Practice for the rest of January will be suspended, due concerns of Omicron variant infections increasing across the country. Below is a message from DFWKIK Board President, Masayuki Mizuuchi-Sensei. Please e-mail the webmaster if you are not on the e-mailing list or are not currently receiving e-mails from DFWKIK at this time.

“DFWKIK members,

With the Omicron variant wreaking havoc around the nation, the All United States Kendo Federation is strongly urging a suspension of in person practice of Iaido and Kendo.

Your elected Board members have made the tough decision and agreed to suspend In Person practice for the remainder of the month. We hope to resume in person practice in February if we see improvement with COVID cases. We plan on starting virtual practices soon so please keep an eye out for an invitation from Navarro Sensei for the date / time / link.

We have contacted Greenhill and informed them that we will not need the space and are hopeful we will not be billed for these rentals. If Greenhill does not charge us for these canceled practices, the board agreed to pass these savings onto the membership in the form of discounted membership dues for January. We will communicate to the membership once Greenhill makes their decision on the charges.

In the meantime, we strongly suggest getting the COVID vaccines along with boosters for all members. Though breakthrough cases are occurring at higher rates, vaccinations are helping prevent severe illness.

If there are any questions, please feel free to ask any board member.

Thank you,

Masayuki Mizuuchi “

The entrance to Hornet Rd. from Midway traffic flow going North will be closed tonight.
Here is a map of both entrances to the Greenhill school. Those students traveling on Midway going North(That would be those who exit Midway from 635) The Spring Valley entrance/south parking lot is displayed below on the photo.

Those students who travel going South on Midway(from Trinity Mills/Belt Line) can still use the Hornet Rd. entrance/parking lot.

Effective immediately, DFWKIK will require Face Masks that cover the nose and mouth during all practices to stay in line with the updated Mask Mandate issued by Dallas County.

Kendo practitioners will go back to wearing face masks in addition to face shields when wearing the men.

In addition to wearing face masks, we strongly encourage all members to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to further prevent the spread / prevent serious symptoms / prevent hospitalization.

Please reach out to any board member if you have any questions.

New dojo jackets are available and can be paid for on the Online payments page. If you would like one be sure to let Jess Alvarez know and either pay online or with a check to Verastigue-Sensei

Here is the design below:

As COVID-19 cases continue to decline and vaccinations become more readily available, the Board has decided to return to In-Dojo practice resuming Thursday June 3rd, 2021!

Schedule will return to our pre-covid practice times on Thursdays and Sundays. In person Tuesday practices will be omitted in favor of virtual practices.

Members participating In Dojo practice are expected to resume paying membership dues. If you are not planning on returning at this time, the Board has temporarily lifted the “reinitiation” due for those that have taken an extended break from the dojo but plan on returning.

As we transition back to practicing within the dojo, please take the time to go over the provided document to understand what to expect upon returning back to the dojo.

DFWKIK COVID-19 Guidelines

Action Items for all members returning:

1. Inspect your gear. Many of us have practiced in over a year. Check your Iaito, Gi, Hakama, Shinai, & Bogu.
2. READ the document and be prepared
3. Fill out the attached waiver form and bring to class
4. Before each practice, expect to fill out a form online (accessible via QR Code). This will not only help with attendance but also help with contact tracing / screening for COVID
5. Pay your dues

As stated in the document – Change at home – we will not be able to use the locker rooms and bathrooms are to be used one and at a time

For kendo practitioners in bogu, we are requiring mask and shield in the men to help reduce the spread. A couple board members have pre-emptively purchased the mask shields for members. They are approximately $10 each.

From the All Japan Kendo Federation:

For further explanation please refer to: AJKF translated findings

MASKING:
Masks reduced the amount of spray by around 90%.
Shield reduced droplet spray by around 70%.
Masks with shields block droplets by almost 95%.
Breathing difficulties are alleviated when wearing a Men-mask if a small space is made between the mask and the mouth. You can wear a Men-mask with the nose uncovered.

TSUBA-ZERIAI:

Abiding by the guidelines set out by the All Japan Kendo Federation, competitors should avoid tsuba-zeriai. If tsuba-zeriai is unavoidable, both competitors should separate immediately, or attempt hiki-waza. Competitors should not shout at each other (kakegoe). (Hassei will be permitted in the case of hiki-waza. If the competitors do not separate forthwith, the Shinpan should announce “Wakare” without delay.)

Updated Waiver is available as well as a form for those members who have been vaccinated:

Updated Waiver

Covid Vaccine Form

Members, please remember that the AUSKF and SWKIF membership drive has started.
Fees have gone down from last year:

AUSKF fees now $40 per adult (down from $60)

Youth is $20 (down from $30)

SWKIF fees will be $5 for all ages.

This change was recently submitted by the regional board in an effort to get membership numbers up.
Total expense for AUSKF and SWKIF should be $45.

All members planning on being in person and virtual practices should be AUSKF members.
Please sign up via https://unitedstateskendo.com

There will be a virtual kendo seminar hosted by Tulsa Kendo on Friday 2/26 until Saturday 2/27. The seminar is free but Limited to AUSKF members only, due to the presence of the USA national team. This is a free event using the APP “ZOOM.”(Download) Please be prepared with a shinai, or bokuto, that can be safely swung indoors. Brief Q&A session to follow each practice so please hold all questions until then.

Up to date details can be found in the links below:
Facebook Event
Tulsa Kendo Website

Schedule:

Feb 26, Friday
Koki Abe
Focus: Bokuto-ni-yoru kihon keiko-ho
Time 6:00-7:00PM CST

Feb 27, Saturday
Christopher Yang
Focus: Kendo conditioning drills
Time 10:00-11:00AM CST

Brandon Harada
Focus: Kendo conditioning drills
Time 1:00-2:00PM CST

Koki Abe
Focus: General Kendo practice
Time 6:00-7:00PM CST

ZOOM APP LINK
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86144583890
Meeting ID: 861 4458 3890

WEB BROWSER LINK
https://zoom.us/wc/join/86144583890
– Link will be active 10 Minutes before each session
– Please mute yourself upon entering the practice
– PIN the main speaker during each session

It is with great sadness and heartbreak to advise that Yunosuke “Max” Minato Sensei, passed away on the 17th of January.

Minato Sensei, a great Sensei and Mentor of many DFWKIK members for both Iaido and Kendo for over 40 years, was the former owner of Mr. Sushi Restaurant in Addison, and a founding member of Kiyari Daiko Taiko Group.

Sensei, you touched many lives in and out of the Dojo, and we thank you for it, you will be missed greatly.

Our deepest condolences to his family

L

Virtual practice will begin tomorrow at 8 pm. This practice is only open to dojo members who are registered with AUSKF. If you are already registered with AUSKF and wish to join practice contact Simon Martinez for the link to the meeting.

All others who are interested in joining but net yet registered with AUSKF please consider doing so at your earliest convenience at https://www.unitedstateskendo.com/

The Annual AUSKF/SWKIF Membership Drive will start on the 15th of March, and will run through the 31st of March.

If you plan on testing for promotion or participating in any AUSKF or SWKIF Sponsored event, you must be a member of the National and Regional Federation.

Registration/Renewal is done online via www.unitedstateskendo.com

AUSKF Membership Fees:

Adult (18 years and over) – $60.00

Children (17 years and under) – $30.00

Full time students – $30.00

One time Initiation Fee – $10.00

SWKIF Membership Fees:

18 Years & Over – $30.00

17 Yrs & Under – $15.00

New Member Initiation Fee – $5.00

If you have any issues or need your AUSKF Membership Number, please let Nathan Williams or Simon Martinez know, so we can work to get it resolved.

Due to an event at Greenhill, practice on Thursday, the 13th of February is cancelled!!!

Enjoy your Valentine’s Day with your loved ones.

The Iaido portion of tomorrow evening’s Thursday class has been changed to Jodo.

We will practice Jodo from 7:15 until 8:30 p.m.

Kendo will follow at 8:30 p.m. as usual.

All Practices are cancelled on the 26th of January, due to the General Board Meeting starting at 9am which will be held in the Dining Hall Conference Room in the Crossman Dining Hall (See attached Map), please use the Hornet Road Entrance. 

All Members are welcome to attend to see the operations of the Dojo.

Our First Practice of 2020 will be on Sunday, the 5th of January.

9:00am – Iaido
10:45am – Kendo Kata
11:15am – Kendo

Let’s have a great turnout for the New Year!!!

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday on Thursday, practice is cancelled.

Practice will resume on Sunday, the 2nd of December, normal schedule.

We wish everyone and their families a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The Dojo Christmas Party will be held on Sunday, the 8th of December at May Dragon Restaurant at 6pm, the sign-up form link is below

Christmas Party Sign-Up Form

The Christmas Party is also where our Annual Awards are presented.