AJKF 2020 calendar of events

Dear presidents of AUSKF member federations,

I received the copy of Calendar of events from All Japan Kendo Federation for those interested in taking kendo, Iaido, or Jodo examination in Japan.

The dates are subject to change, so please keep checking their websites for updates: https://www.kendo.or.jp/en/information/fy2020-ajkf-annual-event-calendar/

This is regarding 6,7,8 dan shinsa and shogo conducted by AJKF. Please refer to https://auskfnews.wordpress.com/2019/01/06/high-rank-6-8-dan-and-shogo-testing-in-japan-2019-calendar/
AJKF will not accept applications unless submitted through AUSKF. AUKSF has to receive the request to test and $100 fee 14 days before the deadline of AJKF. Any promotion for 5 dan and below are conducted by regional federation in Japan, and it is the responsibility of each individual applicant to submit the application to them.

Thank you,
Michio Kajitani
VP P&E, AUSKF

2020 AUSKF Iaido Summer Camp and Jodo Seminar

On behalf of AUSKF Iaido Committee, we are pleased to announce the 2020 AUSKF Iaido summer camp, taikai, shinsa and Jodo seminar and shinsa will be held at Bryn Mawr College, 101 North Merion Avenue, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA. The committee would like to thank and express our gratitude to Shozo Kato Sensei and GNEUSKF for organizing this event.

The dates are from Wednesday, June 17 to Monday, June 22, 2020.

Schedule:
Welcome Reception – Wednesday, June 17 (evening)
Iaido Summer Camp – Thursday, June 18 & Friday, June 19
Iaido Championship (taikai) – Saturday, June 20
Sayonara Party – Saturday, June 20 (evening)
Iaido Shinsa – Sunday, June 21 (morning)
Jodo Seminar – Sunday, June 21 (afternoon) & Monday, June 22 (morning)
Jodo Shinsa – Sunday, June 21 (afternoon)
The official 2020 event registration website is: http://shinken.cc/event/2020-auskf-iaido-summer-camp . Further information will be available on this website, in addition to the AUSKF website.

There will be available housing and meals on campus. Additional information on off-campus group hotel rates at a nearby hotel will be provided in the near future.

Camp registration, forms, fees and a official schedule will be shown on the registration website. AUSKF shinsa fees will be used. Make checks payable to All United States Kendo Federation for all registration fees to include the shinsa fee. Do not use the abbreviation of AUSKF.
You will need your AUSKF ID number to register. If you have registered with Shinken.us before and don’t remember your AUSKF ID or your temporary ID, please email info@shinken.us.

Menjo fee: Make checks payable to GNEUSKF. AUSKF menjo fees will be used, and shown on registration website.

Send all payments to:

Shozo Kato Studio
50 Webster Avenue, #2A
New Rochelle, NY 10801

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, May 29, 2020

If you have any questions, please send an email to monica.iwakabe@auskf.org or shozo.kato@auskf.org.

See you there!

Youth training and 2020 Kaiseiki Tournament selection process

Dear All,

Please pass this information out to everyone. Attach is information regarding the training schedule and selection process for the Kaiseiki Tournament in Akita, Japan March of 2020.

AUSKF Youth Development Committee

Attachment

2020 AUSKF National Championship July 17-19 in Detroit

The AUSKF Competition Committee is pleased to announce that the AUSKF National Championship will be held in Detroit, Michigan, on July 17-19, 2020. Details will follow, but please “Save The Date” and announce it to all of your members.

Mark A. Kerstein
AUSKF Competition Committee
(also see preliminary info)

_________________________
Update 12/8/19: Phase 1
The US Championships Tournament will be held at University of Michigan-Dearborn Fieldhouse/Ice Arena.

We are sending Phase 1 forms for the US Championships early so we can accommodate for our busy schedules. Please have your federation coach or manager fill the form and return it to me at yuji.onitsuka@auskf.org no later than Jan 15, 2020.

Yuji Onitsuka
AUSKF Competition Committee

Attachments:
A1. number of participants form
A2. registration info
A3. championships info
A4. championships regulations

2020 AUSKF Jr. Nationals April 4 in Los Angeles

The AUSKF Competition Committee is pleased to announce that the 2020 AUSKF Jr. Nationals will be held in Los Angeles, California on April 4, 2020.  Details will follow, but please “Save The Date” and announce it to all of your members.

Mark A. Kerstein
AUSKF Competition Committee

_________________________
Update 12/8/19:
The Jr National Tournament will be held at Marina High School, 15871 Springdale St. Huntington Beach, CA 92649

Yuji Onitsuka
AUSKF Competition Committee

November 2019 Kodansha Exam Results

Congratulations to all who passed the kodansha promotional exam held 11/10/19 in Cincinnati OH:

Rank    Name                    Federation
5 Dan   Kato, Taishi            GNEUSKF 
5 Dan   Choi, Tracey            EUSKF   
5 Dan   Winters, Paul           AEUSKF 
5 Dan   Chi, Lewis              SEUSKF 
5 Dan   Beckford, Brian         MWKF  
5 Dan   Matsunaga, Manabu       ECUSKF 
5 Dan   Yasui, Norio            SEUSKF 
5 Dan   Sato, Ryoko             SCKO 
5 Dan   Yasuda, Kazuto          SEUSKF 
5 Dan   Nagao, Kentaro          SWKIF 
5 Dan   Ryu, Yongki             AEUSKF 
5 Dan   Beaty, John             GNEUSKF 
6 Dan   Morobayashi, Hiroyuki   ECUSKF 
6 Dan   Lane, Satomi            ECUSKF 
6 Dan   Fukui, Shinichiro       AEUSKF 
6 Dan   Kerstein, Mark          SUSKIF 
6 Dan   Zembayashi, Takaya      SCKF 
7 Dan   Yang, Daniel            SCKF 
Renshi  Hyun, Jin-Kee           SEUSKF  

Changes in Kyu shinsa

Dear presidents of AUSKF member kendo federations,

As we discussed on the email announcement I sent in April 2019, AUSKF will require each member (regional ) kendo federation to conduct Bokutoni Yoru Kendo Kihonwaza Keikoho (BKKK) in kyu shinsa starting next year.

The official starting date is April 1, 2020, the new fiscal year.
It is mandatory to have 2 kyu candidate demonstrate BKKK 1-9.
Not needed for 1 kyu, since they have to do Nihon Kendo Kata 1-3.
We also amended that the highest rank an any individual testing for the first time shall be 2 kyu, and the minimum practice interval requirement between 2 kyu and 1 kyu is 3 months.

AUSKF PPG will be amended accordingly.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. The whole purpose is to integrate BKKK in regular kendo practice. You may provide assistance to the candidate during the demonstration, and this is not intended to fail anyone.

BKKK 1-9 is mandatory only for 2 kyu test.

Other suggestions by AUSKF is
BKKK 1-6 for 3 kyu test,
1-3 for 4 kyu test.

Sincerely,
Michio Kajitani
VP P&E, AUSKF

Final Team USA Kendo Selection Gasshuku (December 14-15, 2019)

Dear Team USA Prospects:

The third and final Team USA Kendo Selection Gasshuku will be held December 14th and 15th at Wilson Park in Torrance, CA.

This will be the final open Gasshuku, and we will be selecting the members of Team USA at the conclusion of the weekend.

Please note that those who hope to join Team USA must attend all open Team USA Gasshukus (including the previous September and November Gasshukus) to be considered for selection. Prospects must also be a US citizen 16 years of age or older on the date of the tournament.

Details are as follow:

REGISTRATION LINK: https://forms.gle/URxGgZtq6faQDMdK9

SATURDAY (12/14)
8am-4pm
Wilson Park
2200 Crenshaw Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501

SUNDAY (12/15)
8am-12pm
Wilson Park
2200 Crenshaw Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501

ATTENDANCE FEE: $50 (checks payable to “AUSKF Team USA”)
Send all checks to:
Spencer Hosokawa
17 Amelia
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

RECOMMENDED HOTEL:
Courtyard by Marriott
2633 Sepulveda Blvd
Torrance, CA 90505

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: December 9th, 2019

Please download and complete the waiver at the link below by the start of the Gasshuku. Those who already completed the waiver will not be required to do so again:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hUl19gLRCjoW4Faf_nu7rvslc8EStjvy/view?usp=sharing

Please note that attendance is mandatory for both men and women. Please feel free to reach out to teamusakendo@gmail.com with any questions.

Team USA Kendo

FIK America Zone Kendo Referee Seminar 1/25-26/2020

Dear Presidents, AUSKF Member Federation

This is the information of the FIK American Zone Kendo Referee Seminar which will be held on January 25th &26th, 2020 in Burnaby (Vancouver).

Please find attached files and note the following points.

1)　Deadline
December 10th, 2019
*Please e-mail the information of the applicants from your federation (attached application form) to maeda.shinobu@gmail.com and duketagawa@gmail.com

2)　Participation fee
50.00$CAD (cash)
*Starting this year, the seminar fee will be collected from each participant to reduce the burden for the host country.

Sincerely,
Shinobu Maeda
Exec VP, AUSKF

3 Attachments
– invitation letter in Japanese
– invitation letter in English
– application form
– individuals: please check with your federation for its deadline

2020 AUSKF Sponsor and Ad Invitation Packet

Dear Kendo Federations, Sponsors, Kendo Equipment Vendors:

Your past involvement with the 2017 AUSKF Kendo Championships was most appreciated, whether as organizers, competitors, shinpan, advertisers, vendors, et. al. Next year’s event will be approaching in several months, so we are extending an early opportunity to help support the 2020 AUSKF Kendo Championships.

Please find attached a seven page document detailing the advertising, sponsorship and donation information for the 2020 AUSKF Kendo Championships. We are sending this out early to allow ample time in advance of submittal deadlines (refer to the documents). Please route this information to the appropriate persons in your group for their attention.

Feel free to email any questions you have and I will respond in a timely manner.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully yours,
Eddie Hurt
2020 AUSKF Championships
Donation/Sponsor Information

attachment (docx)