AUSKFNEWSLETTER
AUSKFVol. 3 No. 1
March 7, 2000
|
1999-2000 OFFICERS: PRESIDENT: EXECUTIVE VP: VP-PROM & EXAMS: VP-COMPETITION: VP-EDUCATION: TREASURER: SEC-HISTORIAN: DIRECTORS: |
FROM THE
PRESIDENT:
Report submitted by J. Marsten To the Kenshi of AUSKF: I would like to take this opportunity to thank
everyone who so generously volunteered to help
at the 11th World Kendo Championships. The
personal committment and sacrifice is
astounding in the way people have come
forward to serve. Actually the term Samurai comes from a verb meaning to serve. So many
of you have kept the tradition alive and well.
Even though it may not seem so to folks that are
far away, it is our tournament together as the
host organization. I wish to give special thanks
to Tanaka Sensei and the members of NCKF for
their extraordinary effort in carrying out the
daily activities that this event requires.
This year will be my final year as President of
the AUSKF and I want to thank you all for the
chance to meet with you and serve in this
capacity. I will have served 6 years when my
successor takes office this coming fall. Six
years that have gone by rather quickly most of
the time and occasionally rather slowly during
some of our growing pains. When we finish the
11th WKC we will enter a period when great
opportunity will be on our doorstep. It will be a
time when the Board of Directors can really
focus on service to the membership. Service
through seminars, mentorship and education.
During the past 6 years it has been great to see
the growth and to be a part of the activities that
we as a national organization never had in the
past. I encourage both you and the incoming
directors to press forward in
|
building a world class organization. Guard against slipping back into the old days by being involved, work hard
to improve your kendo.
I also wish to congratulate our members of Team USA and know they will have a good tournament. I am proud of all their hard work and effort to give us a team that the world will take note of. I know each and every one of them thanks the Kenshi of the AUSKF for their good wishes and support. Those of you that did not make the team this time, I challenge you to work hard the next three years and grab a spot on the team that will probably be going to Glasgow, Scotland for the 12th WKC. I am hopeful that the members of the current Team USA after this event, will be going on missions to help with mentoring and seminars around the country. Lastly, I know I am leaving an organization that is far better than when I found it. The Board of Directors has done a great job in working through developing this AUSKF. There is much still to do; for it is the same as in our daily kendo practice, we should always strive to improve and never be satisfied. Again, thank you for the past years.
SPECIAL REPORT FROM
|
| Page 2 March 7, 2000 | AUSKF NEWSLETTER |
|
SPECIAL REPORT: (continued) Planning and preparations for this event
have been occurring for several months to
ensure that the 11th WKC will be a world
class event to be enjoyed by both the
competitors, participants and spectators
alike.
Much thanks to those kenshi, dojos, and member federations who assisted and supported the various fundraising activities
for the 11th WKC to date. We hope that those same kenshi, sensei, family members, friends,and others who are planning to attend the 11th WKC, will continue to generously support the various ongoing fundraising activities, e.g. 11th WKC souvenir sales, etc.
Further details about the 11th WKC, e.g. schedule of events, souvenir sales, etc. are available on the AUSKF Internet Home Page: http:\\www.kendo-usa.org.
GOOD LUCK AND BEST WISHES
TO TEAM USA!
Report From VP-Prom & Exams:
Results of the AUSKF Promtional
Examination held on October 17, 1999,
following the AUSKF National Kendo
Seminar held in Wilder, Kentucky.
1st Kyu: 1st Dan: 2nd Dan: |
3rd Dan: 4th Dan: 5th Dan: 6th Dan:
Report From VP-Competition: Report submitted by Takeshi Yamaguchi. 1999 AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp & Hosted by the Memphis Iaido Dojo, this event consisted of three days of instructional training in the art of Seitei Iai Kata , the Memphis Open Tournament, and proficiency testing for promotional ranking. Under the leadership of AUSKF VP-Competition Mr. Takeshi Yamaguchi-6th Dan, and with the assistance of a team of instructors consisting of: Mr. Shozo Kato-7th Dan, Mr. Tatsuhiko Konno-6th Dan, Mr. Tom Hooper-6th Dan , Mr. Ichiro Murakami-5th Dan, Mr. Harry Dach-5th Dan, Mr. Darrell Craig-5th Dan, Mr. Dick Anderson-5th Dan, Mr. Dale Schwerdtfeger-5th Dan, Mr. Russell Ichimura-4th Dan, Mr. Yunosuke Minato-4th Dan, and Mr. Mark Uchida-4th Dan, a well balanced program of Seitei Iai Kata training, competition, and proficiency testing was presented with a high level of expertise and in an open learning |
atmosphere to help iaidoka of all ranks to gain new knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of the study of iaido. The results of the Memphis Open Tournament were as follows: 1 Dan & Below: 2 Dan & Above: On the evening following the second day of Seitei Iai Kata training, the iaidoka participants and sensei were taken by bus to Graceland for dinner. Surrounded by the interesting Elvis Presley memorabilia, the dinner was both an excellent culinary and cultural experience enjoyed by all. Special thanks are extended to Dr. Richard W. Babin, Harry Dach and the members of the Memphis Iaido Dojo for their tireless efforts in planning and organizing the various venues. The warm hospitality and assistance extended to all iaidoka participants and sensei throughout the three day event made for not only a pleasant experience but a memorable one as well.
Report From VP-Education: Report submitted by Atsushi Hori. 1999AUSKF National Kendo Seminar Report: On October 15th and 16th, kendoists met in Wilder, Kentucky, located in the eastern part of the United States for the 1999 AUSKF National Kendo Seminar. Representing Japan at the seminar were two young 8th Dan sensei, Tokyo Police instructor Mr. Mitsuru Hamazaki and Osaka Police instructor Mr. Yoshifumi Ishizuka. |
| Page 3 March 7, 2000 | AUSKF NEWSLETTER |
|
The seminar ran each day from 8:30 to 5:00, with an hour and a half for lunch. Altogether, we had seven hours of very meaningful practice both days. The kendoists were divided by rank and split into two groups in order to get personal instruction from Hamazaki sensei and Ishizuka sensei. All participants listened intently, and diligently applied what they were taught. Although it was only two short days of training, regardless of rank, everyone learned new things and improved their kendo. The seminar included kendo kata, basic practice, a panel discussion, and time for free practice. It was hard, aggressive practice, but everyone came away feeling that it was time well spent and that they learned a lot. At the conclusion of the seminar, we had a sayonara party on board a riverboat which was cruising up and down the Ohio River. We were part of a great crowd of people who had come to attend a festival gathering of historic riverboats which takes place in Cincinnati, Ohio every four years. World kendo is making great progress and growing rapidly, especially in Europe. U.S. kendo could grow in the same way, and have the same high quality, if we continued to do as we did at this seminar. Rather than separately inviting our favorite instructors, we should combine our resources and work together. Many great kendo teachers stress that doing proper, basic kendo will lead to a strong kendo that we can all be proud of. To learn such kendo in the U.S. it is important that we all work together and take advantage of every opportunity to invite these teachers and learn from them. In conclusion, I would like to thank the East Central United States Kendo Federation for their efforts in hosting this seminar. It would not have been successful without the support and hard work of the ECUSKF members and the ECUSKF President Mr. Koki Ariga. I believe if we have such support for the next seminar, the national seminar will last forever. |
REGIONAL MEMBER'S NEWS:
1. Report from the Greater Northeastern United States Kendo Federation, submitted by GNEUSKF President T. Inoshita, M.D. We are glad to announce the upcoming 12th Annual Cleveland Tournament/Greater Northeastern United States Kendo Federation Championships to be held at the Woodling Gymnasium of the Cleveland State University on Saturday, April 15, 2000. Although this will follow the World Championships in California in March, 2000 relatively soon, we hope that a lot of kendo enthusiasts will be able to attend this annual event. If you have any questions, please call 740-356-8169 (work), 740-354-7523 (answering service), 216-321-1187 (home) or e-mail me at pcancer@zoomnet.net. 2. Report from the Northern California Kendo Federation submitted by Ken Ogawa. 7/9/99 Bel/Cas/Ren Monthly Jr.Taikai,
at Bellevue 7PM. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA KENDO Godo Keiko: |
Sunday, Dec. 3: NCKF Make-up Promotion @Nichiren Church For more details of the above events, contact Ken Ogawa by mail at: 3brock@msn.com. 3. Report from the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation: Schedule of Events and News, submitted by Tom Bolling, Recording Secretary: (work) 206-543-2060, (FAX) 206-685-8485, (home) 206-527-1190. Internet e-mail addresses: http:\\weber.u.washington.edu\~kendo or kendo@u.washington.edu. Also, read PNKF's Kenyu online at: http:\\weber.u.washington.edu\~kendo\kenyu.html. DATEBOOK-2000 4. Report from the Southern California Kendo Federation submitted by Brian L. Olson. For more details, or to confirm date, time, location of events, etc., contact Brian L. Olson by e-mail at: blolson8@earthlink.net. |
| Page 4 March 7, 2000 | AUSKF NEWSLETTER |
| REGIONAL MEMBER'S NEWS (Continued)
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA KENDO FEDERATION-SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, 2000 (All dates and locations are subject to change) 3/15 Godo Keiko, Costa Mesa Dojo,7:30pm. |
5. Report from the Southwest United States Kendo & Iaido Federation submitted by Adriane Wollaston. For more information, etc. contact: Adriane Wollaston by e-mail at: kendophx@primenet.com. The new President of SWKIF is Carl West of Mushinkan (Colorado Springs). His e-Mail address is redmtnwest@aol.com.
IAIDO NEWS: 1. Report submitted by Southern California Iaido Association President Naomi Sayano. For more information, etc., contact Naomi Sayano 949-725-9011, or e-mail at: sayano@uci.edu. SCIA will be conducting a day-long iaido seminar on Sunday, May 7, 2000 , from 9am-5pm, Southeast Japanese Community Center, Norwalk, California. This seminar will cover the detailed basics of Seitei Iai Kata . Koryu (i.e. Omori ryu, Eishin ryu) may also be taught depending on the level of the individual participants. Registration by mail or at the door. The cost is $20. 2. Report submitted by Shidogakuin Dojo Ms. Debi Farmer. For more information contact Debi Farmer by e-mail at: tora11@goplay.com.; or, Ken Zen Dojo Pam Parker at e-mail address: pamaparker@yahoo.com. The 2000 AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp & National Championships will be held on July 1-3, 2000, in New York City. The Shidogakuin and Ken Zen Dojos are jointly hosting this event. The seminar will be on Saturday, July 1 and Sunday, July 2. The promotion exams and competition will be held on Monday, July 3. The event will be held at the High School for the Humanities on 18th Street in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. We have reserved a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn on 32nd Street, home to |
Manhattan's array of Korean restaurants and shops. Monday night's farewell banquet, celebrating the long weekend's hard work (and Independence Day) will be held in Chinatown. Further detail and information, including prices, will be sent to all AUSKF regional member federations, and directly to the dojos who have participated in previous national Iaido events. For continuing updates, please check the Shidogakuin website: www.kendoka.org. IN MEMORIAM: SHIMODA, MASAHARU NAKAKURA, KIYOSHI
Norman K. Otani, Esq., Editor
Thanks to all of the Future news items for the next issue to be published on August 1, 2000, can be submitted to my e-mail address: aj082@cvip.fresno.com or news items can be sent to: 2338 E. Minarets Avenue Fresno, CA. 93720 |