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Vale Kyohei Fujiie

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Vale     藤家 教平様　 Fujiie  Kyohei   1953 - 2021 It is with great sadness that I must convey the passing of Mr Kyohei Fujiie, husband of Tomoko Fujiie, father of Rodan Fujiie and founder of Benalla Renshinkan Dojo. He died on 30 December in Shepparton Hospital from complications arising from COVID-19. Kyohei established Benalla Renshikan Kendo Club in 2008. Kyohei and Tomoko were regular visitors to Nanseikan in the intervening years, usually starting their journey at 5.00am to get to Nanseikan in time for training. In recent years he and Tomoko also trained in Tatsumi Ryu Hyoho with the Melbourne Koryu Kenkyukai. Outside of martial arts, Kyohei learned the guitar so that he could perform with Tomoko in the ensembles which are her passion.  Kyohei was a warm, thoughtful, compassionate, and eternally inquisitive man. He took the meaning of his given name “to teach peace” seriously.  His training was in youth counselling and education and he worked with young people with special needs, ofte
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Seasons Greetings and take care

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  Merry Christmas, happy Hannukah and happy holidays. After a difficult year, may 2022 be much better for all! Nanseikan will be closed for all of January. If you wish to train elsewhere in that time, please take care and I would strongly suggest going back to wearing a mask and/or face shield at all times when training. See you on 5 February for the start of our 20th anniversary year!
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Holiday homework

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  As promised, here is a short video of what to do over the break if you're at home; or on holiday for that matter! A little bit of practice every day will keep your skills sharp. You'll even learn new things about your Kendo, I guarantee it! For experienced people with their own bogu, you are welcome to train at any VKR or AKR dojo in the meantime, so long as you contact the dojo first and you are fully vaxed or have a legit medical exemption. All VKR clubs' contact details are here: https://www.kendovictoria.asn.au/main/kendo-clubs/ And keep an eye on your email inbox for notification of some extra NSK trainings during January. Season's Greetings, stay safe, and here's to 2022 being a year when we can reconnect with those we have missed over the last two years.
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No training next Wednesday night 1st December 2021

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 Take the night off! :)
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Fun and instructional videos

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   These two videos are well worth a look. Firstly, from a channel that is uploading lots of "Kendo vs..." videos lately, this is the first one I've seen where someone with a high level of Kendo skill is up against a fencer. I'm not sure if the epee-ist is as skilled but it is an interesting match.  This video is more interesting from a technical and cultural point of view. It shows a demonstration shiai at the 88th Kyoto Taikai held at the Butokuden in 1992. The two competitors are Sugawara Keizaburo (on left) and Nakakura Kiyoshi (the taller sensei, who featured in the story I told last Saturday at training). Both sensei were 9th dan. George McCall has a great article listing all the 9th dans  here , including the rationale and history behind the higher dan grades. What I love about this match is how spirited it is. There have been 'generational shifts' in Kendo (as George observes in the linked article) according to how and where the major Kendo teachers we
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Important: new dates and kyu grading guidelines for 2022

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  Here is an important announcement from Macak sensei and the Victorian Kendo Technical Committee regarding changes to grading requirements. Please read carefully> To All VKR Kendo Clubs Kyu Grading Examinations in 2022 Given the achievement of the 80% double vaccinated target in Victoria most clubs are now either back to training, or soon will be. It looks like we are nearly back to normal, although none of us can foresee what lies in the future. There will be some significant changes to the way Kyu Grading Examinations will be conducted in Victoria in 2022 and Clubs and potential Grading Panellists should take the following items into consideration when they are planning for next year. VKR Seminar : As we did early this year, we will start the year off with a seminar currently scheduled for Sat/Sun 12/13 March. This is also the Labor Day long weekend, so please make a note in your calendar. It is expected that 3rd to 1st Kyu and 1st to 4th Dan Grading examinations will be schedule
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Training starts this week + Ballarat Taikai + All Japan winner Hoshiko!

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  Training starts back officially this week! We will be training for the next six weeks. Our last Saturday training will be 11 December and last Wednesday 15 December. Soon has put his hand up again to take the beginners course, which will also start this Saturday. Thanks Soon. As usual beginners will start at 9am and finish at 10am. Main class will be 10 am to 12 noon. Ballarat Taikai Those gutsy folks from the Ballarat Kendo Club, one of Victoria's oldest clubs, will be going ahead with their annual taikai. If you are keen to take part, please see Mick at training or send him an email at competition.nanseikan at gmail. Schedule below. Uchimura sensei's kote I'm pretty sure this is the kote I mentioned at training last night but it's much lower resolution than I remember seeiing back in the day, so the broken tsuru is not visible. This is a great compilation of all the other times Uchimura has scored kote in high level competition. You can get a sense of his style: usu
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Coming out of lockdown 6! Return to in-dojo training

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It looks as if, everything going to plan, we can return to the dojo on 6 November, the day after we reach phase C of the Victorian Roadmap (80% 16+ fully vaxxed).  This will of course depend on hearing an announcement from the Health Dept. It may even come earlier because Victorians are enthusiastically getting vaccinated which is wonderful.  It means that all members over the age of 12 will need to provide evidence of their full vaccination status on their first training back at the dojo. The best way to do this is to show a copy of your vaccination certificate (example below) downloaded from your MyGov account. Hard copy or just on your phone screen, either is fine. When you do come back to the dojo you will get to meet our newest member...
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COVID safe shinpan and shiai rules - English subtitled video

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  Let me know your thoughts or questions about this in the comments.
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Important COVID update on Kendo training for end of 2021 - Vic roadmap out of lockdown 6

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Hi everyone, please see below the message from Michael Dunn to all VKR members regarding events and issues related to return to training in November. ==================================================================== Dear all,    See below for a number of updates regarding the current COVID-19 situation. Please forward to your members.    1. Kendo Grading    As per the discussion at the State Council and previous emails, as we did not return to training by 20 September, there will be no Kendo Gradings held in October.  This also means that there will be no any Dan Kendo Gradings for the rest of 2021. The next Dan Kendo Grading opportunity will be in 2022.  It is also unlikely that we will be able to hold Kyu Kendo Grading in November as the recently announced Victorian Government COVID Roadmap indicates that indoor community sports will not reopen until 5 November 2021.  The VKR/VKTC will advise Clubs in October if there will be any Kyu Gradings in November.    2. Iaido/Jodo Grading 
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Training continue on Zoom through the holidays | some interesting videos

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Chiba sensei's Oji waza by ichibyoshi We're continuing training via Zoom on Saturdays and Wednesdays throughout the holidays since, well, no-one's going anywhere so why not? :) Usual Zoom times: Wed 5.30 to 6pm, Sat 10 to 11am. At today's training we were looking about seme and short techniques, particularly using the right foot for seme then holding that moment ( tame - 溜め) before cutting men or kote with a small movement. The video of Chiba sensei above shows this particularly well.  And while I was searching I came across this gem again. Best subs on a Kendo video! The culprit is none other than our own Kenji sensei from MUKEN. Cheeky but still informative. :D Lastly, we were also talking about ways to train against people of different levels and particularly against sensei. This excellent video is about Muay Thai but Kendo people will see and hear a lot of similar concepts.
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VKR online seminars

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The VKR will be running some online seminars that utilise the expertise of various members of the Victorian Kendo community. These seminars are free to attend. and highly recommended. Nanseikan members please keep an eye on your email inbox for details on how to register. If you do not receive this email, please contact Andrew E via announcements.nanseikan at gmail. 
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Latest COVID news regarding VKR events - VKC, gradings, etc 2021-22

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 from the VKR President: Victorian Kendo Championships 2021 Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, lockdown uncertainty and other events scheduled for the end of the year, the VKR State Council agreed that it would not be viable to hold a Victorian Kendo Championships in 2021 (even in a reduced or alternative format). Accordingly, the event has been cancelled for 2021 and refunds will be issued to all clubs and participants. Please allow 5 to 10 business days for this to be reflected in your accounts. Planning for the 2022 Event will commence in due course.   Kendo Grading Update   As previously advised, Kendo gradings for September were postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. At the State Council meeting on the weekend, the VKTC presented two contingency plans for potentially conducting Kendo gradings in October or November this year depending on when COVID restrictions are eased.   The first option (Kyu and Dan gradings to be held in October 2021), relied on indoor Kendo training resu
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Excellent Kendo articles from Nittaidai sensei

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    Here are three articles by the three Nittaidai sensei who recently held some online seminars. These articles are free to access on the Kendo Jidai website.    "The Complete Shinai Manipulation Guide"  by Yagisawa Makoto 八木沢先生『完全なる竹刀操作』 English ： https://kendojidai. com/2021/03/08/the-complete- shinai-manipulation-guide/ 日本語： https://kendojidai.net/ 2021/03/08/the-complete- shinai-manipulation-guide/   "Seme Footwork (Ashi-sabaki)" by Furusawa Nobuaki 古澤先生『足さばき』 English  ： https://kendojidai.com/2020/ 10/12/seme-ashi/ 日本語： https://kendojidai.net/ 2020/10/12/seme-ashi/   Kendo Article by Shinzato Chikano   新里先生『剣道研究室』 English  ： https://kendojidai.com/2021/ 02/01/shinzato-chikano/ 日本語： https://kendojidai.net/ 2021/02/01/shinzato-chikano/  
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All September gradings postponed indefinitely; no term fees due for term 3

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 As mentioned at training it is now official. All gradings have been put on hold until further notice. This also includes the online training for officials. Please see the VKR President's message below. Also, there are no fees due for term 3 training as yet. When we return to train in the dojo we will collect fees only for the remaining number of weeks of the term. ____________________________________________________________________________ Dear all,    As everyone would be aware, COVID cases have continued to increase in Melbourne and as of today (Saturday), Regional Victoria is now back in lockdown.    While the lockdown is due to end on 2 September, it seems likely that this will be extended or at least it is uncertain when indoor training and events will be possible.    Accordingly, following discussions between the VKR and VKTC this week, and considering the current COVID situation and the need for clubs to have returned to training prior to any potential grading, we can unfor
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Lockdown 6 extension -- Zoom classes continue; if lockdown ends 2 Sept we will return to the dojo on 4 Sept.

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 Be kind to all including yourselves. Stay safe and active, in that order! 😊
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How to tie your do himo

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No dojo training due to snap lockdown no. 6 - pivoting to Zoom training Saturday 10 am to 11am, Wed 5.30 to 6pm. Start of beginners' course will be delayed one week. EOM

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Reminder to approve your zekken design if you have ordered from Zen-Sankei

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After you have placed your zekken order with Zen Sankei, they will send you a digital image of the zekken's layout with your name as it will appear.  You must respond to this email and let them know if is correct or not. They will not go ahead with production of your zekken until you do. If you recently ordered one, please keep an eye out for this email. Please check your spam and junk mail as well. If you use Gmail you might find it gets diverted to the 'Promotions' inbox.
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Training is back in the dojo again! From tomorrow night...

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Great news, lockdown eased from tonight! That means tomorrow night's training from 6.30 to 8pm will be in person, in the dojo. And Saturday classes will start from this coming Saturday, also in person, in the dojo, from 10am to 12noon. Please observe the same protocols as previously: check in with QR code or sign in sanitise hands regularly no getting changed in the dojo - come to training in kendogi and hakama minimise what you touch minimise kiai masks at all times while training maintain social distance as much as possible DONT COME TO TRAINING IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS. GET TESTED. And get vaccinated. Flying to Japan is way more risky! See you at training! :)
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