2010 AUSKF Iaido National Summer Camp

The Iaido National Summer Camp arrangements are near complete. Right now it looks like it will be held June 9-13 at Trinity University in San Antonio Texas. There will be more details later

Jim

Time Change for Wednesday Evening Class in Cincinnati

Our class times for the Wednesday evening class is going to change this coming week due to a schedule change at the Corryville Rec Center in Cincinnati. We will start Kendo class at 7:00 pm Wednesday March 31. There will be no Iaido class at Corryville at least for a couple weeks. I'll let everyone know when our time will change again.

The Sunday morning schedule will not change for Step 'N Out dance studio in Covington KY.

Jim

European Sword Events

1.) This Sunday March 7th classes will be at the normal times in Covington at the Step'N Out Dance Studio (Iaido 8:00am until 9:15am, Kendo 9:30am until 11:00am). We will share the dance studio with the Cincinnati Fencing Academy and their coach, former Olympian Ed Wright. They will have a Fencing tournament that will start on the second floor while we are still practicing. Once we are done with Kendo, the fencers will move down to the first floor. It will be a good opportunity to watch a tournament using point weapons (foils). I've been invited to help judge the Fencing matches, so I might leave Kendo practice a little early.

2.) The following weekend March 13th and 14th, I'll be teaching a Japanese Swordsmanship class for the regional seminar of the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) at the Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights KY. I'm scheduled to teach on Saturday the 13th. I'm planning to participate in some of their other classes as well. If you are interested in watching or participating in my class, let me know. It might be possible for me to get permission for you to visit and watch one of the other classes. The SAFD teaches Stage Combat to actors for use on stage, television and movies.

3.) Since I'll already have my goodies packed for the SAFD seminar, I'll have a sword presentation for Iaido class on Sunday March 14th at the Step 'N Out in Covington. I'll bring swords from my collection (broadsword, rapier, katana....) and we'll talk about how they are used and differences in their construction.

Jim

Academic All-Star

I would like to pass on congratulations to Justas Jodele. I spoke to his dad and found out that Justas got a 4.0 on his last report period. Great Job!!!

Jim

A Busy 2009 for Northern Kentucky Kendo

Here are some of the highlights for 2009. At the recent Youth Kendo Tournament held at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Justas Jodelle won two medals for third place. He won one medal for individual honors in the 13 to 15 year old age group. His second medal was for team competition. Justas was on a mixed team with members of the Cleveland Japanese School Kendo Club.

The Club performed a number of Kendo demonstrations. We performed for the Kenton County Library's Youth Japanese Club. Most of the events we performed, were recorded for broadcast as a local sports event on Insight Cable TV, in Northern Kentucky, and Columbus Ohio. A number of our regular classes were recorded for broadcast as well. Our thanks to Chris George, and Danessa Smith from the University of Cincinnati Kendo Club for their help. From Northern Kentucky Kendo Club; Bill Baker, Don Collins, Maria Collins, Gerald Meade, Mark Clark, Roland Figgs, and Justas Jodelle.

We had a number of Iaido events as well. Gerald and I performed at the Kenton County Library. Chris and Roland performed with us during taping of our regular class at the Corryville Rec Center in Cincinnati.

I was invited again this year to be a guest instructor for the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) at their regional "March Madness" seminar held at Northern Kentucky University. The SAFD teaches actors stage combat techniques for use on stage, television and movies. Roland and I were invited back for their summer session to teach a class on empty hand techniques.

A couple individual honors: First, Gerald has been granted a teaching license to teach Muso Jikiden Eishen Ryu style of Iaido. He continues to promote this style of Iaido to groups east of the Mississippi.

Second, I was invited by the Kenton County Library to pose for a poster for their READ program. Assisting me in the poster is Bailey Peterson of Premier Martial Arts in Florence Kentucky. Bailey won a scholastic award as one of the top elementary students in the country. The poster will be on display at the library through next year.

Finally, congratulations to everyone who passed testing for rank in 2009!

Jim Atkins

Winter is Coming- Winter hours are back at Corryville

Cooler temperatures are back in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. It's time to go back to winter hours for Wednesday evenings 2009 at the Corryville Recreation Center in Cincinnati. Iaido class starts at 6:00pm until 7:00pm. Kendo class begins at 7:00pm and lasts until 8:45. We need to be out of the building for closing by 9:00pm. We will move back into the dance studio for class.

Class times for Sunday morning at the Step 'N Out studio in Covington KY are the same. No changes.

-Jim

TIME CHANGE FOR WEDNESDAY EVENING CLASS

Wednesday evening classes at the Corryville Rec Center will be during the new Summer hours. The doors will be open at 6:30 pm. From 6:30 pm 'till 7:00 pm we'll have an Open floor available for personal practice, stretching and a short Iaido class with a Seitei Kata review. Kendo class will start at 7:00pm until 8:45 pm.

KENDO AND IAIDO DEMONSTRATION

Saturday June 20 at 2:00pm, we have been invited to perform a Kendo and Iaido demonstration at the Kenton County Library located at 502 Scott street in Covington KY. The library is just a couple blocks from Step 'N Out studio where we practice on Sundays. The event is a Japanese cultural festival for their teen program. The festival lasts from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm, with our 30 minute performance beginning at 2:00 on the main floor inside the building. They will have a table for us under a tent in the parking lot, so if you can either come early or stay late, please come and talk with the people who will stop by with questions at our table.

-Jim