CKF NEWS |
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| A official publication of the Canadian Kendo Federation, supporting Kendo, and Iaido | Vol 1/4 Issue 4 June 1999 www.uoguelph.ca/~kataylor/ckfindex.htm |
AT FIRST LOOK
Should we advertise Kendo and Iaido to obtain new students? On the yes side is the argument that we need new students to create a base on which to build the art and to maintain the elite level students who form the national teams. On the no side is the argument that beginners dilute the time seniors spend with the sensei, and bring down the general level of practice during a class. Some may also think it a bit tacky to advertise Kendo, relying instead on word of mouth and diligent searching by those who want to participate, to bring students to the dojo.
For those on the no side, nothing more need be said, or done. Just show
up at the dojo and practice, and hope that the numbers don't drop so low
you have to close the club. For those who feel a constant influx of students
is a good thing, it may pay to do a bit of publicity work so that those
who want to try Kendo or Iaido at least know where to look.
Publicity need not be paid for, there are many ways to let people know
you have a club in town.
1. Keep a set of business cards handy (make them up on your computer
printer at home) which give your dojo location and practice times. Then
when you meet someone who is interested you can simply hand one over. A
personal invitation is always much better than just seeing an ad in the
yellow pages or the parks and recreation pamphlet.
2. Whenever you have an event coming or one just finished, write a press
release and give it to the local media (radio, newspaper and local cable
outlet). Write the release as if it were a news article, using the same
voice as a reporter. Provide a photo if you have one. A lot of small media
outlets will run a press release in full, it's cheap copy for them. In
the larger centres, make sure you invite the press to your event at the
same time as you deliver the announcement. Even major market dailies have
local news sections.
3. Demonstrate, whenever and wherever you're asked, never turn down
a chance to show your stuff. Keep the demonstration time to a minimum,
show what the art looks like, but don't try to explain all the rules or
you'll bore the crowd. Make sure you have lots of club cards to give out
to the curious after the demo. Stick around to talk to them, don't just
pack up and leave.
4. Post small notices about the club on bulletin boards in Laundromats,
the local mall, the community centre and anywhere else you can think of.
At the least staple your club card to any of these boards you find.
5. If you have access to the internet get onto some of the chat and
news groups talking about martial arts. Never lose the chance to help someone
find your club, or some other CKF club. Check out our website.
I'm sure there are a dozen other ways you can think of to get the word
out there. The main thing is to be ready at any time to let people know
that there is a place to study Kendo in their town.
If you want to target the publicity, think of where the majority of
your students come from. High schools? Other martial arts? People who just
wander by while you're practicing? Once you identify these groups, make
it easy for them to come and watch a class, and maybe even try it out.
Be willing to talk a little with anyone who shows an interest. You never
know where your next "best student" will come from.
-Kim Taylor.
COMING EVENTS
June 24-27 Iaido seminar, Vancouver, host San Shin Kai, with
Iwata sensei.
July 2 Director's meeting and Annual General Meeting.
July 3-5 Canadian Kendo Championships, Toronto
July 16-19 Guelph School of Japanese Sword Arts (Iaido, Jodo,
Kendo, etc.)
July 24-28 Guelph School of Japanese Sword Arts (polishing, hilt
wrapping, scabbard making etc.)
July 30-Aug 6. Foreign Leaders Kendo Seminar. Saitama Japan.
If you haven't got your copy of the notice from the ZNKR please get in
touch with CKF Headquarters.
Aug 6-8 US Championships, Las Vegas.
Sep 4-6 AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp, Tennessee STI, Memphis.
Mar 21-27, 2000, 11WKC, Santa Clara, CA
GUELPH SCHOOL OF JAPANESE SWORD ARTS
July 16-19 Martial Arts, University of Guelph:
Iaido stream: Hoki-ryu, Tamiya-ryu, Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu, Muso Shinden-ryu,
ZNKR iai, ZNIR iai.
Shiai stream: Atarashii Naginata, Itto Kendo, Nito Kendo.
Koryu stream: Tendo-ryu Naginata, Kashima Shinryu, Shindo Muso-ryu jo,
Niten Ichi-ryu, Heki-Ryu Bisshu Chikurin-ha Kyudo
Comparative arts: Japanese and Taichi sword.
Academic Presentation ("Martial arts as performance arts") July 16 evening.
July 24-26 Sword Crafts, 44 Inkerman St. Guelph:
Sword polishing, habaki making, saya making and repair, tsuka wrapping,
bokuto making.
For more information contact Kim Taylor, 519-836-4357 or see www.uoguelph.ca/~iaido/
BCKF JUNIOR KENDO TOURNAMENT
Our junior tournament was held on Saturday, May 15. There were about
40 participants this year ranging in age from 7 years old to 15 years old.
The results are as follows:
INDIVIDUALS: 9& Under -
1st: A. Tajiri (Renbu), 2nd: G. Mizutani (Renbu),
3rd: K. Amadatsu (Steveston) and N. Marumo (Sunrise)
INDIVIDUALS: 10-12 Years Old -
1st: S. Marumo (Sunrise), 2nd: R. Campbell (Steveston), 3rd: K. Marus
(Steveston) and H. Fukushima (Vancouver)
INDIVIDUALS: 13-15 Years Old -
1st: K. Kaneyoshi (Vancouver), 2nd: J. Marsten (PNKF), 3rd: M. Kobuchi
(Vancouver) and N. Fukushima (Vancouver)
TEAM: 1st: Vancouver "A", 2nd: PNKF
FIGHTING SPIRIT AWARD: Y. Nakamura (Steveston) and K. Marumo (Sunrise)
-Lawrence Tsuji
Detroit Kendo Tournament
Approx. 32 representatives from Ontario partipated in the 1st Michigan
tournament in Detroit last weekend hosted by Tagawa Sensei. The playing
level of all categories was relatively high for an East coast US tournament
as many of the players were Japanese living in America. The event included
demonstratons by Nishiyama Sensei and Ichikawa Sensei and some great matches
(especially all the team matches by all the players from Ontario). The
following are the results of the tournament for our members.
Juniors
11-13yrs 3rd Megumi Wakabayashi Etobicoke Kendo Club
14-16yrs 3rd Robert Perry Etobicoke Kendo Club
Non-Degree
1st Mike Attard Tatsuyama (Ottawa) Kendo
3rd Richard Soso Toronto Kendo Club
3rd Dan and Up
3rd Matthew Raymond U of T
Team (Junior)
2nd JCCCA (K.Enokido, P. Nakashima, J. Luy)
3rd JCCCB (Y.Hao, K.Hao, R.Kato)
ETOA (M.Wakabayshi, R. Perry, Masuda(Detroit))
Team(Senior)
2nd ONTA (B.Asa, M.Raymond, D.Mori, J.Burns, E.Yamashita)
3rd ONTB (S.Nakatsu, A.Asa, S.Asa,T.Juniri, C.Hao)
There were over 200 participants and it appears that everybody had a
great time. I also sense a lot of development from our players (which is
usually the case when you don't win). The event will become an annual tournament
and I suggest that those who want to be challenged should attend.
- Bryan Asa
SURPRISE PRACTICE
On behalf of the CKF, my father just wanted to thank all the people
(over 40 of you) who showed up for the special practice on Monday May 31
at JCCC. We apologise that we were not able to inform everybody of the
practice given the short notice and hope that people enjoyed the practice.
The goodwill keiko featured special guests from Japan who were good enough to visit us from their trip to the Michigan tournament in Detroit: Yasuhiro Nishiyama Sensei (Hanshi 8th dan), the former Head Instructor of the Tokyo Metro Police and sensei to Toronto Kendo Club's Kimura Sensei, Ichikawa Sensei (Kyoshi 7th dan) Ni-ten ichi-ryu practioner, Takeuchi Sensei, and 4 others. No doubt we were all impressed with their good play...especially Nishiyama Sensei.
Once again...thank you for coming out.
- Bryan Asa
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM UPDATE
The Western Region men's prospect selection round-robin tournament in
Vancouver has been changed from May 29 to June 5 due to an issue around
availability of the tournament location. There will be a total of 15 competitors
trying out for the 5 available Western spots. Of this number, 14 come from
BC and one (Blaine Campbell) is from Calgary. Good Luck to all!
The Eastern Region men's prospect selection was held in Montreal on
May 22. The two prospects who will represent Eastern Region at the July
4 national level round-robin are Martin Dore (4th Dan) and Pierre Sasseville
(3rd Dan). Congratulations to Martin and Pierre. Both are from Quebec City.
Murao Sensei and Asa Sensei were both present for the selection. Murao
commented about the visit, saying that the calibre of Kendo he saw in Montreal
was quite good. He said that many of the young Shodan players now coming
up in Quebec are very impressive, which means a bright future for Kendo
there.
The Central Region men's prospect selection is still set for June 19
at the JCCC in Toronto. There will be approximately 16 competitors for
the 5 available spots. We have been practicing as a group weekly through
May, in preparation for June 19th. Good luck to all!
Noda Sensei continues to work on the Ladies' Team selection. A number
of ladies have been practicing with the men's prospects in Ontario. The
same is happening in BC. The ladies' prospects from across the country
will practice with Noda Sensei on July 4 in Toronto, the day after the
Canadian Championships.
The composition of both the men's and ladies' teams will be announced
in the weeks following the Canadian Championships.
-Rick Tizzard
GUELPH SPRING IAIDO/JODO SEMINAR
The ninth annual Spring Seminar in Guelph was held May 22-25 with around
100 students from Canada, the USA and as far away as Belgium receiving
instruction from four sensei from Japan. This year Matsuo Haruna sensei
(hanshi 8dan) and Masakazu Oshita sensei (kyoshi 7dan), both Muso Jikiden
Eishin-ryu iai, were joined by Masakazu Iwamoto sensei (hanshi 8dan Muso
Shinden-ryu iai) and Shigenori Namitome sensei (hanshi 8dan jodo, kyoshi
8dan MSR iai).
The proceedings began a day early with impromptu jodo and iaido classes
for the senior grades where our local instructors were given some "fine
tuning" on their technique. The main seminar was then held in the University
of Guelph West Gym, a converted hockey arena that seemed jammed to the
rafters with sword swinging students. The first day and a half was spent
on ZenKenRen iai (seitei gata) with the last two hours of each day devoted
to ZenKenRen jo (seitei gata jo). The remainder of the three days was spent
with groups practicing ZKR iai, or koryu (MJER iai or MSR iai). Those not
practicing jodo during the afternoons worked on their iai or split off
to another gym to do some kendo keiko.
On the holiday Monday the students presented their traditional demonstration
for the sensei with everyone doing their best 5 kata. This was followed
by a demonstration from the sensei which began with a nito vs jo kata between
Haruna sensei and Namitome sensei. (I believe Haruna sensei had learned
the kata earlier that day).
On the Tuesday the numbers dropped to about 30 students and we practiced
Jodo and Niten Ichi-ryu during the morning and Jodo in the afternoon.
I would like to thank the sensei for sharing their knowledge with us
once again this year, the students who attend the classes, and members,
former members and honourary members of Sei Do Kai who work so hard on
registrations, lunches, the famous auction, set-up and break-down and the
myriad of other things that need to be done while I laze around complaining.
- Kim Taylor, UG Sei Do Kai
WEBSITE UPDATES
You can get the latest information on the CKF championships and the
World championships at: http://www.uoguelph.ca/~kataylor/ckf.events.htm
You will also find the latest issue of this newsletter, constantly updated
club information, links to club pages, entry forms for the Canadian Championships,
and a whole slew of other great stuff.
If your club still doesn't have a web page please get in touch with
our webmaster (your CKF News editor, who else) and we'll set you up.
We welcome all inquiries, letters, comments, articles, announcements, photos and tournament reports to Kim Taylor, Editor, 44 Inkerman St. Guelph Ontario or email them to kataylor@uoguelph.ca