Calling all dan grades.

Sensei would like a quiet word before practice on Wednesday. Please be available as soon as possible.

Glasgow grading.

News hot off the text is that Ben Hughes has passed his Shodan at the Glasgow grading today. Also Liverpool Old-Boy Chris Carey also hit the first dan mark. Congratulations to both.

Unfortunately Rob was unsuccessful, better luck next time.

Kobudokan venue change

For those that may be interested in visiting some of the other clubs in the north-west it appears that Stockport based Kobudokan Kendo Club has a new venue. Somehow they managed to move inside the M60 and are now based at

The Dance Hall,

Didsbury Sports Campus of Manchester University,

Wilmslow Road,

Didsbury,

M20 2RR

They practice Mondays 8:30 - 10:00 pm so every other Monday we're not doing kata you could visit the club which is now the haunt for GB Team Captain Andy Fisher no less.

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.