The Club performed a number of Kendo demonstrations. We performed for the Kenton County Library's Youth Japanese Club. Most of the events we performed, were recorded for broadcast as a local sports event on Insight Cable TV, in Northern Kentucky, and Columbus Ohio. A number of our regular classes were recorded for broadcast as well. Our thanks to Chris George, and Danessa Smith from the University of Cincinnati Kendo Club for their help. From Northern Kentucky Kendo Club; Bill Baker, Don Collins, Maria Collins, Gerald Meade, Mark Clark, Roland Figgs, and Justas Jodelle.
We had a number of Iaido events as well. Gerald and I performed at the Kenton County Library. Chris and Roland performed with us during taping of our regular class at the Corryville Rec Center in Cincinnati.
I was invited again this year to be a guest instructor for the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) at their regional "March Madness" seminar held at Northern Kentucky University. The SAFD teaches actors stage combat techniques for use on stage, television and movies. Roland and I were invited back for their summer session to teach a class on empty hand techniques.
A couple individual honors: First, Gerald has been granted a teaching license to teach Muso Jikiden Eishen Ryu style of Iaido. He continues to promote this style of Iaido to groups east of the Mississippi.
Second, I was invited by the Kenton County Library to pose for a poster for their READ program. Assisting me in the poster is Bailey Peterson of Premier Martial Arts in Florence Kentucky. Bailey won a scholastic award as one of the top elementary students in the country. The poster will be on display at the library through next year.
Finally, congratulations to everyone who passed testing for rank in 2009!
Jim Atkins
