Hi again

Thanks to you all for making the membership fee payments.

I just want to highlight 2 events next month. Please email either Jason or me ASAP if you can or cannot make them. They will be free of charge.

When: 10am – 2 pm, February 19^th 2012

What: Kyu Grade Seminar

Where: Marino IT, Dublin

http://www.mie.ie/About-MIE/How-to-Find-Us.aspx

When: 10am-2pm, February 26^th 2012

What: National Team Training

Where: Kensho Kendo Club, Cork.

Please try and make this practice as support will help your national kendo team prepare for the WKC in Italy next May. The practice will also help advance your Kendo as you will practice with the best in Ireland and with people outside of the Cork club.

Dojo Practice:

Training will now include Kata for the first 30 minutes so please ensure you have your Bokken.

Thanks again and see you at keiko!!!!

Hi all.

In connection with the 2012 membership, I have recieved only 5 forms, including my own. As there is only 10 days left for the end of the deadline, please make a decision asap on your membership. The federation secretary and treasurer are ready to go with all the information recieved from the other clubs. As I have previously mentioned, it is to cover you for insurance, enables world-wide recognition of your grade, entitles you to free seminars and grading with the federation and keeps Cork Budokai going.

Obviousy ignore this if you have registered and paid (and thanks for doing so!!)

Hi all.

First of all

Happy Christmas!!

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and I hope you are looking forward to the New Year as much as I am.

Kendo-wise, I hope we will continue our successes in to next year and I hope that the club will grow even more, both in experience and size.

The Nakakura Seminar & Tournament was brilliant as usual. The 1.5 hour practice on Friday and Seminar on Saturday were tough but so well worth it. Lots of Gikeiko and practice focussing on soft hands and flexible body was a great eye-opener. It is standard Hirakawa sensei philosophy, but this year it finally made real sense. I was all for the Tournament on Sunday, but Dany Delpiere asked me at the Sayonara Party on Saturday night to be shinpam. I really didn’t have a choice but it turned out really well as I made only 1 or 2 mistakes to do with my positioning. I had a great time there with the Dublin club and I am delighted at their successes. I hope next year some from Cork will be able to make it there and see what it is like as an event. It says something about the event when the CNK (French Kendo Federation) send 2 teams with 6 months left before a WKC.

I have a few extra plans for next year, but it is not the time yet to announce them.

Hi all.

This is the #3 infomail from me.

Junior League
First off I have decided to hold a monthly juniors league. There are a few reasons. Primarily it gives the juniors a goal in kendo. If also gives them experience in competition and the consequences of failure and success. I will try it for a few months and see how it works. It will begin in January.

Mumeishi
Simply put, this was the best success we have had at this tournament as well as the largest delegation we have sent. Listening and asking for feedback, it was obvious that it was a great trip for everyone. I am delighted that the juniors made a really good show and had their horizons broadened. They saw how Kendo is done outside of their dojo to a high International standard. Hopefully they won’t forget the experience for a good while.
Alan McNevin and Liao Liao were lucky enough to have Kathryn Cassidy (2-dan, attempting 3-dan in 3 weeks time at Nakakura) from Dublin on the Cork ‘B’ team. However they did not advance beyond the 1st Round, but this was a great experience and eye-opener for them. Their Kendo was the best they could do and is a triumph in itself.
Robin Deegan Adrian Moloney and Jason Clouston made the ‘A’ Team. The Kendo was just exceptional from them all. Rob opened the opposition up quite easily for others to exploit the opening. (Traditionally in Kendo, the Sempo is the tip of the spear, making the initial gap in a defence, jiho is the haft which ensures the gap is maintained and Taisho is the final blow which finishes the opponent). Unfortunately Jason lost by a Kote in the Daihyo-sha (after a draw, the two best fighters fight ippon-shobu). However, this place in the last 8 of the 77-Team tournament was the best Cork Budokai has ever done.
I think these successes are an endorsement of all of our travels and openness to learning from each other and others. Just look at the list for 2012. It may be short, but very positive and significant:

February; myself to 5-Dan

June; Winners INC Team & Individual
Brendan Hickey Fighting Spirit

November; Last 8 of Mumeishi

When I reflected on my success to 5-Dan I said it was nothing but hard work. I think we owe our results to this…. So more sweat guys!!!!

I recently a heard an old irish proverb which I think will be ideal for the club:

Ni uaisleacht gan subhailce.
There is no nobility without virtue.

I hope everyone understands as this very important in kendo. If you are not sure what I mean:

http://www.toronto-kendo-club.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=231&Itemid=42

and

http://www.sckendo.ca/hakama.shtml

Full details on the Kurosawa Cup:

http://www.ryoshinkai.net/

Attendees:

Jason Clouston
Robin Deegan
Brendan Hickey

Wish them the best of luck!!

EKF Referees Seminar
This is a fantastic event. Also, this is where I made 5-dan last February. Accomodation is pre-organised by the EKF and is in the ADEPS centre, the same venue as the Nakakura Cup
and Seminar. The emphasis is on the referees for the WKC in Italy and their selection. The competitors are all grades from all across Europe and are basically the helpers. As such, the sayonara party is free!! There are two sections, those with the senior international referees and those who are the non-selected international ref’s who wish to join the senior section. The non-senior section is stopped quite often as the sensei in charge (a Japanese shichi/hachidan) tries to right the wrongs done by the less experienced referees. As a result competitors get about 2-3 shiai an hour. However, you see exactly what is required by referees at a high international level. The senior section is much quicker. It is possible to get 10-12 shiai in an hour here (as well as some advice afterwards!). I cannot recommend this event highly enough. Details are not available yet, but I will post them when available.

WKC 15.
As I have mentioned, the WKC is happening in italy in may. We have received information on accommodation and it looks like we are going for the B&B half-board costing €245 for 5 nights. I think this is better as we can eat at different places instead of relying on 1 kitchen. However, this is not confirmed yet, but I am including it as a ‘forward notice’.

Hi all.

This is my second infomail for you.

Kurasawa Cup

This is held in Barcelona, Spain, in January every year and 2011 was its 9^th year. 150 attended this year at the Kurasawa Cup & Seminar. We have a good reputation at this event and have come  3^rd twice.

The last team to go from Cork was Jason Cloustoun, Robin Deegan, Brendan Hickey and Dirk Bakker and they were joined with our Martin Kiosew and Kathryn Cassidy from Dublin Kendo Kobukai.

I will have more details on times, website , costs & accommodation in the next infomail

Monthly Fees

First of all the club will no longer be taking cash for the monthly fee. Please use direct debit as payment in the future and here are the details:

Bank of Ireland
Patrick street

Cork Budokai kendo club.
90-28-13
75028286

Mumeishi:

I will be taking the shinai to London for anyone who has booked 2 bags. I will take the shinai from you on Wednesday 16^th. I will be taking a 10-shinai bag, so don’t over-do it!!!!

Federation Fees:

The federation fee structure will be changing in 2012. Quoted from the email sent to club leaders from the federation treasurer:

‘What will change?

a) lower fees

b) introduction of temporary membership

c) membership forms and fees collected on a club basis

d) club payment made by a set date. (end of December each year, with exception of this year February 2012)

What we trying to achieve?

a) accurate membership records

b) accurate and more legitimate position with respect to insurance,

better offers and opportunities.

c) better position for getting SPONSORSHIP and external funding.

d) planning: Events, Projects, Improvements

e) better interaction with members

f) accurate record will prevent for overpaying for insurance or

memberships to International bodies which are paid based on number of

members.

g) help developing and promoting Kendo for kids.

h) have stable funds, be able to create budget.

1. Lower current membership fees:

a)       Ordinary membership fee lower to 60.00 EUR per year (after one year we
will review and possibly lower further)

b)      Family membership lower to 80.00 EUR

c)       Student membership (valid id) – 40.00 EUR

d)      Kids under 10 years old for free
2. Introduce temporary membership 3 months – 20.00 EUR

This will cover insurance for 3 months and participation in Irish Kendo federation events

for every person starting Kendo in Ireland.
3. Payment made by clubs yearly for all its members. Federation fees collected in clubs and one payment made yearly by End of December  each year.

4. Fees not paid: If a club doesn’t pay by the date and fails to inform the federation as to why, then insurance cover for that club and all other benefits will not be provided until the fee is paid.

If you want more details, please ask myself or Jason before or after keiko.

And Finally

There will be no IIGT in 2012. It has been making more and more losses and less and less people visiting.

World Kendo Championships 2012. http://www.15wkc-italy.org/

We would hope some of the Cork members will travel to Italy in 2012 for the WKC. It is a great opportunity to see the best of world Kendo. If at all possible, we will be organising group travel.

Hi all. This is the first of my infomails, just to make sure everyone knows whats going on in the club. I will send one at the end of each month.

EVENTS (up to December):

Mumeishi 3’s

http://www.mumeishi.co.uk/kendo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=33

I’m delighted to announce the attendance at Mumeishi 3’s as it is the largest team we have events had to go, and the first time an Irish club has had juniors, ladies, senior team and a referee. (more…)

Big Congrats to Cork1 who went on to win the Irish National championships for a second year in a ROW!!

The Team were Robin Deegan, Jason Clouston and Brendan Hickey.

Immediately after the team final was the Individual final where Robin Deegan faced his Nemesis Martin Kiosew for the second time (already faced him in the team final) and prevailed.

Congrats to the lads and good luck for next year!!

Well done to Robin Deegan from Cork who represented Ireland at the recent European championships in Poland, with his team mates Kathryn and Martin Kiosew!

Well done to Jason Clouston from Cork who was manager / coach for the event.

Ye did us proud