy time for the next few months!

Reminder: Classes this week

As most of you are aware, I am heading up to Bundaberg to complete the last formal assessment of my Physiotherapy degree. I’ll be heading up Wednesday late morning so that I can get into Gin Gin for around 4 pm with a plan to do Kendo from 4:30–6:00pm, then Jujutsu from 6:00–7:30pm, and then Tam and I squeezing in some iaido and jodo training before I have to be in Bundy for my final presentation prep.

I was really pleased to see as many folk as there were participating in Jujutsu over camera on Saturday, and am very much looking forward to seeing everyone and spending time sharpening up those skills.

The intention is to do a similar training session on the way back to Toowoomba on Saturday morning, with a start time pencilled in for 9.30 am. I want to take every opportunity I can to support everyone who has been putting in the hard yards and continuing to train remotely, especially with grading opportunities presenting themselves in December.

Classes in Toowoomba will go ahead as per usual, albeit without me there on Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon. Train hard everyone, good luck for those with outstanding pieces of assessment/exams to complete, and I’ll look forward to seeing you in the dojo soon!

All the best for final assignment and exams!

This week marks the start of the final run down for Semester/Term 2 at both USQ and CQU, and I wanted to wish everyone facing their final assessments and exams all the best.

Remember that there is a limit to how much time you can focus on one thing before it starts to have a negative impact, especially if you forget your regular physical activity and routines. While some things will be inevitably altered due to time constraints, its important to get up from the desk, take a mental as well as physical break, and ensure you maintain sustaining social connections that are not an extension of the screen time you are spending in study revision.

We will always understand if you can’t make it into the dojo to train, or very much limit how many sessions you can attend over the next few weeks. Just remember that the Club is there to support you through this time, and we are always collectively better off with your presence than in your absence!

Gambareba dekiru to omoimasu!

Kyudo beginners day, Saturday 23 October

I am very happy to announce that Kohokai, Pine Mountains dojo will be hosting a Kyudo beginners day on Saturday 23 October. It is expected to run for most of the day, with some regular Iaido training on immediately beforehand from 8:00–9:30am, then Kyudo for the rest of the day.

The cost for the day is $10, which includes the provision of a light lunch.

We will be focussing on the fundamentals: etiquette, posture, shooting shape, release, and focus. Weather permitting we will also do some outdoor shooting, so we ask that you bring with you appropriate sun protection.

We have people from as far afield as Harvey Bay and the Sunshine Coast express interest in coming down for the day, so it ought be a great gathering to (re)engage yourself with Japanese archery.

If you are interested in participating, and haven’t said so yet, please let me know ASAP. The plan is to car pool to head down, so I want to ensure we have that organised as efficiently as possible. We have some loan uniforms and equipment for the day, but it is a case of first in, best dressed (literally) for clothing. For those that already have a keikogi and hakama, that would be the most suitable to wear for the session. We would also ask that you bring water, a cup, plate and appropriate utensils.

While Queensland has been particularly fortunate with our COVID situation over the past few weeks, we are of course subject to changes in those circumstances, and will be following public health ordinance as required.

Kyudo has been one of those disciplines that has unfortunately suffered a little in the clamour of competing time to squeeze in sufficient regular training amongst the many disciplines that we support. However, we are hoping that by sparking interest, we will be able to get regular training sessions established both in Toowoomba and Pine Mountain.

Equipment orders

As we are fast approaching the end of year’s grading opportunities, it is probably a good idea to take stock and see if you would like to purchase any budo equipment.

While uniforms are relatively quick to arrive, we have found that over the past 18 months, bogu and weapons including shinai, bokken, jo, and iaito have been taking a very long while to be sent. Where items are not in stock, or where customisation are requested, workshops in Japan have been slow due to the retirement of a number of senior crafters, and COVID-related bottlenecks.

I would ask that you have a serious think about anything you might want, and let either Sean or I know by mid-next week. This will hopefully give the remainder of October and November for items to arrive.

For those new, or relatively new to the Club, make sure that you ask your discipline coordinator or instructor for advice about what you need to get at a minimum and what things are most suitable for you to purchase/use.