Tuesday 9/27 Schedule Change

Instead of our regularly scheduled Iaido practice coming up this Tuesday, September 27th, we will practice Jodo.

This substitution in our schedule is to make up for the Jodo practice we missed in order to train for the Inoue Cup earlier this month.

Beginners are welcome, bring your bokuto and your jo if you have one.

Sunday 9/25 Practice Cancellation

This Sunday 9/25 we will not have our regularly scheduled practice as we are performing a demonstration at the Dallas Japanese Association’s 2022 Akimatsuri.

Members participating in the Demonstration, please be dressed and ready to go over the demonstration at 10:30am in front of the area marked “D” below.

AUSKF Shinpan Seminar

AUSKF will host its annual Shinpan Seminar on Oct. 15-16 in Missouri City, Texas.

This is a great opportunity to learn how to shinpan (judge) in a taikai. The focus will be on kenshi rank 4th dan and above, but all are welcome. There will be an opportunity for junior kenshi to participate as shai-sha if they so choose. Also, all participants are welcome to join the godo keiko held on both days of the seminar.

The deadline for registration is October 1st:
https://www.auskf.org/department/competition/auskf-zone-6-shinpan-seminar

Additionally, there will be shinsa (testing) for kyu through 4th dan, which will take place Sunday after the event. If you are interested, please speak with Ichimura Sensei first before registering.

Shinsa Registration:
http://goo.gl/forms/hYEOEEHU0w

2022 SWKIF Fall Iaido Seminar

DFWKIK is pleased to announce open registration for the 2022 SWKIF Fall Iaido Seminar, Taikai, and Shinsa!

Click here for registration, payment details, and documents.

We are honored to have instruction from Robert Stroud Sensei from Idaho Kendo Club, Cynthia Tanabe Sensei of the Salinas Kendo Dojo, and Joe Sheldon Sensei of the River City Iaido & Kendo Kyokai, as well as our very own Russell Ichimura Sensei of the Dallas-Fort Worth Kendo & Iaido Kyokai.

This year will see the return of our Inoue Cup Open Taikai for participants up to 3 dan.

Likewise, shinsa will be held for candidates up to 3 dan.

Please join us!

Weekday Practice Cancellations

This upcoming week, our regular practices on Tuesday 5/24 and Thursday 5/26 are cancelled due to A/C repair activities at the Greenhill School.

Additionally, please note that for practice this Sunday 5/22, the north parking lot where we normally park off Midway will be closed. Please be sure to park in the parking lot off the Spring Valley entrance.

Introduction to Iaido Lesson Series

If you are interested in learning Iaido, please consider joining our dojo prior to April 5th. We will be starting a series of lessons that will take a beginning student from the fundamentals through the 12 Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei (Seitei) Katas at a basic level. It is a great opportunity to learn Iaido!

Jodo Practice Tuesday

Next Tuesday evening (3/29), you are invited to join us for an introduction to Jodo!

Jodo uses a four foot staff as a defensive weapon against the sword. It is a fascinating companion discipline to Kendo and Iaido, offering a different perspective on the virtues and the limitations of the sword as a weapon. Jodo kata feature a person with a bokuto attacking a person with a jo responding to various forms of attack.

Here’s a YouTube video of an exhibition at the 16th World Kendo Championships in Tokyo:

Tuesday’s introduction requires no experience and will include instruction in basic striking techniques and the first couple of paired kata.

Please bring your bokuto and a jo if you have one.

If you don’t have a jo but are interested in the session, please contact us and we’ll let you know if we’re able to find a jo for you to use on a “first come, first served” basis.

AUSKF/SWKIF Registration Begins Soon!

Members,

This Tuesday (3/15) is the start of the annual AUSKF/SWKIF Membership Drive for 2022-2023. The registration period ends at the end of the month (3/31). This is our national and regional organization’s registration for the year.

For those that are new, our dojo is a member of the regional organization – Southwest Kendo and Iaido Federation (SWKIF) – which is also a member of the national organization – All United States Kendo Federation (AUSKF). As a member of these federations, our dojo receives funding and access to regional and national events throughout the year. We highly recommend our members register/re-register in order to participate in seminars and testing (yes, testing!). We also appreciate your support as it helps keep our wonderful martial art stay alive and well for another year!

What you need to do to register:

  1. On Tuesday (3/15), go to the AUSKF website: https://unitedstateskendo.com
  2. Log in with your credentials. If you are a new member, create a new profile. You should be issued an AUSKF ID. MAKE SURE TO SAVE THIS NUMBER FOR YOUR REFERENCE! It is our national organization’s way to identify you. You will need this for participating in seminars, tournaments and testing.
  3. Navigate to “Pay Dues” to complete the registration process.
  4. Please refer to this detailed set of instructions if you have any questions: membership registration help page
  5. If you still have questions regarding registration, please reach out to Nathan Williams (via email) or any of the senior membership at practice.

Some changes to be aware of:

Due to most dojos resuming practice, rates for the national organization have returned to their pre-covid amounts. That being said, your regional board has decided to keep the regional rates the same (discounted) from the previous year. Please keep in mind that these changes will affect the total amount paid for the year.

Thank you and see you at practice!

March Dojo Closure

We will not be holding practices from Sunday 3/13 to Sunday 3/20 due to Gym availability.

Our next practice will be Tuesday 3/22.

As a reminder, our practice schedule has changed to the following:

Tuesday 7:15pm – 9:30pm Iaido or Jodo
Thursday 7:15pm – 9:30pm Kendo
Sunday 9:15am – 10:30am Iaido
10:40am – 11:10am Kendo Kata
11:15am – 12:30pm Kendo

Practice Update – Please Read

Greetings DFWKIK Members,

Tomorrow night’s practice (2/24) is cancelled due to inclement weather. Greenhill is closing their facility.

Sunday’s Practice (2/27) is cancelled due to many members attending a Seminar / Testing in Houston.

Tuesday (3/1) will be our first Tuesday practice of the year with Iaido.

Practice for Iaido (Tuesdays) and Kendo on (Thursday) will start at 7:15 PM. Members are encouraged to show up on time (before 7:15 to change and help set up the dojo). We understand some members may be late at times – please bow in and join class, not to disturbing the flow of practice.

We look forward to seeing you next week!

Urgent! – Suspension of In-person practice for the remainder of January

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 “

Hornet Rd. entrance closed from N. Midway – 11/11/2021

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.

Mask mandate update effective immediately – 8/11/2021

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

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:

Dojo practice resuming Thursday June 3rd!

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

AUSKF and SWKIF annual renewal

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