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.