Promotion test in NYC

[KendokaJim]

Just wondering if any of you are going to the promotion test at the Ken Zen Dojo on the 20th... anyone have suggestions on a cheap (yet clean!) place to stay?? It seems difficult to find a place for less than 150 USD.

[Hotei]

NYC can be an unreasonable expensive place to stay. The closer to midtown you get the higher the rates, but if you'll go to www.expedia.com (http://www.expedia.com), you'll do well. Their prices are cheaper than most. . . I know because I used to work for lodging.com, and we used to steal info from their site all the time. . . Hope this helps, and good luck!

[Hotei]

I just went and took my own advice and actually found some fairly nice places on the west end and pretty close to mid-town. Don't get picky about a private bathroom, and you'll be able to stay a heckuva lot cheaper, but if private facilities are a must, find one of the newer, freestanding hotels in Jamaica by the airport, and see if they have a free shuttle to the city. Many will. Again, good luck.

[hyuna]

Incidentally, Ken-Zen is in TriBeCa, so you don't need to pay to be midtown. Also it is only a couple of blocks away from a subway station.

Unfortunately, I rarely stay in a hotel in NYC (that I pay for ;) ) so I can't make a recommendation...

[KendokaJim]

Thanks for the responses!!! I guess if I have to camp out in a box outside the dojo, so be it! Thanks again.

[nodachi]

You can do what we near Boston do. Take a bus really early in the morning there, and take one really early home. Or train. Or car pool. It's a long day, but it is cheaper to just drive down, test, and drive home than it is to stay in a hotel.

[twotoedgiraffe]

You could stay at a hostel and pay $20/night for a bed. There is one in Chelsea that's pretty comfortable, safe, clean. Since you're only going for kendo and probably will be out in one night...save your dough, buy equipment and stay at those cheapy places.

[Hotei]

West Side YMCA - $79

(I'm jut sayin'. . .)

[Hai_hai]

Just wondering if any of you are going to the promotion test at the Ken Zen Dojo on the 20th... anyone have suggestions on a cheap (yet clean!) place to stay?? It seems difficult to find a place for less than 150 USD.
You might want to find a motel in Dutchess County, park at a Metro North commuter train station, and take the train into the Penn Station.

[npk9]

Is anyone else going to that test because I'll be there. It'll be my first one! Ikkyu all the way! LOL

[KendokaJim]

Good news! Found a place right across the river.. not too expensive either. Thanks again! npk9, I'm testing for ikkyu as well! Good luck!

[npk9]

Thanks - gdlk to you - I'll see you there. Did your sensei tell you what the test is consisted of? Or what to bring and stuff because I'm kinda lost in the mix of things.

[Hai_hai]

You should know what to bring to shinsa. Uniform, bogu, bokken, shinai, your balls.

[npk9]

Nice - real nice

[Neil Gendzwill]

Ikkyu test is usually kirikaeshi, jigeiko and kata 1-3. Your local federation may adjust those though. Some skip the kirikaeshi, for reasons unknown to me - basically, that's all I want to see from an ikkyu candidate. Some skip the kata, or do 1-5. I think jigeiko is standard everywhere you go though.

[KendokaJim]

A dojo-mate of mine took his test at Ken Zen last year, and he said that they skip kirikaeshi. Mainly jigeiko and kata 1 through 3. I was told to use lots and lots of kiai, and don't show any signs of hesitation during jigeiko... but those were the only tips I've gotten thus far.

[Ryukyu]

Does anyone know what time check-in is for this Sunday?

I can't find any information anywhere.

Thanks....

[nodachi]

I think it starts at 1, but you can show up early and join in on their practice before the grading begins. Starting at one, I think they get you your chalk numbers for your tare, go through a brief kata seminar to remind people of what they are looking for and then it all begins.

Be safe though. Show up early.

[Ryukyu]

Thank you very much.

So they start practice at noon, then Iguess we'll be there by 1:30 or so to be safe.

[nodachi]

I found the email with the info. Here's the specific info I got:

ALL EASTERN UNITED STATES KENDO FEDERATION
KENDO PROMOTION TEST

Sunday June. 20th, 2004
Ken Zen Dojo: 54 Thomas Street, New York, NY 10013
tel (212) 406-9104

Check in 1:00pm, Starting time 2:00pm
APPLICATION FEE for Everybody $35.00
CHECK PAYABLE TO: AEUSKF

Ken Zen Dojo is practicing Kendo June 20th Sunday 12:00noon to 2:00pm.
You can join thier practice.

************************************************** *********************
When you pass the test you have to pay registratioon fee to AUSKF.
So please bring your checkbook with you.

for English Version
KYU- $20.00 (17YRS UNDER $10.00 ), 1 DAN-$30.00 , 2 DAN-$40.00 , 3 DAN-
$60.00 4 DAN- $80.00

for Japanese Version
KYU (17YRS UNDER $20.00) $30.00, 1 DAN-$40.00, 2 DAN-$50.00, 3 DAN-
$70.00, 4 DAN-$90.00

CHECK PAYABLE TO: AEUSKF

FOR INFORMATION kataoka (718) 274-4129

[Ryukyu]

Thank you very much!