Lesson start times

I would like to acknowledge that over the past few weeks lesson start times have been somewhat bled into , particularly of a Saturday where we are attempting to maintain a viable link with out Gin Gin sister dojo via Zoom. This has particularly taken a bight into Iaido and to a lesser extend Jujutsu.

From this Saturday, we will be attempting to start exactly on time. This will mean that you ought be arriving at the dojo at least 15 mins before the notional start time. We will also ensure that the lessons finish approximately 5 mins before the “scheduled” time to give sufficient opportunity to swap between disciplines. There will no doubt be some fine tuning that we require over coming weeks, so please be patient and cooperative as we attempt to sort our new schedules.

Languages and Cultures Festival update

The Toowoomba Languages and Cultures Festival is on this Sunday. For those that have generously indicated that they will be there, I will be sending your ticketing and other details through to you this afternoon.

It will be an early start and long day for some of us, as we need to have our equipment unpacked and cars driven away by 8am, with gates open to the public from 10 am through to 3 pm, and pack up and bump out after that.

It ought to be a fun day as always, but a very cool start with BoM predicting a 5 degree morning for Sunday. I’m excited to have the Club’s first full demonstration since 2019 and to get out there to show the wider Toowoomba community what we love to do!

Unavailability of the dojo Tuesday 1 and Thursday 3 June

Unfortunately, our regular week night training next week will not be possible as the CBRC has booked a major event that it preventing all regular users, including the Club, from training as usual. We will need to ensure that all Club equipment, including our mats, is put away in either the store room or in the smaller room on Level 2 once we get back from the Languages and Cultures Festival on Sunday.

While it is frustrating that we will not be able to keep our training momentum up, particularly with the looming Australian Iaido Championships in June and the Uni Sports Div 1 competition for Kendo and Judo in September, we will see this week what alternatives for training we might be able to furnish that week, be it Zoom sessions or at another location. We may also consider taking the time to audit our equipment and ensure we have updated our condition list to identify what might need repair or replacement.

We will keep everyone posted once plans firm up.

BBRD Jujutsu grading results

I wanted to congratulate everyone who attempted grading on Saturday, and am very proud to announce that all candidates were successful. We will now have much more colour in the keiko-jo, with Calum, Jono and Sean successful challenging 6KYU and obtaining the right to wear a blue belt, and Daen upgrading his blue to a brown belt by meeting the requirements for 3KYU. I also wish to commend the efforts of Heather and Matthew C who in spite of only training with us a few months, and both having had no previous martial arts background, were easily able to make their 9KYU requirements. Well done all!

I would especially like to thank Jason Griffiths sensei for making the trip up to sit on a grading panel with me and wave the ITSK flag. I have always held that it is very important that candidates can have confidence that their grades have validity and hold to external scrutiny. Jason also provided a 20 minute mini master class, providing us with some key insights into our current practice and ideas to integrate into our regular classes. Thanks too Brady, who in spite of particularly flared up knees did the honours as dojo steward.

So now onwards to redouble our efforts and continue to fashion, shape, plane and sharpen our practice in the weeks to come!

Saturday visit from our sister Club

Hi Everyone,

This past Saturday (15/5/21) we had a really great turnout for kendo, including our guests from our sister dojo, Kenjinkan from Gin Gin. Ivan, Quentin and Kaleb dropped in for for some training in Kendo, Iaido, and Jujutsu on their way to participate at the Shogun Hills Judo Tournament. After a few weeks of lower Saturday numbers it was wonderful to see a near full house.

I wanted to say thanks from everyone here at USQ Kendo for the Gin Gin contingent making the significant detour on your way down to come and train with us. I greatly appreciated being able to practice with “fresh” people and it’s great to see how far you’ve come in your kendo practice since we last trained together.

I hope everyone did well with the competition on Sunday, and we all hope to see you again soon!

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.