Here is an update of all the major events from the VKR/ARK for the 2nd half of this year

July 18th
Otsuka & Nagae Competition

July 28th – 31st
Chiba & Oda Sensei visit – Kendo & Iaido trainig

August 21st – 22nd
VKR Kendo Championships

September 12th
Kendo Kyu Grading

September (TBC)
Nagayama sensei visit – “late Sep”

September 26th
Kendo Dan Grading

September 26th – October 1st
University Games

October (TBC)
Possible visit of 30+ Kendo sensei inc Jun Takeuchi

October 13th
Iaido/Jodo grading

November 7th
Mumeishi 3′s Competition

November 20th
VKR Iaido Championships

Nagayama sensei 7th Dan Kyoshi Jodo, 7th Dan Kyoshi Iaido and 7th Dan Renshi Kendo will be visiting Victoria with Ohara Sensei 7th Dan Kyoshi Iaido, 6th Dan Renshi Jodo and Second Dan Kendo to run a series of trainings from Thursday the 3rd of June 2010 to Monday the 7th of June 2010 in Ballarat and Melbourne.

Thursday 3rd June 2010

Location : Ballarat Karate Club – 9 Moyle Street,Ballarat,Victoria 3350

Jodo 2:00pm – 4:00pm (Ballarat Karate Club)

Location : Ballarat Kendo Club – Ballarat Secondry College East Campus Assembly Hall Cnr Fussell st & Victoria st Ballarat

Iaido – 5:30pm – 6:30pm (Ballarat Kendo Club)
Jodo – 6:30pm – 8:30pm – Ohara Sensei (Ballarat Karate Club)
Kendo – 6:30pm – 8:30pm – Nagayama Sensei (Ballarat Kendo Club)

Cost $10

Meal with Sensei aftwards – Location TBA

Friday 4th June 2010 – Dan Grade Only Training

Location : TJK Training Hall, Coburg North Primary School hall, 148 Ohea St, Coburg North

Jodo – 6:30pm – 7:45pm
Iaido – 7:45pm – 9:00pm

Cost $20 for the evening

Meal with Sensei aftwards – Location TBA

Saturday 5th June 2010 – Open Training to all VKR Members

Location : Chikushinkai Training Hall. The Ajani Centre, 284 Thompsons Road, Lower Templestowe Vic 3107

Jodo – 8:30am – 12:00pm
Iaido – 12:30pm – 4:00pm

Cost $50 for the day.

Dinner with all members – Location TBA

Sunday 6th June 2010 – Open Training to all VKR Members

Location : TJK Training Hall, Coburg North Primary School hall, 148 Ohea St, Coburg North

Jodo – 9:00am – 12:30pm
Iaido – 1:30pm – 5:30pm

Cost $50 for the day.

Private Dinner with Nagayama Sensei’s Personal students and Senior VKR Members

To All VKR Members:

Please note that the Melbourne University Kendo Club will host a Graded Individual Kendo Competition at the Melbourne University Sports Union, on Saturday 26 June.

Depending on the number of entrants, Registration will start at 11:00am and the Competition will run from 12:00 noon to about 4:00pm.  A final jigeiko session will be scheduled, time permitting.

The format will be similar to last years 20th Anniversary Taikai, with the following features:

4 Divisions:

• Up to 3^rd Kyu
• 1 & 2 Kyu
• 1 & 2 Dan
• 3 & 4 Dan

Each Division played out to find a winner, a runner-up and 2 equal 3rds.

The final 2 in each division will go up into the next division.

Open to all AKR Members.

Numbers will be limited due to time constraints; selection of competitors and the draw will be at the discretion of the UMKC Committee.  However earlier entries will receive preference.

Dan competitors will be expected to make themselves available to shinpan the Kyu divisions.  Hakama and keikogi to be worn for this. Senior members not competing will be asked to assist as shinpan for the senior divisions.

Further details of rules and format to be finalised once the number of entries is known.

Entries close Friday 11 June, entry fee $10 per head, details of how to enter will be circulated soon.

Please ensure all Club members are aware of this opportunity for shiai against competitors of their own standard.

Regards to all,

Yakov Macak
Instructor,
Melbourne University Kendo Club

Our thanks to Gary, Jason and Ryan (& Celeste) for shimpaning on the night. Also to Helen and Catherine for time keeping and score keeping.

A special thanks to Piero from Mumeishi who entered from another officially recognised Kendo Club.

Our results

Yudansha Competition

• 1st David Tannard
• 2nd Carl Ruff

Graded Kyu

• 1st Chris Hope
• 2nd Shaun Hearn

Ungraded Kyu

• 1st Steve Zhun
• 2nd Thomas Winkelman
• 3rd Michael Milley

Fighting Spirit

• Ole Kalderman

Next Taikai – 26th June at Melbourne University beginning 11 a.m.

2010 Ballarat Kendo club members following training.

Former Ballarat Club member, Katsumi Kuramochi Sensei visited Ballarat in the last week of April. Katsumi was our resident Sensei for a number of years from 1992. He was instrumental during that time in lifting our skills in Kendo and iaido as well as introducing Seitei jodo to Ballarat (a first in Australia).

During the week Sensei taught jodo to members of the Ballarat Karate club, held an inspiring training on the Tuesday and was interviewed by WIN TV and ABC Radio on the Wednesday.

The visit was short but hopefully we can get him down for a longer visit in the near future.

WinTV Interview

ABC Radio Interview

From the ABC page here

The Ballarat Courier Interview

Online article here

Cassandra has posted part two of their World Tour blog. You can find it here.

Tarl and Cassandra have posted part one of their World Tour blog. You can find it here.

As you are all aware the Nittaidai Visit is coming up very soon. Below is the itinerary for the Melbourne leg of the trip.

• 12 Feb (Fri.) – Arrive Melbourne Airport 12:00 noon (QF-425)
  • ½ day free
  • 18:00 Training with VKR members (Kendo @ The University High School gymnasium, Story Street, Parkville; Naginata @ Kenshikan, 91 Rosslyn St., West Melbourne.)
  • Dinner ‘by own arrangement’ 20.30
• 13 Feb (Sat.) – Free ½ day until 13:00
  • 13:30 Coach pickup to MSAC (Albert Park)
  • 19:00 Dinner (Restaurant TBA)
• 14 Feb (Sun.) – Full Free Day (This may or may not involve training. We’ll have to consult with the sensei on this, if the subject can be broached.)
• 15 Feb (Mon.) – Depart for Sydney 10:30 QF-421 or QF-424 (the itinerary has both flight numbers)

If there are any questions please do not hesitate to ask. (If I don’t know the answer, I’ll find out .)

Regards,
Stelios (Stilts) Polichroniadis
VKR Secretary

Hello All

This is an early welcome back.

As you can see the Nittaidai University Martial Arts group are coming back for their annual visit. It would be great if some or all of you wanted to go down to Melbourne to train with them, and or to see them perform. I am not sure of any detail other than what you see here, so stay tuned.
I will see ALL of you on this Thursday the 4th. Don’t forget to bring along all of that fitness that you have working on since the end of the year..

Regards
David

2010 is going to be a busy year. make the commitment and be there. It’s up to you.