Upcoming BKA events

Over on the club forum, which you should all be a member of but just in case, there are a number of notices regarding upcoming BKA events and our attempts to 'organise' our participation in them.

This years Bowden takes place on the 5th and 6th of June in Reading again. If you would like to state your interest in participating or even coming along to watch [if there is room] then please make a note on the message or speak to Joe or Oscar, preferably tonight or next Wednesday.

Also there is a referee seminar on June the 19th in Stoke. It's £15, pay on the day and doors open 9:00am for a 10:00am start. I think it'll finish around 4ish. Attendance is a grading requirement for Sandan and above. However there is a lot to be learned about shiai and competition from these courses. If you're perhaps interested in seeing how these things go and the thought of travelling to the Bowden just to watch is daunting then Stoke may be a better option and you may get to take part as well. Usually refereeing requires a match to take place so if you are not refereeing you may actually be fencing, or observing so it's a good gig for any level.

Again, expressions of interest on the forum, Joe or Dave tonight.

Hiroshi Ozawa Sensei Passes Hachidan

Hiroshi Ozawa Sensei who has visited Liverpool Kendo Club on numerous occassions has achieved the very difficult Hachidan grade [the highest available in kendo]. This test is considered one of the hardest grading procedures in the world and was immortalised in a National Geographic documentary.

The Kyoto grading took place on the 1st and 2nd of May - on the first day, from 751 participants, 9 passed (1.2% pass rate). The second day saw 12 from 779 pass (1.5% pass rate). Ozawa Sensei was one of the nine people that passed on the first day. Our deep felt congratulations go out to Ozawa Sensei and we look forward to seeing him again when he vists next or at the seminars he attends, hosted in Stoke.