A weekend of success!

Congratulations to Michelle and Anthony for their grading success in Gateshead this weekend. Michelle achieved Ikkyu and Anthony came away with Ni-dan, both amazing results and testament to their continued practice and focus, well done. Also Manchester's Rick Edmondson and Bogdan Parzych both passed their San-dan gradings.

Additionally a big congratulations to Joe and Josh, who alongside Manchester's Yutaka Matsubayashi came 3rd in the Northern Cup. The winning team also included Manchester's Tom Widdows and Rick Edmondson so it was quite a showing from North West kendo. Amazing fighting spirit from all involved as well as the other Liverpool and Manchester kendoka who graded and competed.

15th World Kendo Championships - Novara, Italy

If you didn't already know the 15th World Kendo Championships begin in 13 hours in Novara, Italy. Unless you're booked to attend or even competing you may need an alternative option to view what's going on. At this stage the All Japan Kendo Federation has set up a U-Stream page where live streaming footage should take place. If an alternative solution pops up I'll let you know. Three years ago most of the results were being shared via twitter tomorrow we may be able to witness it in as close to live as possible without actually being there, that's progress folks!

So point your web browsers here:
www.ustream.tv/channel/aj-kendo-f
and enjoy the biggest Kendo event in the world!

BKA Seminar and Kyusha Taikai - CANCELLED.

It's with regret that we've been forced to cancel the BKA Seminar and Kyusha Taikai. Unfortunately we did not secure enough pre-registrations to suggest the event would be sustainable. With a couple of other high profile events on the same day it was always going to be difficult to get numbers but the figures were even less than we expected. As a single dojo trying to put on a National event we could not afford the financial loss this would have caused.

We apologise for any inconvenience, all those who have pre-registered will receive a full refund of their registration and entry fee. Kyu grades wishing to compete in a tournament at their own level should look out for information regarding the Lidstone Taikai in London later this year.

Despite this setback we are also in discussion with the other North West dojos in organising a local Taikai. By sharing the competition we hope there will be increased support and shared risk/reward, therefore reducing the chance of cancellation.

Winter Training, week 2

Once again we threw ourselves into the fire of Winter Training with over 2000 suburi in some form or another. Numbers don't really matter, the effort in keeping together and giving your all does. Thanks to all who turned up and it's a sad farewell to Inaie Park who returns to Korea. Hopefully she'll come back and we'll see her again.

Next week is still winter training, of a sort. We will be back in hakama, keikogi and there will be bogu as well, but as Sensei said we will only use it late on in practice. Also, for all those wishing to be part of the 2012 club photograph this is your one chance to show your face. This was 2011, a veritable 'where are they now'...

Hopefully we'll see some returning faces and 2012's beginners can feature in next years photograph.

BKA Seminar and Kyusha Taikai, online booking now available, book NOW!

Booking for 2012 is available now, click here: http://www.membership.kendo.org.uk/html/book_events.php Don't forget to select the Taikai Entry in addition to the seminar if you wish to compete, and why wouldn't you?

Cardiff Regional Taikai

Joe posted this report of the Cardiff Regional Taikai at Akai Ryuu Kendo Club on Facebook

Well done to the lads. 

Yesterday was an amazing success. For everyone involved. After an early start (we left Jeff's at 6.30am), we talked kendo all the way to Cardiff, preparing ourselves for the first shiai of the year. It ws Jeff and Steve's first time so they must have been feeling slightly more nervous than myself.  

We arrived at the Akai ryuu dojo at around 9.30 and spent the first 20 mins saying hello as always happens (isn't kendo a lovely community), got changed and warmed up for a 10am start.  

We were pooled with Cheltenham, Akairyuu B and Akairyuu C. We were first on against a well experienced team from Cheltenham (the order was Jeff-senpo, Steve-chuken and myself-taisho). Jeff put in an amazing performance coming back from one men down to take it to shobu with good degote but unfortunately lost to a further men. Steve had a baptism of fire (very early on) with a strong competitor who scored two men against him. I fough John Richards who caught my men. I was lucky enough to score men back taking my match to hikiwake.  

We found ourselves going straight back on against Akairyuu B (the hosts). Jeff stormed in and nearly had raised flags for a kote and then a men and was unfortunate to end his match in hikiwake. Steve the did the same ending his match in hikiwake.  I managed to score kote against their taisho. A blinding result (2 hikiwake and a win) 

Our final match was tha last in the pool, so after some shinpan duty we got ready and went out against Akairyuu C. Jeff was very unlucky to have a point scored against him, but Steve managed a sprited effort to pull it back with a hikiwake. I knew what I had to do but was uinabl;e to gain the win we needed (sorry lads I did catch his kote 3 times but I had blocked the shinpan's line of sight!). We were very close to going through to the knock outs / semi-finals but I have to accept responsiblity for that not happening.   

I was incredibly proud of being part of the first Liverpool 3 man team to enter the Regional Welsh Taikai and even more proud to be able to fight along side Jeff and Steve. Well done lads, we'll get more points next time. We all have areas to work on and we know what they are. 

Thanks must go to James Ogle, Gary Mathlin and Anred Le Roux for organising this event and we need to plan another trip in August.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Sensei asked me to pass on his wishes that you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This year has been quite a big one for the club. We have entered more competitions than ever before and been out and about with the kendo community, making friends and building on the previous years foundations for good kendo.

We held three beginner's nights and managed to keep some of those eager to start the long kendo journey. We lost quite a few members for one reason or another but a few returned from absences which brought vital skills and spirit back to the club.

We also held our first seminar and Kyusha Taikai on behalf of the BKA, inviting Howell Sensei to impart some of his vast knowledge into our training. The event went with only a few hitches, to be expected considering it was our first time, but overall it was a great success with around 40 people attending the weekend and 8 of the 24 kyusha competitors being home-grown and one of these coming 3rd.

2012 will be very different no doubt. We will still be holding the BKA Seminar and Kyusha Taikai on 31st March/1st April 2012 but whether we can field the same numbers as last year is hard to say. A number of us will be attempting gradings, ranging from ikkyu to sandan and your continued input and support will be invaluable in helping us be successful.

A reminder also that some may need to renew their BKA membership. If you have had problems recently it's because the dojo has also had to renew it's membership, this includes the insurance cover for both Sensei and those of us with the Coaching level. If you've had problems then they should be sorted by the end of the week [or next] so please try again, it should be OK.

And lastly a reminder of the training dates over the festive period and beyond, please try and make Wednesday's last practice of 2011:

Monday 19th December [kata] CLOSED
Wednesday 21st December, last practice of 2011
Wednesday 28th December CLOSED

2012
Wednesday 4th January, first practice of 2012 [Winter Training, tracksuits, no bogu required]Wednesday 11th January [Winter Training, tracksuits, no bogu required]
Monday 16th January [kata]
Wednesday 18th January [Club photograph]
Wednesday 25th January [beginner's night]

Thank you once again for your efforts over 2011.

Sir Frank Bowden Taikai 2011 - Round 1 Liverpool Vs Kobudokan

Sorry about the delay in posting this, I've actually uploaded the three sets of matches between ourselves, Kobudokan, Mumeishi and eventual winners Wakaba. Here are the Kobudokan matches:

Senpo -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEU0AfZYboc

Jiho -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UCN7uXqdRI

Chuken -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqgH0h_jDUU

Fukusho -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-xhmi5dBhc

Taisho -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5je8EN_QHoY

I'll post the remaining links once I've cleaned up all the youtube descriptions. It was a good day and overall the impression was that we fought well [although my 40 second match with Safraz Aziz will not sit alongside my highlights of the day :( ] Regardless, thanks for all your efforts we will continue to improve, as always.

Sir Frank Boden Memorial Taikai 2011

Once again members of Liverpool Kendo Club will go forth to compete in the biggest team even in the kendo calendar. It's a team that will feature old hands and new blood so we hope to go in with strong fighting spirit and see what we can achieve. The team features:

• Richard Crosbie
• Anthony Francis
• Martin O'Shaugnessy
• Dave Weston
• Joe Willmott

We'll try to update the blog as the action goes down.

The Northern Open / The Komatsu Cup

Good luck to the two teams we are sending to The Northern Open / The Komatsu Cup this weekend. Hopefully you'll get some good experiences in Gateshead and show good fighting spirit on behalf of your club.

Hopefully Joe shoud be keeping me informed over the day so I can post updates online.

Ganbatte - Do your best!

Referee Seminar - Stoke

It may be late in the day for some but there is a Referee Seminar in Stoke tomorrow. Time 10:00 - 17:00 Cost: £10 You may pay on the door. Seminar lead Mike Davis. This is an excellent opportunity to practice your referee skills with one of the best instructors. Please also note that this is also an opportunity for shiai practice.

The venue is:
Wallace Sport and Education Centre, Abbotts Road, Abbey Hulton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 8DU

We went on this course last year and it was extremely rewarding, you can read my review here:
http://kendo.org.uk/2010/06/23/referee-seminar-kagami-shin-kendo-club-stoke-19-06-10/

If you can make the effort to go then you won't be disappointed.

Bowden 2011 - POSTPONED

It's been confirmed that this years Sir Frank Bowden Taikai and Premiers Cup on Saturday and Sunday 4th/5th June has been postponed. I'll post more information as and when but early reports suggest it may be moved to September.

BKA Seminar and Kyusha Taikai 2011 - Videos

Finally I've got the videos uploaded to Youtube from the BKA Kyusha Taikai, sponsored by http://www.eurokendo.com/

Knockout 4, Enoch Cheung Vs Alan McCarthy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLBEk5jO6FE
Knockout 5, Philip Law Vs Kimry Coleman - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTX14eNzTH8
Knockout 6, Graham Williams Vs Kenneth Douglas - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy_afcBKfk8
Knockout 7, Andy Checkley Vs John Paul Cain - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgct8hLlDPQ
Knockout 8, Ben Greenhalgh Vs Brenden Roche - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1IkSHcC-YY
Quarter final 1, Richard Crosbie Vs Anthony Francis - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB7uhIUT9a0
Quarter final 2, Tatos Shahbazian Vs Alan McCarthy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ3fJ1Q7Aik
Quarter final 3, Philip Law Vs Kenneth Douglas - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UihU7UXY-8o
Quarter final 4, Andy Checkley Vs Ben Greenhalgh - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZaoz6v3ksw
Semi-final 1, Richard Crosbie Vs Tatos Shabazian - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPOvF8Df0DM
Semi-final 2, Philip Law Vs Ben Greenhalgh - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u2KGnpOAqs
Final, Tatos Shahbazian Vs Philip Law - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z5z4FHcQhk
Presentation ceremony - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo1jcTDxkOU

Let me know if I've made any mistakes with those titles and links.

Statistically speaking

I'm continuing the task of recording all the aspects from last weekend and the task 'du jour' was to prepare some score sheets we can use in the future and also that we can record 2011's results for posterity. 24 people entered the British Kendo Association Kyusha Taikai, of which eight were members of Liverpool Kendo Club. These were:

• Mulyo Rutherford
• Joseph Smith
• Andy Checkley
• Anthony Francis
• John Paul Cain
• Richard Crosbie
• Alan McCarthy, and
• Geoff Cunliffe

Of these eight, five went through to the second round of 16 individuals. Four of the five went through to the final eight (that's half the quarter finals were Liverpool Kendo Club!). By the semis there was only Richard left to uphold the dojo's honour and secured a third place spot.

These results were fantastic for us with the statistics proving we can stand tall amongst the other clubs taking part. There were plenty of achievements for all, from first taikais to third time in armour! We showed what we are made of and will build on this foundation for next year. Thanks for your efforts.

Thinking ahead

I've just added a couple of dates to the Liverpool Calendar that may be of interest to us in the future. Firstly the Bowden Taikai on Saturday the 4th June (with the Premiers Cup on the Sunday). Secondly there is the Stoke Seminar and grading on the 16th and 17th of July. There's a grading in Watchett, Somerset, before then but as Stoke is the nearest grading event to us it's usually the 'grading of choice' for those who have thoroughly got the bug having been 'blooded' in the Kyusha Taikai.

I'll add more dates to the calendar as time goes on but if you want to check in advance what's on the BKA Events Calendar it's here:

http://kendo.org.uk/bka-calendar/

BKA Seminar and Kyusha Taikai 2011 - Liverpool

Well that's it for 2011. Thanks go out to Howell Sensei and Schofield Sensei for their patience, tuition and understanding over the two days. I would like to thank all those that traveled to Liverpool, in particular those that believed 'the North' was another country. I hope they all had a good time and will let everyone in their dojo know if they did. We learned a lot from all our kendoka friends who visited and I'll be sending out feedback forms so we can improve the event for next year and their dojo's beginners who will follow in their footsteps.

I will collate all the photographs and videos I took over the weekend and have them online via youtube and flickr [I hope no one minds] as soon as possible and let everyone know here. I'll also write a report but if anyone wants to share their thoughts about the event to other BKA members I'd love to see it. All that's left is to say thank you once again, give you the result and say we'll see you next year.

BKA Kyusha Taikai 3rd April 2011, Liverpool

First - Tatos Shahbazian, Hizen Dojo
Second - Philip Law, UCL [I think]
Third - Richard Crosbie, Liverpool
Third -Ben Greenhalgh, Doshinkenyukai

And I think Fighting Spirit also went to Philip Law

Well done all!

OH, it's kata on Monday, although I will not be there and it will be practice as normal on Wednesday so please put to good use any knowledge you have gained from this weekend we will be discussing things further the week after next...

BKA Seminar and Kyusha Taikai tomorrow

After months of preparations 'the event', first revealed on the 26th November, is finally upon us. If you haven't registered yet [why not?] you can still pay on the day. For any beginners who wish to come along to watch and help out on Sunday they are more than welcome, you should know the address by now - Hope University Taggart Avenue. For everyone else - see you all tomorrow 9.30am for a prompt 10.00am start. Safe journey and don't forget bogu, shinai, tenegui, BKA book and your fighting spirit!

Getting to Hope University for the BKA Seminar and Kyusha Taikai

For all those travelling to Hope University by car and in particular those coming from the M62. Currently there are roadworks in one direction at Taggart Avenue so the best approach is via the Five Ways Roundabout on the A5058 taking Childwall Priory Road. You will come to a triangular shaped roundabout which you can only go one way until you double back to Taggart Avenue. I will adjust the Google map to show what I'm talking about.

Additionally I've been told there should be a refectory open on campus for light food should anyone not bring a packed lunch.

Kiai during warm up

Thanks to everyone for their efforts in supporting the new format for the warm up. Kendo clubs around the country have different ways of doing things. In particular this type of warm up with kiai is very popular in other dojos. It's a high energy start to a lesson, without high impact, builds fighting spirit and dojo cohesion and helps practice your kiai.


I have the firm belief that letting go of inhibitions in your kiai is the quickest way to feel part of the club, to feel like you are actually taking part and contributing. Also your progress in things like footwork, cutting, following through and later waza can seem long winded and often non-existent. At least putting your all into how you shout is something everyone can do, regardless of experience!

As this is such a common warm up elsewhere and it will be an ideal way to set the tone at the BKA seminar and Kyusha Taikai we will be continuing this format. I hope everyone takes the opportunity to give it their best. Just in case here's a reminder of what I say:


"ichi, ni, san, shi " (1,2,34)
and you respond:
"go,  roku, shichi,  hachi" (5,6,7,8)

That's not to say our more relaxed warm up won't return. No doubt on our next Beginner's Night on Wednesday April 27, it will return. It's much easier to get the first lot of warm up exercise done properly and safely with a bit of instruction.

If you have any thoughts about the new format let me know, either by the comments or on the forum.

Eurokendo sponsors the Kyusha Taikai

As previously mentioned Eurokendo the online kendo suppliers will be in attendance at the BKA Seminar and Kyusha Taikai. Young Park will be bringing his stock to the seminar and taikai so if you want to make any advance orders so you can pick your items up in person then check out what's on offer. For many kyu grades this may be the first opportunity to get to 'handle the goods' before you buy, so don't miss out.

The latest news update is that Eurokendo have also agreed to sponsor a new trophy to be presented to the winner of the Kyusha Taikai. Eurokendo has sponsored many kendo events all around Europe and it's an honour to have the Kyusha Taikai acknowledged alongside such events. Thanks to Young Park for his increased support of our event.