8 February 2008 AJKF SUMMER SEMINAR FOR FOREIGN KENDO LEADERS - JAPAN Details have been received for this years seminar, the 33rd. Friday 25 July to Friday 1 August, 2008 in Kitamoto city, Saitama pref., Japan. Applcations close 14 March with the AKR Kendo Board, but earlier with state associations. Details are available from state secretaries. Full announcement below. AKR Participants for 2008 Foreign Leaders' Summer Seminar The AJKF has confirmed that this year's Foreign Leaders' Summer Seminar shall be held this year from 25th July to 1st August. The Kendo Board is now calling for nominations via state bodies for this event. Applicants and State Bodies need to consider the following points carefully: * Applications should be via the State Bodies, max 2 from each State, in order of priority. Entries received directly from individuals shall not be accepted. * Applications must reach the Kendo Board by 14th Mach 2008. * Applications need to be submitted via email on the attached form to semmlerhouse@grapevine.com.au * Application forms must be completed correctly, in full, and on time: any deficiency will result in entry being ineligible. State bodies must take responsibility for ensuring this. * Applicants and/or Club Officials are encouraged to submit an additional brief (about 1 paragraph) giving additional information regarding the applicant's current and potential future responsibilities within their club/state body. Please state whether the candidate has attended this event previously, and if so when. * By submitting an application, the State Body is confirming that the person fits all the criteria (see below), particularly that the person is fully committed to attend. * To apply is to be fully committed, withdrawal after names have been put forward to the AJKF reflects poorly on the AKR, deprives someone else from Australia of the opportunity to attend and is not acceptable unless in extreme circumstances. * If withdrawal is unavoidable, immediate notification is required. * A subsidy of $500 per person from Kendo Board applies (even if more that 2 accepted by AJKF). State Bodies and Clubs are encouraged to add to this to assist their members. The criteria to be used by the Kendo Board are: 1 Must be a financial AKR member actively training. 2 Currently acting in an instructor/assistant instructor role, has demonstrated commitment to supporting Kendo organisation at State and/or national level. 3 3 Dan or higher, typically aged late 20's to mid 40's although persons outside these age groups will be considered. 4 AKR members currently living & training in Australia will be given preference to those living overseas. 5 Those who have previously attended this camp will not be selected before those who have not previously attended. 6 Although there is usually an opportunity to attend an AJKF Dan grading examination at the conclusion of the camp, there have been sufficient opportunities to Grade up to 6 Dan in Australia in recent years, and therefore the desire to attempt a Dan grade will not be relevant to the selection. Timetable for nomination is: * 14th March - Closing date for State Body nominations to Kendo Board (max 2 from each State). State Bodies; please pass this information on to all your members, and commence your own selection/nomination procedures. A copy of the AJKF letter and application form is attached for your information. Thank you for your attention to these matters. Yakov Macak Chairman, Kendo Board TROPHY DONATIONS for KENDO and IAIDO COMPETITION Sensei Sumitaka Nagae, Kendo Kyoshi 7 dan from Melbourne was recently awarded a Special Commendation for service to Kendo by the All Japan Kendo Federation in Tokyo. To acknowledge and commemorate the occasion, Nagae sensei has donated a significant trophy tot he AKR. After consultation with the AKR Kendo Board and others, it has been decided that the Nagae sensei trophy will be awarded to the Veterans or Seniors Kendo Champion, commencing with the forthcoming 33rd Australian Kendo Championships. Sensei Katsuo Oda, Iaido Hanshi 8 dan, the AKR Iaido Technical Advisor, has also made a significant donation for a trophy to be used in an Australian based International Iaido competition. A significant trophy will be sourced and presented at the 20th Australian Iaido Championships in 2009. AUSTRALIAN KENDO SQUAD TRAINING The 3rd Australian Kendo Squad training weekend will be held on the weekend of the 16th/17th February in Adelaide at the Flinders University, Sturt Gym. This location was selected to help support WA members of the squad who have already made 2 x east coast trips as well as go some small way toward supporting kendo in S.A. The Squad will be training with local kendoka for an hour on the Sunday, also AKR members who may wish to watch any of the training session are welcome. |