Volume 6 Issue 4

Volume 6 Issue 4

Editor: Dave Christman

June/July 2004

NEWS FLASH ! Matsuura sensei has passed the exam for GODAN in Las Vegas. He successfully finished up the kata portion of his exam, and comes home Battle Creek's first godan member. CONGRATULATIONS !

Camp Scholarships Awarded: The two Scholarships available these year to help struggling kendoka have been awarded. 1) AUSKF National Summer camp goes to Andrew Watts from the Choyokan Dojo. 2) MWKF Summer camp goes to Kanno Takeyoshi from Chicago Kendo Dojo.

Kan sensei visited: Katsuhiko Kan, our buddy from Detroit ( 6th dan ) visited us on June 27th, and gave the advanced people some valuable tips and showed them some techniques, while I took the beginners, afterward he and I went out for a couple of Killian's at the Moonraker, as the Hunt Club was still in-between the old building and the new building. Kan was still grieving over his sensei in Japan who passed away, Nishiyama. as was announced here in this newsletter and at the MWKF site.

Sprucing Up: As some of you may have noticed, the dojo has been repainted and a lot of things removed. This was due to the Hapkido Club moving out to their own place. They have a new building just 3 blocks south of us on Goguac Street. I worked over the 4th of July weekend of dump a lot of old garbage and I re-arranged some of our bokken and shinai storage. Changed a shower curtain or two. But the real help came when Big Bob Mack, Mrs. Bob, and Terry Tokuhiro volunteered their time to help paint, and refreshen up the dojo. I really appreciate their help. Big Bob has a thing about dust bunnies, so he went on a bunny hunt. Even as far as searching them out on top of the lights at 11 feet off the ground. We are now the only club using the facilities, and I'm actually happier that way

(Left) Terry grabbed a roller, and did over 50% of the walls himself.

(Right) Mrs. Bob (real name is Noriko) wanted to help too, so she painted our official white lines for a 29 foot square shiai-jo, so if were want we can simulate a shiai, and call hansoku, for going out of bounds.

After 5 hours work, we went out to the new re-modeled Hunt Club ( our favorite watering-hole ) and soaked up the new decor there and I treated all to drinks and appetizers

Nafuda Kake ! Nafoo what?? You may say....If you look above the desk in the dojo, you'll see a nametag board, hand made out of oak. It is the official list of "members in good standing" in the Battle Creek Kendo Kai. When you join and pay dues to the dojo you will have a nameplate in oak made for you, and placed in the appropriate area for your rank. If you come to the dojo and don't see your name, you are behind in your dues. Pay up, and the next week it will be back up.

UPCOMING EVENTS
	AUSKF Kendo camp: Jul 23/24/25, AUSKF Summer Camp. Will be in Las Vegas. MWKF Summer Camp: We have scheduled this for August 6 - 8th. It will be held again at Kalamazoo College. We will be hosting Yamanaka sensei ( 8th dan) from Saitama, Japan. He will be our guest instructor for this summer's camp. For info: MWKF Kanto Visit: A group of top university students from the Kanto area (Japan) will be touring the US and Canada in late August, and they may be making a stop in Detroit. This will be an excellent opportunity to practice with topnotch college-age people. Keep in tune for this. For info: MWKF MWKF Tournament: To be announced.

New Monthly Feature


	I've collected a lot of stories, quotes, koans, poems and haiku. Here is one I really like: Overcome regret and fear through meditation. Join in harmony with the universe through the kata. Take life in your hands and squeeze every second to the last drop. Enter all your daily activities as if were your last day. Hariya Sekuin (Master swordsman) 1592 - 1662

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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