Sobukan Dojo

Our last training session of the year will be on Saturday 22^nd December for adults, and Wednesday 19^th December for juniors. On Saturday 22^nd December, let’s meet at Himeji Gardens (South Tce, city) at midday for a picnic. Please wear or bring your gi, and bring your own picnic rug, food and drinks. We will have a short training session and enjoy the tranquillity of the beautiful Japanese gardens.

Himeji Gardens

Our first day back is on Wednesday 2^nd January, and we will likely have a ‘kagami biraki’ ceremony on Saturday 5^th January. More information to follow. Please keep safe over the Christmas holidays, don’t drink and drive and watch out for those who may be.

Grading – Saturday 15^th December 10am.
We have many students (children and adults) who are ready to test for their new belts. Please ensure you bring your grading passport (attached) and the $25 grading fee. If unsure whether you or your child is ready, please come early and see me before class. We have two weeks to prepare, so classes will focus on grading material for the next few lessons.

Sorry for any inconvenience, but there is no jujutsu/no gi grappling class this Saturday or next for the following reasons:
Nov 24 – Renshi Jason Griffiths seminar at 2pm. We will learn some great standing and ground submission drills.
Dec 1 – My Japanese karate-bu kids will give a demonstration at the Japanese Community School Bunkasai (cultural festival).
Also don’t forget the grading on Dec 15!! Good luck with your preparation – starting with the grading this weekend!

October was a huge month! Thank you to all those who attended the anniversary party, for the card, the food and drinks, presents, and of course your presence! Also, thanks to Geoff, Julie and Rob who helped raise money for cancer research by attending the Fight for Life seminar last Sunday. Thanks to everyone who helped move to our new dojo premises, cleaned up after the party and assisted with the Moon Lantern Festival demonstration.

Fight for Life

Congratulations to award winning junior students:
1. Little samurai award – Jayrell
2. Most improved junior student – Max
3. Junior student of the year – Mika
Keep up the great work!!

The next event on the Sobukan calendar is for adult students only – my Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo Jutsu mentor, 5^th dan Renshi Jason Griffiths will conduct a seminar at Sobukan on Saturday 24^th November. He will teach flow drills for throws, chokes, armlocks etc. This is a great opportunity to develop advanced skills early, don’t miss out!

We will cancel the morning jujutsu class on the day to conserve energy for the seminar. A poster is attached. Please RSVP asap whether or not you will attend.

When: 2pm Saturday 24^th November
Who: All adult students welcome – open seminar
Cost: $45 only

Renshi Jason Griffiths Adelaide Seminar – Sat 24th Nov 2012

Gradings
I expect to announce a grading date soon. We have a number of students (children and adults) who are nearly ready to demonstrate to me that they are ready for the next belt colour. Watch this space…

Classes
We have had some huge sessions recently! Kids classes are booming, and parents can join in the fun for $20 per month. The classes will continue to be unashamedly structured towards children’s needs, but parents can strengthen their relationship with their children by practicing together – in and out of the dojo.

Adults’ classes and wheelchair jujutsu classes still have room/potential for growth, and the extra space has allowed us to split classes into two, so that everyone can focus on lessons that they need, whether for gradings, self-defence, sport or fitness. Some of our recent classes have been very physically challenging! Don’t forget you can come early and work on conditioning while the junior class is running.

Thank you so much for your support over the past 13 months. Thank you to everyone who supported and assisted with the move to our amazing new location, to everyone who has participated in demonstrations, magazine/newspaper articles, photo shoots, those who introduced friends and family and to those who trained hard.

Unfortunately not all students have been able to move with us, but I hope that all students, past and present can make it for the anniversary celebration. Details below:

Sobukan and Goshinkan social night and anniversary celebration
What:   BBQ, movie, drinks, fun and a chance to meet Goshinkan members
Where:  see monthly email
When:   see monthly email
Who:    all current and past members, plus their families and partners
Bring:  BYO drinks, food to share – Japanese theme if possible!
Cost:   Free

Fight For Life
Kym Reid of the International Budo Federation has organised an amazing event with more than 20 top instructors (including yours truly) teaching segments in order to raise money for cancer research. All of this for just $40, from 10am at the Golden Grove Arts & Recreation Centre, Golden Way, Golden Grove this Sunday, 28^th October. A poster is attached. Please contact Kym on 0409800515 or kymreid@ibf.com.au for details.
http://www.ibf.com.au/

Today marked the opening of the Japanese Community School Karate club! We had a modest start with around 10 students, and I look forward to helping these Japanese children about elements of their own culture, while helping them develop concentration, discipline, confidence, self-defence and other life skills. I wonder if we are the only karate club in Australia to teach entirely in Japanese?

Today Sobukan represented Japanese Martial Arts at South Australia’s largest Asian festival. Thank you to all of the students and families who sacrificed their Sunday afternoon to participate. You all did an amazing job. In particular, thank you to Matt Shilcock for a fantastic performance of wheelchair jujutsu.

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Happy 1^st anniversary to Sobukan!! We started on 27 September 2011, one year ago! I had planned to hold a dinner, but it may be difficult with a large number of children and the costs were a little too high. Instead, I am planning a movie night/BBQ at the new dojo in October. I will keep you posted…

It has been an amazing year. Everyone has made so much progress. We have had articles in the Sunday Mail, The Messenger, Blitz Magazine and the local Japanese magazine Youyu Adelaide. We have been approached by ABC’s Behind The News for a TV segment, demonstrated at a Japanese festival and invited to demonstrate at OzAsia this weekend. We have been asked to start a karate club at the Japanese Community School. We have outgrown our first facilities and are moving into an amazing dedicated dojo. Most importantly, so many students have grown and developed a level of skills that would normally take years. I am very proud of everyone!

OzAsia demonstration
Everyone available is requested to attend a demonstration this Sunday 30 September at the OzAsia Moon Lantern Festival. We have been allocated a space in the perimeter of Elder Park. We kick off at 4:10, but please try to come (in your dogi) at least 30 minutes early to register and help get organised.

Demonstration schedule:
4:10 Kids           – tsukiwaza (punches)
                            – keriwaza (kicks)
4:20 Adults          – tegumi (push, cross, hook, elbow, uppercut, hammerfist, knees)
                            – tachikeriwaza futari geiko (2 person kicking drill)
                            – quadrant drill
– kata (Geoff and Julie to do Taisabaki gata, Chris and Dinah to do Aragaki Niseishi)
4:30 jujutsu        – tekagami (hand mirror)
                            – yokoosaedori (side hold down)
                            – konohagaeshi (wristlock)
                            – ryokataosaedori (both shoulder hold down)
                            – ushirogyakukubishimedori (reverse choke with arm bar)
                            – katamuneosaemochimawari (hold chest and punch)
                            – ushirohakkodori (wrist hold from behind)
 
Sobukan is moving as at Monday 1 October!!!

Please note that we change location and training times as of this weekend! The first training session at the new dojo will be held on the public holiday, Monday 1^st October.

 
The Goshinkan Kodokan judo club at 917A South Road Clarence Gardens is a huge dedicated dojo with a two matted spaces and a carpeted area for wheelchair classes and waiting parents. It is very well equipped to accommodate the growing number of Sobukan students. This well-established and respected dojo has similar philosophies to Sobukan and has direct links inJapan. It will therefore also allow more opportunity for special needs students to join. For current students, it means that we will have much more freedom to do conditioning, sparring, randori, groundwork, MMA training, and self-defence scenarios. Goshinkan holds regular social events and is a good, fun club to be involved with. Sobukan students would also become Goshinkan members, meaning you are able to train every single day of the week if you wish!! Goshinkan charges $5 per judo lesson.

From Monday, class times are:
Juniors – Mon and Wed 6pm
Seniors – Mon and Wed 7pm
Jujutsu and wheelchair – Sat 10am

Map

Unfortunately MCV has advised that the centre will not be available again this Saturday 1 September. Instead, lets meet at Himeji Gardens at 10am and practice jujutsu and other drills in the beautiful surrounds.

All junior coloured belts are requested to attend a demonstration at the Japanese Community School at Rose Park Primary School on 15 September at 12:30pm.

Everyone is requested to attend a demonstration at the Moon Lantern Festival, OzAsia on Sunday 30 September. Further details to follow.

Sobukan opened on 27 September 2011 – meaning it is soon our first anniversary! It would be great if we can all get together and celebrate at a dinner at a Japanese restaurant. Awards will also be given out on the night. Due to the move and OzAsia, I have not yet set a date/venue, but please let me know if you would attend on a weekend evening, and how many people will be attending (parents, spouses, kids, partners all welcome). Wasai have offered the best price at the moment at $30 for adults and $15 for children.

Sobukan is moving as at Monday 1 October!!!  We will be sharing the Goshinkan Kodokan judo club at 917A South Road Clarence Gardens. It is a huge dedicated dojo with a two matted spaces and a carpeted area for wheelchair classes and waiting parents. It is very well equipped to accommodate the growing number of Sobukan students. This well-established and respected dojo has similar philosophies to Sobukan and has direct links in Japan. It will therefore also allow more opportunity for special needs students to join. For current students, it means that we will have much more freedom to do conditioning, sparring, randori, groundwork, MMA training, and self-defence scenarios.Goshinkan holds regular social events and seems like a good, fun club to be involved with. Sobukan students would also become Goshinkan members, meaning you are able to train every single day of the week if you wish!! Goshinkan charges $5 per judo lesson.

Class times will also change to:

Juniors – Mon and Wed 6pm
Seniors – Mon and Wed 7pm
Jujutsu and wheelchair – Sat 10am
Map to new dojo