KAC Kyudo Workshop – Ottawa 2013

Posted by: Aleem Azhar

KAC Kyudo Workshop – Ottawa 2013

Posted by: Aleem Azhar

The KAC will be hosting an Introductory Workshop on Sunday, June 9, 2013 at the Ottawa Japanese Karate Association, 475 Cambridge Street, K15 4H6. Due to limited space, registration and a fee of $10 will be required for attendance. If there is enough interest, we will consider another session on Saturday, June 8.

Please register to reserve your spot.

Stay tuned for more details.

Fifth Kyudo Introductory Course to begin in September (Toronto)

Posted by: Aleem Azhar

Seikyu Kai is pleased to announce a fifth, 15-week Introductory Course to be offered at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) starting in September. Students without prior experience must complete the Introductory Course to be accepted in the regular kyudo program. Students with prior experience should inquire with JCCC.

The Introductory Course is divided into 5 stages:

1. Hassetsu (The Eight Stages of Shooting and Posture)
2. Gomu-yumi (Practice Bow)
3. Subiki (Drawing the bow without an arrow)
4. Makiwara (Shooting towards a short-distance target)
5. Taihai (ceremonial shooting)

By the time the course finishes, students will have acquired the basic skill and knowledge required to join the regular class and continue on to the next level.

Date: Saturday, September 7, 2013 – Saturday, January 11, 2014
Time: 2:45pm – 4:45pm
Fees: $220 + HST (Please note that JCCC Membership is also required.)
Location: Tatami Dojo at the JCCC.
Equipment: Please wear loose, comfortable clothes and socks. All other equipment will be provided.
Classes are restricted to those 16 years & over.

There will be no classes on October 12, November 2, 9, December 28. Please note that some classes may be cancelled as a result of schedule changes requested by the JCCC. If this does happen, the course will be extended beyond January 11 to make a total of 15 classes. It is not mandatory to attend all 15 classes. If you cannot attend one or two classes there are enough instructors and assistants available so that those who miss a class can receive missed instruction the following week. However, we encourage everyone to attend as many classes as possible because material in each class will build on the last.

Registration Procedure

1. As a prerequisite to registration, all potential candidates must visit and watch a regular kyudo class for at least a half hour between 11:30am-12:30pm on any Saturday from May 11 to July 20 excluding June 29.
2. At the class, please introduce yourself to one of the instructors and your name will be recorded on a list indicating that you have visited a class, thereby meeting the registration pre-requisite. Please note that being on this list does not necessarily guarantee you a spot in the beginners’ course. The intent of the visit is to ensure that you have some understanding of a typical kyudo class before deciding to join the course. So please feel free to ask questions while you are there.
3. Formal registration starts Monday, July 29, 2013 and you must register directly with the JCCC by phone or in person. The class size is limited to 20 people and spaces will be filled on a first come, first served basis starting July 29. You must pay at the time of your registration and your name must be on the aforementioned list in order to officially join the course.

2013 Toronto Kyudo Seminar

Posted by: Aleem Azhar

Seikyu Kai will once again have the honour of hosting Aaron Blackwell-Sensei (Kyoshi, Roku-dan) and Reiko Blackwell-san (Go-dan) for our annual kyudo seminar in Toronto. Blackwell-Sensei is the president of the South Carolina Kyudo Renmei in Simpsonville, SC, USA.

Date(s): Jun 30-July 1, 2013
Location: Japanese Canadian Cultural Center, Toronto, Ontario

This seminar is open to all affiliate organizations. Please email seminar@toronto.kyudo.ca if you would like to attend.

KAC Annual General Meeting – Nov. 17, 2012

Posted by: Motomasa Mori

Kyudo Association of Canada announces its Annual General Meeting

Saturday, November 17, 2012 • 11:45 a.m. PST / 14:45 EST / 04:45 JST (Nov. 18)

Vancouver: Vancouver Japanese Language School, 2nd floor Board Room

Via Skype: Toronto, Okayama, Victoria

Outgoing Board of Directors:

President: Motomasa Mori (4-dan)
Vice President: Mie Takahashi (renshi 5-dan)
Treasurer: Ernie Bodrogi (1-dan)
Secretary: Tane Akamatsu (2-dan)
Director at Large: Brian Angene (3-dan)

AGENDA:

1. Call to Order
2. Establishment of Quorum
3. President’s report
4. Secretary’s report
5. Treasurer’s report
6. Vote to approve the 2012/2013 KAC operating budget
7. Election of Directors
8. Termination of Meeting

Proxies due at beginning of the meeting.  If you are voting by proxy, please be sure to fill in the attached proxy form and hand it in to your dojo representative by the beginning of the meeting.

Vancouver Open House on Sept. 8, 2012

Posted by: Motomasa Mori

The Kyudo Association of Canada Vancouver will be having an open house class on Sept. 8, 2012 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. If you are interested in kyudo and possibly taking part in the Beginner’s Class, this would be a perfect opportunity to observe one of our classes (a required pre-requisite).

For more information, please email vancouver@kyudo.ca

Introduction to Kyudo Course – Vancouver

Posted by: Motomasa Mori

The Introduction to Kyudo Course is designed to provide new students with a guide during their first steps into Kyudo.  We require all prospective students with no prior Kyudo Experience to complete this course before joining our regular class.  In this course you will learn dojo safety, etiquette, and a brief history of Kyudo.  You will then receive hands-on practice of shooting technique, basic movements and postures.  Most of the course will be taught using a gomuyumi (rubber practice bow) and will concentrate on the fundamentals.  If you successfully complete the course you will have a good grounding to be able to practice effectively and safely with the regular class.

Read more »

Post Seminar Thoughts…

Posted by: Motomasa Mori

It’s Saturday August 18, 2012, and I finally have some time to reflect on the AKR 2012 Kyudo Seminar that just took place as I roll through the Oregon mountains. It’s been a week since I took this same route down to Davis, California – a week of intense training and instruction.

left to right – Akiyama sensei, Kubota sensei, Sakuma sensei.

As is the norm for these seminars, the International Kyudo Federation sent three of their highest level instructors – people who can truly be called “masters” of this unique martial art. Terumi Akiyama, Tsuyoshi Sakuma, and Kioshi Kubota (all Hanshi, hachi-dan), were all true reflections of the ideals of kyudo. Though they were strict and exacting in what they wanted us to learn, they also showed kindness, and were personable and empathetic to our struggles to grasp the techniques and spirit of kyudo.

This year, the sensei seemed to really focus on fundamentals even more than in past years. Of course, this is from my perspective which could be coloured by what I was in need of (given that I was forced to stop practice for a while due to injury), but there was more frequent reference to the diagrams of the hassetsu from the kyohon this year.

I think one of the most important points brought up by the sensei was a subtle difference in the way language describes certain actions. Like in our own kyudo classes in Vancouver, they stressed that kyudo is an art based on technique, and that rather than using technique to hit the target, with the use of correct technique the target gets hit (ateru vs. ataru). This type of subtle difference is a perfect example of the mysteries of kyudo, where one must shoot without ego or desire – where one must not lose oneself in the mato – in order to follow the way of the bow.

The Toronto group!

I was also very happy this year to finally meet a large number of the Toronto group, whose numbers made Canada a major presence at this year’s seminar (we were one of the largest contingents with 25 people attending). Led by Mie Takahashi sensei, Toronto certainly put on a display of power, with every attendee passing their ranking tests, and taking 3 of 6 prizes at the annual taikai. Mie sensei was also called upon to perform in 2 sharei which is a wonderful testament to her beautiful shooting. The future of kyudo in Toronto seems bright.

In Vancouver, we have 2 new sho-dans as a result of the tests. Unfortunately, our advanced examinees did not pass, however, I at least felt that I had learned a lot, and my technique has been improved. Various technical issues pervaded my shooting at the beginning of the seminar, but I can honestly say I shot my absolute best at the test. For this reason, I feel no regret about my result, and will work doubly hard to show what I learned at the next seminar.

The Northern California Kyudo Federation did a wonderful job of organizing this year’s seminar, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their hospitality. They managed to overcome great challenges and persevered, and I think all attendees can agree we had a wonderful time learning, meeting old and new friends, and generally coming together as a kyudo community. Though officially an American Kyudo Renmei event, a full third of attendees were from other countries in the Western hemisphere, and I hope the number of countries represented continues to grow.

I would also like to extend special thanks to the International Kyudo Federation, and their representative Mr. Obata who attended this year’s seminar. The IKYF has been working hard to give us more opportunities to receive instruction, and thus improve the quality of instruction we can offer to our own members, which will be critical for continued growth of kyudo globally.

The full KAC contingent group shot!

I’m almost in Washington state now – over halfway home; and though my feet hurt from standing and sitting in kiiza for 4 days, and various joints are sore, I am already looking forward to doing it all again next summer. For those of you that attended this year, I hope you are of the same mind, and that we can all come together again in South Carolina in 2013.

Motomasa Mori
President
Kyudo Association of Canada

Powell Street Thank You!

Posted by: Motomasa Mori

Thank you to everybody who came out to Powell Street Festival this past weekend to attend our demonstration. It really was a very hot day, and standing room only so everybody’s cooperation was greatly appreciated.

KAC Vancouver would again like to thank the Powell Street Festival Society for giving us the opportunity to share this ancient artform with you. We are a small organization, but I think it is fair to say that all of our members are passionate about kyudo! I hope their dedication and hard work was evident in their shooting.

For those who were interested in the beginner’s course, there will be an announcement here on the website after the American Seminar. It will begin in September. If you wish to be notified by email, please contact vancouver@kyudo.ca. Please also note that it is a requirement to observe a part of our regular class to sign up for the beginner’s course.

Powell Street Festival in Vancouver!

Posted by: Motomasa Mori

That’s right – it’s that time of year again – it’s time for the Powell Street Festival which happens Aug. 4-5 this year.

After being away for a couple of years, the Kyudo Association of Canada Vancouver will be performing a demonstration during this year’s festival. As usual, the demonstration will take place in the Main Hall of the Vancouver Japanese Language School on Alexander Street, a block away from Oppenheimer Park. The demonstration will be on Saturday August 4, at 2:30 pm.

Seating is limited, so get there early!