Volume 5 Issue 4

 Editor:  Dave Christman

JUNE 2003
**NEWSFLASH**Guelph Trip Charles Ham is organizing a road trip to Ontario, to the Guelph School of Japanese Sword Arts Seminar. That is July 17-20th.  Call him if you live in Michigan and want to hook up with other martial artists, who are going.(734-424-0294). I can't go this year, but I am going next year. 

Summer Camp I'm pleased to announce we have an answer to our request for a AUSKF - sponsored sensei for our summer camp. He is Thomas Hooper, Kendo 6th dan Renshi, Iaido 6th dan Renshi. From the Ken Zen dojo in New York City. Besides the normal kendo practices there will be practices held for iaido also. This will make history for our summer camp, as it will be the first time any iaido has been offered in the weekend's curriculum. 
Dr. DEB & PETER B. Back on May 31st, I had a chance to practice Jodo briefly with Peter Boylan and Dr. Deborah Klens-Bigman. I was late getting there, so they had already covered the kihon (basics). I did get a chance to see the first 2 kata in the ZNKR Jodo seitei gata. I then reverted to just an errand boy who volunteered to drive Dr. Deb (as we call her) from Peter's to the EMU campus to visit with some of the EMU iaido people. There at EMU, Dr. Deb introduced me to the MSR chuden set "Hasegawa" of iaido kata, as she knows it. I'm really looking forward to learning this, I know it will take years. Dr. Deb was in the area to visit with Alexanian sensei in Lansing (Tamiya Ryu). Charles and Peter had previous family commitments, and Charles was just stealing a bit of Dr. Deb's knowledge for the EMU students, Dr. Deb was stealing some of Peter's knowledge about Jodo, and I was there just as a flat out total thief. Anyway, there is some talk about Peter agreeing to get together with interested people maybe, and doing a bit of Jodo on alternate Saturdays at EMU. I  would very much be interested in that myself. If anyone in B.C. is interested, let me know.
NEW BABY!  Robert Wayne Covill was born June 6th, to Mr. Robert and Kendra Covill, he weighed 7 lbs, 12 oz and was 19 and 1/2 inches. His dad's nickname in the dojo is 'Lil' Bob, because we have another older and slightly bigger Bob in the dojo. With this new Bob we have to dream up a new nickname for him........how about "Fresh newbob" or "Lil Bob2"

DEMO at WMU On Friday, June 20th, Nate DeBoer and I gave a iaido demonstration at WMU in the Bernhard Center. We were invited  to provide a kendo and iaido demonstration for my friend Dr. Crapo. He was hosting a national summer camp for the Seidokan Aikido Organization. This is my old home aikido dojo and my local sensei, I would never turn him down. So we went, and despite of Nate's nervousness, we did very well, and I was very proud of our performance. Even if all we can did was the ZNKR seitei gata. We did all twelve kata. Afterwards we stuck around, and watched many other demos done by local Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Martial artists. I was fascinated, I should have immediately gone home after my demo to pack for a four day Canadian fishing trip, but I stuck around to see those other people, Judo, Uechi-Ryu, Isshin-Ryu, Kung Fu, Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, etc. 

KAMIDANA  Dojo member Stefano Lassini recently returned from Japan and brought the dojo a wonderful gift. A three-shrine Kamidana, already built, including all the accessories. I've always wanted one for our dojo, I was so pleased. Thanks again Sam (Stefano's nickname). Now we need to research the proper way of dedicating and installing it. Anyone out there a Shinto priest? Write me with instructions.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

KALAMAZOO: MWKF Summer Camp....Aug 8-10 On the beautiful Kalamazoo College campus. Tom Hooper sensei from KenZen dojo in NYC will be our head instructor. That means iaido will be offered for the first time. Download registration forms here

CHARLESTON: AUSKF National Summer Camp......Oct. 11-12 Being held at Citadel University in South Carolina. Top instructors from Japan and the U.S. will be there. A national testing board will hold a test for 1st through 7th dan.

FOR SALE:Toshiba Digital Camera PDR-M1(1.5 megapixels) with 2 smart media cards.......$100   e-mail Dave   dtc12(nospam)@comcast.net to reach me just remove the (nospam) from the previous address.

 

                      New Monthly Feature

I've collected a lot of stories, quotes, koans, and haiku. Here is one I really like:

"Dwell close to the earth, meditate deep into the heart.

Deal gently and kindly with others, speak the truth.

Work competently, time your actions carefully,

Where there is no fight, there is no blame."

  (Lao Tzu)                   

 

e-mail the editor: let me know your comments at:  dtc12(nospam)@comcast.net to reach me just remove the (nospam) from previous address.

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