Provided below are the details for the VKR's upcoming beginner shinpan seminar. People who are interested in participating should email their name, grade and club to the VKR secretary.
VKR Kendo Shinpan Seminar – Beginning Level
Kenshikan Sun 18 May, 1-4pm
As part of the VKR’s commitment to the development of kendo in this state, there will be a Kendo Shiai Shinpan Seminar at the Kenshikan for all VKR members who are yet to have first-hand experience of shinpan practice. The seminar will comprise an introductory lecture and practice of basic commands and movements, followed by a two-hour practicum where shinpan teams will rotate through a series of matches. The seminar will finish with a brief review session. Refreshments will be provided.
Requirements: FIK Rules for Shinpan booklet (if you have it). http://zenkenren-shop.com/en/eigo/index.html#050101 Shinpan uniform (if you have it), i.e. Navy blazer, grey trousers or skirt, white shirt, plain dark-red tie, navy or dark socks. Otherwise kendogi and hakama (bring dark socks and a jacket) Some practice of the following commands: hajime, yame, nihonme, shobu, shobu ari, men ari, kote ari, do ari, hansoku ikkai.
While there is no limit on the grade of shinpan participants, the seminar will be most useful to high kyu-and-above grades who are competing and training regularly.
Less experienced kendoka are encouraged to attend as competitors, bringing dogi and bogu.
Please pass this on to your club members. RSVP Wed 14th May via return email to Andrea Pickering at secretary AT kendovictoria DOT asn DOT au
Regards
Ben Sheppard President Victorian Kendo Renmei Inc.
The camp is fast approaching, and I hope you're all ready for a weekend of intense kendo!
We will be travelling to Ballarat, a large country city West of Melbourne, about 2 hours drive. We'll be staying at Sovereign Hill Youth Hostel, and we shall be training at the nearby Eastwood Leisure Centre.
We will be departing Melbourne at 6pm on Friday, and arriving back in Melbourne at about 3pm on Sunday. We will be carpooling everyone to Ballarat, and there will a minibus as well. There will be allocated seatings.
Things to bring: - Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, soap, shampoo, conditioner) - Changes of clothes - A warm jacket - Shinais (and bokuto if you have) - Shinai Repair Kit (sandpaper, stanley knife, shinai oil) - Uniform if you have one - A pack of cards, camera, whatever
*Meet at 5pm at the Dojo (Sports stadium).*
Food will be provided on Saturday and Sunday, however, you will need to buy your own dinner on Friday night. We will be stopping at Ballarat Central, where there is a variety of quality fast food like McDonalds, but also a few restaurants.
If there is anyone who is interested in getting some extra training in the next two weeks, there will be a Shinpan Seminar at the Kenshikan on Sunday 18 May in the afternoon. (1-4pm)
Anyone who has done shiai before is eligible. You don't have to be a competition winner. Kyu grades are the ideal. We need a minimum of 5 people. I'm imagining that in the two hours available there will probably be around 20 matches in all. Not all the matches will run as normal though. Most will probably be a bit stop-start. So it won't be too full-on.
Respond to this thread if you're interested so I can get an idea of potential numbers.
The inaugural Nagae Sensei Kata Tournament is to be held on 1 June.
For those who aren't aware, this is a new Tournament to add to the Victorian Kendo Calendar in honor of Nagae Sensei's guiding role and efforts in the development of Victorian kendo, and of his particular interest in kata.
In essence, the tournament is meant to be a goodwill tournament in a similar vein as the Otsuka Memorial or the Mumeishi 3's but will be focused on kata rather than shinai kendo. Each club is invited to enter 3 kata pairs. More details to follow as they become available.
I'd encourage everyone to start thinking about participating in this tournament and let it be a motivation for everyone to think more on their kendo kata whether or not we get time to practice at training!!
(Don't forget, a lot of kata practice can be done by yourself at home just by thinking about the movements or even practicing in front of a mirror!!)
