1/27 Practice and the Next Couple Weeks to Taikai

Great practice last night, you guys, with visitors from Detroit Kendo Dojo. These visitors will visit again and as often as they can so stay on your toes and be ready for them!

You'll be getting an email from me, too, with these same updates. I want to let you know that for the next couple of weeks there will be opportunities to practice specifically for shiai. We will run some shiai matches at Eastern and our friends at U of M will be running shiai practice on Saturday mornings. Please also find opportunities in jigeiko or by asking the people you train with to help you prepare for your shinsa, too.

Also, we need volunteers to help at the Detroit taikai on 2/15! If you are planning to attend the tournament but not compete, please consider being a volunteer! It's an excellent way to get close to the action, helping run the courts and get the fighters ready for their matches, etc. You may even get fed with the extra bento boxes that sometimes are available! Let me know ASAP if you can commit to being a volunteer so I can get a head count. You can carpool with me, too.

Talk to you soon!

The Annual Detroit Tournament, or, "Valentine's Day Massacre"

By Charlie

Guys, sorry it's been so long since we (I) updated the blog. I wanted to let you know that despite the awful weather and roads, practice is still happening every Tuesday from 7-9:00 at Warner Hall. Last week's Above and Beyond Award goes to Mike Hemstadter, whose 20 minute commute after practice was.... two hours. Ya gotta love 23 sometimes. Thank you, Mike.

All right, the big news is that the annual Detroit Tournament is February 14. Testing is that weekend also. If you are interested in participating in the tournament and testing, and I hope you are, you need to:

1) See me and get your dues in by end of January. We're getting the proper dues forms still but I will have all info.

2) Download or obtain from me or Eric or representative of Detroit kendo the tournament entry form. Fill it out and send it in with entry money ASAP.

3) If you want to test, you must see Eric,-sensei, get his permission and have him sign your form. You have to mail this in with entry money ASAP also.

The forms for items 2 and 3 are downloadable here.

Hope to see you all soon, hope you are well in all your endeavors. Practice is still happening at our sister club at U of M. We'll also be visiting Detroit on Thursdays and Saturdays so stay in touch with me or Eric about those opportunities.

Oh, yeah, and I haven't even mentioned that BRENDAN ERIC ABBEY came into the world last week. At this rate, EMU Kendo may have enough for TWO kids teams!!