Beginners night's all right for fighting.

A record 21 beginners braved the fog to try out kendo and with a bit of luck we'll see some if not all [now wouldn't that be amazing!] of you next week. For those that are excited enough to return don't forget to subscribe to both the RSS feeds to this news page and the google calendar on the training page. This way you will be kept up-to-date on all the latest news and when practice, including kata nights takes place.

Also if your totally smitten by kendo then sign up our forum and we'll try to answer any kendo questions you may have. Once again congratulations on making the effort to come along and we'll see you next week for more of the same.

Gender realignment

For the foreseeable future we will be swapping changing rooms. Gents will be changing in the ladies and ladies will be changing in the gents. It's all to do with size, as is often the case, but the ladies changing room is bigger and with more men in the club it will speed up changing to have more space. This will be of particular benefit when there are visitors.

Sorry for the confusion but please as a courtesy try to remember and possibly give a call or knock just in case this news doesn't filter through.

Back to the grind!

Now 'winter training' and it's fun and pulled muscles are out of the way it's back to normal practice, with full armour, kihon and ji-geiko.

If we can start as we mean to go on and try to be on time and ready to practice, with minimum chatter we will all learn more and get more out of the training. If you need any questions answered or wish to discuss anything about kendo or the club then sign up for our message board and we'll help you out.

This year we will be visited by a number of high grade sensei so we must show we are improving not just our kendo but our dojo etiquette as well. The next beginner's night is scheduled for Wednesday 28th January so we will also need to set a good example to them.

A reminder, there is still chance to apply to grade in Glasgow, 20th - 22nd February. Grading applications must be sent before the 21st January and you will have to discuss it with Billy on his return. All the information is on the British Kendo Association website.

New year, new kendo!

As all you techno-savvy people who've plugged the Liverpool Kendo Calendar into their RSS reader will already know our first practice of the new year, kata that is, is on Monday 5th 2009. Usual time, usual place.

First practice back at 'the Egg' is Wednesday the 7th and it's Winter practice so remember suburi bukuto's, training pants, a strong spirit and you can leave the bogu at home!

Lastly, Nic is organising the meal at Etsu for the Friday so email her if your available.

The perfect Christmas gift for the kendoka who has everything

We've just set up a Spreadshirt shop. Currently there is a choice of a hoody or T-shirt both in traditional Aizome blue.

You can visit the shop here: http://400845.spreadshirt.net/en/GB/Shop

If you are interested in buying then you could be in luck as there is currently 15% off until the 20th of November. All you have to do is enter the voucher code

EARLYSHOPPING

while in the shopping basket. Incidentally no commission is made by the club or individual on these items. They're purely to promote the club in the wider world

If you have any other wants in designs just let us know in the forum.

Congratulations!

To Joe on passing his Shodan grading at the weekend.

Also Liverpool Old-Boy Chris Keegan put in a good showing to gain Ni-Dan.

Dave and Ben, better luck next time, lots to think about.

British Open Kendo Championships

The Carter family put in another showing at the British Open Kendo Championships. Oscar taking second place, well done. The results were as follows

1st Place - Collins (Nagamitsu)
2nd Place - Carter Oscar (Liverpool)
3rd Place - O'Donnell
3rd Place - C.Hollingsworth (Nagamitsu)

Fighting Spirit - Joshua Pullar (Tora Dojo London)

Apparently Ben came away with a couple of draws as well. Good effort!