Holding our first state Jodo grading

[Aden]

I think there is possibly only one candidate - doing his first test, but still Sunday 24th of April should see the first NSW Kendo Association Jodo grading here in Wollongong. :) Important step along the way.

(Also the state Iaido grading up to 1st kyu, but NSWKA has been holding them for a couple of years now.)

Of course January 2006 will see the Australian Iaido and Jodo championships / seminar / grading here.

Aden

[Catherine]

Congratulations Aden.

And good luck to the candidate!

Catherine

[Aden]

Thanks Catherine - just as well its not many candidates - since the NSWKA seitei Jodo panel is more than somewhat inexperienced. Bob Brown and myself have very limited Jodo panel experience, and young Warwick has none (I sat in on the Victorian state jodo kyu grading panel late last year, thanks to an invite from Ant Pickering - so saw how Ray Lawrence ran it - very educational, Bob sat in on a national jodo kyu grading panel in January), Warwick has never done it.

So it will be a learning experience for all concerned, and the other 8 or so ungraded jo students will get to see its not frightening and start preparing for next January when they will get to be taught by actual sensei for the first time (most have never heard the comand "Sensei ni rei").

Aden

[Catherine]

I relate to feeling nervous before sitting on grading panels.

Yuji taught me a bit of a trick about being inexperienced on a grading panel - remember that you are there because you are entitled to be. You do have the required knowledge.

My suggestion - read the grading rules on the night beforehand and check everyone is entitled to sit on the panel - then you will know more about the rules than anyone else and avoid embarrassment when registering the grading.

Catherine