1st Annual Kern River Budosai October 23rd and 24th, 2009

[Robin Ramirez]

I am pleased to announce the official dates of the 1st Annual Kern River Budosai.

Date:
October 23rd and 24th, 2009

Location:
Bakersfield Budo Dojo
6801 White Lane, Suite E-3
Bakersfield CA 93309
661-398-2100
dojo@bakersfieldbudo.com
www.bakersfieldbudo.com

The format will follow similar guidelines that most of the other North American JSA events.

Friday Seminars: 9am to 5pm
Friday Night Embu: 7pm-8:30pm (demonstration)
Saturday Taikai: 8am(checkin) 9am-12 Kata divisions, 1 hour lunch break, 1pm-5pm cutting divisions
Saturday night: Banquet dinner @ Lengthwise Brewing Co.

Divisions:
Yukyusha
Shodan/Nidan
Sandan and above

Friday Seminars: include instruction from several instructors here in the US:
Masayuki Shimabukuro, Hanshi / Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, Shindo Muso Ryu, Ono Ha Itto Ryu (Kenkyukai)
Tony Alvarez, Renshi, / Meishi ha Mugai Ryu Iaihyodo, Zen Nihon Toyama Ryu Iaido Renmei, ZNBDR
Dan Keupp, Renshi / Shin Shin Sekiguhi Ryu Batto Jutsu
Dave Drawdy, Sensei / Nakamura Ryu Happogiri Toho (Kakuseikai) Intl. Batto Do Fed.
Brian Stokes, Sensei / Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo Shibu Cho
Sang Kim, Sensei / Seizankai, Zen Nihon Toyama Ryu Iaido Renmei, US Batto Fed. ZNBDR

The seminars include but are not limited to:
(Kata Seminars (any seminar not requiring targets) $35, Shizan/tameshigiri Seminars $50).
Seminar Package (2 Kata and 1 Cutting Seminar) $100
Mugai Ryu Iai Hyodo
Shin Shin Sekiguchi Ryu Batto Jutsu
Ono Ha Itto Ryu Kenjutsu
Nakamura Ryu Batto Do
Suio Ryu, Naginata
Shindo Muso Ryu Jo Jutsu
Toyama Ryu Batto Do
Zen Nihon Batto Do Renmei (compulsary kata for West Coast and Orlando Taikai)
Batto Tamishigiri (standing, compulsary patterns for most taikai shizan/tameshigiri events)
Advanced Tameshigiri (standing)
Seiza/zagi Tameshigiri (seated/kneeling)

Taikai Events List: Per Division (Kata events $35, Shizan/tameshigiri events $50)
Taikai Package A. 1 Kata event, Batto Shizan, Dodan, $100
Taikai Package B. 2 Kata events, Batto Shizan, Dodan, Team $150
Seated kata ($35)
Standing Kata ($35)
Batto Tameshigiri (standing) ($50)
Team Tameshigiri (3 person team rokudan giri) ($20 per person)
Seated Tameshigiri (Sandan and above) ($50)
Dodan (horizonal target single elimination) ($25)

Seminar registraion forms will be available on Sept 15th by visiting www.bakersfieldbudo.com/register

Please visit our site for recommended hotel information and directions.

Please call or emial if you have any questions.

Robin Ramirez
Bakersfield Budo
r.ramirez@bakersfieldbudo.com
661-398-2100

[Carl McClafferty]

Robin:

Congratulations on your 1st annual Tai Kai (that means many more), we will do our best to support you as you have for us in the past. I know Dan, Tonya and Doc Goodwin will be headed your way. Working on getting you better participation. Dang, I'll be knee deep in Camel dung and goat meat!

Carl McClafferty

[Robin Ramirez]

When looking for flights into our area you can fly directly into Bakersfield under the BFL airport designation. United and US Airways are the
two airlines we are blessed with. Connecting to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Denver.

You can also fly into LA or Burbank and rent a car, Drive time from Burbank to Bakersfield is 1.4 hours and from LAX 1.8 hours.

Hotels:

Super 8 Motel can be found HERE (economy), Call and talk to "Rashmi" mention Bakersfield Budo Martial Arts Group rates and Robin Ramirez told me contact you, and you should get a single room for $45.00, double for $55.00. plus taxes. 661-833-1000

Homewood Suites by Hilton can be found HERE (comfortable and much nicer then the online images). ask for the Bakersfield Budo corporate rate, studio rooms for $104.00, 1 bedroom for $114.00 plus taxes. Tel: 661-664-0400 Fax: 661-664-0475

Feel free to call if you have any questions,

Robin
661-747-7389

[Robin Ramirez]

Originally Posted by Carl McClafferty

Robin:

Congratulations on your 1st annual Tai Kai (that means many more), we will do our best to support you as you have for us in the past. I know Dan, Tonya and Doc Goodwin will be headed your way. Working on getting you better participation. Dang, I'll be knee deep in Camel dung and goat meat!

Carl McClafferty

Thank you for the support McClafferty Sensei,

Be careful with the goats and camels.

Robin

[Carl Jenkins]

Robin-san,

Will be there for the festivities... See you next month.

Take care,
Carl

[Robin Ramirez]

Originally Posted by Carl Jenkins

Robin-san,

Will be there for the festivities... See you next month.

Take care,
Carl

Looking forward to it Carl,

Team Dugu for life!

Enrollment forms will be available online on October 1st.

Robin

[James D. Doeding]

Just started a new job and already purchased my ticket to Japan in November...I know this will be a good one too. If anyones on the fence about attending...Dont pass this up! good folks, good beer and good times. Congrats on your first Taikai by the way!!

[Dave Neeley]

How's the bar?

[Paul Smith]

How's the bar?

What? There's only one in Bakersfield?

[Robin Ramirez]

Hello everyone,

The registration page is up and running and the updated instructors list is here, sorry for the delays.

If you would be so kind as to forward this to all of your people, I would be eternally grateful.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the end of the month.


Please click HERE or see the website at www.bakersfieldbudo.com

Robin


Date:
October 23rd and 24th, 2009

Location:
Bakersfield Budo Dojo
6801 White Lane, Suite E-3
Bakersfield CA 93309
661-398-2100
dojo@bakersfieldbudo.com
www.bakersfieldbudo.com

The format will follow similar guidelines that most of the other North American JSA events.

Friday Seminars: 9am to 5pm
Friday Night Embu: 7pm-8:30pm (demonstration)
Saturday Taikai: 8am(checkin) 9am eliminations
Saturday night: Banquet dinner @ Lengthwise Brewing Co.

Divisions:
Yukyusha
Shodan/Nidan
Sandan and above

Friday Seminars: include instruction from several instructors here in the US:
Masayuki Shimabukuro, Hanshi / Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, Shindo Muso Ryu, Ono Ha Itto Ryu (Kenkyukai)
Tony Alvarez, Renshi, / Meishi ha Mugai Ryu Iaihyodo, Zen Nihon Toyama Ryu Iaido Renmei, ZNBDR
Dan Keupp, Renshi / Shin Shin Sekiguhi Ryu Batto Jutsu
Erik Tracy, Sensei / Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai Heiho
Dave Drawdy, Sensei / Nakamura Ryu Happogiri Toho (Kakuseikai) Intl. Batto Do Fed.
Brian Stokes, Sensei / Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo Shibu Cho
Sang Kim, Sensei / Seizankai, Zen Nihon Toyama Ryu Iaido Renmei, US Batto Fed. ZNBDR
Bill Henderson, Sensei / Senkakukan Dojo, Mugai Ryu Iaihyodo, Toyama Ryu Batto Do, ZNBDR
David Neeley, Sensei / Senpokan Dojo, Mugai Ryu Iai Hyodo, ZNBDR, Toyama Ryu Iaido Renmei.

The seminars include but are not limited to:
(Kata Seminars (any seminar not requiring targets) $35, Shizan/tameshigiri Seminars $50).
Seminar Package 1 (2 Kata and 1 Cutting Seminar) $100
Seminar Package 2 (1 Kata and 2 Cutting Seminar) $115
Seminar Package 3 (3 Kata and 1 Cutting Seminar) $130
Seminar Package 4 any combination of 4 seminars
Mugai Ryu Iaihyodo
Shin Shin Sekiguchi Ryu Batto Jutsu
Ono Ha Itto Ryu Kenjutsu
Nakamura Ryu Batto Do Kumitachi
Suio Ryu, Naginata
Toyama Ryu Batto Do
Zen Nihon Batto Do Renmei (compulsary kata for West Coast and Orlando Taikai)
Batto Tamishigiri (standing, compulsary patterns for most taikai shizan/tameshigiri events)
Advanced Tameshigiri (standing)
Seiza/zagi Tameshigiri (seated/kneeling)

Taikai Events List: Per Division (Kata events $35, Shizan/tameshigiri events $50)
Taikai Package A. 1 Kata event, Batto Shizan, Dodan, $100
Taikai Package (B) 2 Kata events, Batto Shizan, Dodan, Team $150
Seated kata ($35)
Standing Kata ($35)
Batto Tameshigiri (standing) ($50)
Team Tameshigiri (3 person team rokudan giri) ($20 per person)
Seated Tameshigiri (Sandan and above) ($50)
Dodan (horizonal target single elimination) ($25)

Seminar registraion forms will be available by visiting www.bakersfieldbudo.com/register

Please visit our site for recommended hotel information and directions.

Please call or emial if you have any questions.

Robin Ramirez
Bakersfield Budo
r.ramirez@bakersfieldbudo.com
661-398-2100

[Carl McClafferty]

Robin:

Will you be posting pictures/results?
Carl
No where, Afghanistan

[Dave Drawdy]

Carl-san, thanks for the nudge. Surprised no one has posted their comments, results, thoughts, etc. Was a good event. Robin did a good job, things ran pretty smooth, lots of community support. His students looked good, too, nice focus. Your guys looked good. Dan kept things moving, Chuck was especially strong in kata (I was one of the judges). Did not see the shizan. It was very cool being a judge with Shimabukuro sensei. Also enjoyed his kumitachi seminar a lot.

Ok, guys, next? Pics?

Dave

[Robin Ramirez]

You guys are awesome,

Last night one of my newer students came in and said "ok i'm hooked", I asked her to elaborate a bit, considering her career will only allow her 4 days a month in the Dojo. She expanded the comment by letting us know she is looking for new employment, one which allows for more Dojo time...

I would say my folks were most impressed by everyone who came out to support, Shimabukuro Sensei was a joy as always, Alvarez Sensei and his Senior guys Bill Henderson and Dave Neeley were instrumental in the event running so well. Drawdy and Kim Sensei, your seminars were well received, next year we might expand the time allowed for all of the seminars. Unfortunately Brian Stokes had to leave early, thank you for your help Brian, the seminar looked fantastic.

McClafferty Sensei, Keupp and Gettings did you proud, they are great examples of the SGR family here in the states, the hardest thing about any of this is "showing up" Dan Keupp and Mark Gettings have that part down pat, the rest I chalk up to time served. One of my students took the SGR seminar and has not stopped talking about it. Nice Work!

I would like to publicly thank all of the instructors and students who made it to our first event, a special thank you to Kevin Parsley who was the official event coordinator, coming in from Sacramento and taking charge of the support staff (anyone with a pulse not doing anything) and putting them to work, setting the example on how to make the wheel turn.

An additional thank you to Sarah Henderson, who helped with behind the scenes, making tournament brackets and organizing the Shojo for each event.
The husbands, wives and parents of the attendees, you all make it possible.

A number of folks from the Gasshuku were not present for the Taikai and vice-versa, here is a group shot taken after the awards presentation. This photo represents about 50% of the people that attended throughout the weekend. We ended at 36 preregistered with another 6-8 at the door.

This event was hosted in October this year to provide a venue for new coming students to attend something prior to the 2010 Taikai lineup. In the future, we intend to run the Kern River Budosai on May 15th 2010, filling a 6 month void between the Tucson SGR February event and the West Coast Taikai in September.

A final congratulations to Ron Taniguchi Jr. who was our Yusho for the event, Ron recently moved to San Leandro Ca. and is setting up shop there soon. Nice work Guchi-san!

More photos and overall results to come in the next few days, we are editing and resizing now,

Sincerely,

Robin Ramirez

[Robin Ramirez]

It was fun setting up my Dojo for this event, the Jinmaku were a big hit. Our dojo is in a office/warehouse complex, it gave some privacy to the hakama clad participants while adding a nice flare. Also, here is my "so glad it's over face".

Regards,

Robin Ramirez

[David Knutson]

What a surly looking bunch!!

Wish I could have been there. Glad things went well. Congrats to everyone who participated and many thanks to those who helped out. Even though I wasn't there, I know you had to put in a ton of work.

[SangWooKim]

Just wanted to wait for the host to say something first, that's all. Plus I'm still recovering.....

Just want to say thank you to all the participants and teachers, and mainly thank you to Robin for inviting me out. I had a great time working with and meeting new people. It was really great to see people competing for the first time and enjoying it. Reminded me of the first tai kais in the US. I hope I get another chance to meet up with everyone again.

Sang

[Carl McClafferty]

Robin:
Congrats to you and your students on your first annual Tai Kai . Hopefully I can get this deployment schedule worked so I can attend next year. Will there be more pictures? Maybe you could email some, please.

Keupp, Gettings, Chuck and crew thanks for representing us there.

Carl
No where,
Afghanistan

[Carl Jenkins]

Robin - great event and it was good seeing folks such as Sang, Paul "dang" Smith, and the rest. It was also good to meet all of the newer folks.

The new dojo is great and love the fact that it is 100' from a micro-brewery.... excellent planning.

Looking forward to next year !

Take care,
Carl

[Erik Tracy]

I'd like to add my congratulations to Robin Ramirez and the Bakersfield Budo Dojo for hosting such a great event!

This was my first visit to their dojo and I was very impressed with how they have turned it into a first class budo dojo.

I went along with my instructor, Shimabukuro Hanshi, to help out where I could and had a great time watching the different seminars by Big Tony, Brian Stokes, Dan Keupp and Mark Gettings, Dave Drawdy, Bill Henderson, and Sang Kim.

The offerings ran practically the full gamut of sword arts from different styles. Truly a unique opportunity to see the differences and similarities in the different arts.

Shimabukuro Sensei was especially pleased that there was a lot of interest in Ono-ha Itto-ryu kenjutsu.

The whole event went very smoothly and from what I could tell - everyone had a great time.

I saw many familiar faces, caught up with folks I hadn't seen for a while, and met new people to establish new friendships.

And....there were lots of cool swords to look at - everything from new to antiques!

I'd also like to congratulate everyone who participated in the taikai. First rate budo by everyone.

And congratulations to Ron Taniguchi for getting yusho!

This first Kern River Budosai has established itself as an event to put on your calendar - don't miss the next one!

[Jason Hatcher]

I loved the group shot of you guys. I would so have enjoyed the chance to make it out there for this event, but things don't always go the way we want them to. Congratulations to Ramirez sensei for holding his first Tai Kai, I wish I could have hung out with you and the West Coast crew again. Not to mention, finally getting the chance to meet Shimabukuro sensei. I'll try hard to make it out in 2010, got my fingers crossed.

Still looking forward to hearing the stories from Drawdy sensei and Carl-san. Including how sensei hurt his arm...

Jason Lee A. Hatcher

[Paul Smith]

I wanted to say thanks to Robin, Filthy Bill, and their crews that made this a great first event. Lots of hard work went into it, and it showed in how well things ran. It had been too long since I had the opportunity to attend a Tai Kai, and this made me realized how much I had missed it. It was great getting to talk to and hang out with old friends again, and make new ones. Having the venue next to the micro-brewery was dangerously convenient (I was only there 3 nights, and found myself at the brewery each night!) and showed great planning in dojo placement!
Had a great time, and will try my best to make the next one!

Including how sensei hurt his arm...

Always remember that tiny Japanese women are dangerous!

[Robin Ramirez]

Thanks for all the positive feedback,

This event would not have run so smoothly had it not been for all of you who attended. Some folks might not realize how much work everyone does, the participants are the support crew who take care of everything, the seniors clean up for the juniors and vice-versa. The dojo was full of great spirit.

We posted some photo's of the embu and gasshuku on our image gallery,

I will put up the overall results and images from the actual taikai in the next few days, sorry for the delay!

Robin Ramirez,
Bakersfield Budo