To all those in the jodo section, my very best wishes for a successful and happy new year. In the past year and a bit we have expanded the section to the very edge of the Pacific through the efforts of Thomas Groendal who will continue to guide jodo in that region along with David Williams and Alex Cook. To our other leaders in the more Easterly direction I would also like to say thanks for your continuing work to promote the art and train your students.
As most of you know I have returned recently from a trip south to Uruguay where I presented a jodo seminar at the Latin American kendo and iaido championships. Jodo is present in South America with students in Chile and Brazil and now Montevideo Uruguay. To any of our senior members heading south, please get in touch so we can see if we can arrange some jodo (or iaido or kendo) training with the folks in South America. They will appreciate the opportunity and it will be a good chance to strengthen our friendships.
On the home front I would like us all to consider ways to increase the membership through local demonstrations, participation in social media and through outside advertising. For this last initiative I would ask that we all touch base with Eric Tribe so that we can coordinate our efforts. There is a lot that we can do to raise the profile of jodo (and the other arts) and we should do so as we come out of this most recent recession.
Regards,
Kim Taylor, Jodo Chief Examiner