News... finally.

After a long and hot summer... (it is still hot), alot of our members have returned from summer vacation and practice is back into full swing. We would like to also welcome some new members to our group. Hopefully, they will continue to practice with us and join us soon in full bogu for more fun. Since my last blog entry, I have found out quite a few things from SEUSKF concerning AUSKF and a few other issues that may be of interest to people in our club. Let me first note, however, that the communications of SWKIF seems to be lacking quite a bit as I feel I am left out in numerous announcements however unimportant concerning national events and policies. There appears to be an election this fall for new board members for SWKIF and I may consider volunteering my time in an official position if nothing else then to get up-to-date information about kendo national news. It is not to say that our current board is inadequate; it is simply not able to 'keep up' with the expected speed of information dissemination. Of course being a member of the board is no picnic and I may not have the time to dedicate to doing the job myself, but I will not know until I try... or do. But enough of my rumbling, here is the news you were expecting... haha, I complain about lack of news and yet I myself do not update this blog as often... whatever. One last note... the general election will probably be held this fall in Denver at the fall seminar. I do not even know at this point in time if I will even attend the seminar. I am into a taikai/shiai mode right now for some reason.

National Issues

2009 AUSKF Championships will be held in Las Vegas, 4th of July weekend. If you are interested in going, let us know. I am sure there is a division or something for you.

International Kendo Federation (FIK) has passed new rules on promotionals. For 6 kyu to 2 kyu, the board of examiners must have 5 graders of 4 dan or higher. Since anything below 2 kyu really is not checked and enforced, I think the rule of 3 graders of 3 dan or higher as set by SWKIF will still apply for now. Come 1 kyu, you will need to test at a regional event anyway and I am sure there will be enough 4 dan or higher graders on the panel... and at that point, the rank will be more readily recognized internationally anyway.

Regional News

The fall event for SWKIF will be in Denver, CO, during the weekend of Oct 19 to 21st. The event will be a seminar, focusing on team taikai and whatnot in preparation of the 1st SWKIF Championships (Team and Individuals) held spring of 2008 also in Denver, CO. For that reason, I am debating on whether or not I will attend the fall seminar. I will go to the spring one for sure to participate in the Championships. Hopefully we will have a good Arkansas Kendo Club team present as well at that time in spring of 2008. Maybe we can get team jackets or something. Of course, there will be a shinsa that Sunday at both events.

There is a team taikai in Austin, TX, the weekend of Oct 12 to 14th... Texas Longhorn Team Taikai. It is an open invitational. If we can get enough people interested, we can go. I believe it is ~9 hours to Austin from here.

Southeast Kendo Federation (SEUSKF) will be holding their annual SEUSKF Championships the weekend of Oct 5 to 7th in Atlanta, GA. I have been invited to join the Memphis team at the taikai and so I will be going there. If anyone else is interested in participating in the taikai, please let me know. The event will allow 5 teams per dojo on 6 courts. I am sure Memphis will not mind some of us filling in their teams. I think they are able to presently fill up 4 teams with their current members. I went last year and it was very good.

Local News

Kajitani sensei will be bring a guest (friend from Minnesota) to practice this Sunday (August 19th). Everyone is encouraged to come and join in the practice. The guest will be at practice this Sunday and the following Friday.

We are trying to organize a shinsa late October this year for those who cannot attend an event to test rank. I plan on inviting Harry Dach sensei from Memphis as an additional grader. The problems I foresee is a) if anyone will be interested enough to test and b) with summer vacation just ending, if anyone/everyone will have had enough time to practice to actually improve their kendo for the next level. More will come...

I have polo shirts with our AKC logo embroidered. If anyone is interested in purchasing a shirt, please let me know. I will only place an order if there are enough people interested... ie: everyone or the majority. The cost will probably be $20-25 per shirt. That being said, we could probably also be able to get team jackets... if we could organize a team.

Alright, that is all I have for now. Peace out.