IT'S OFFICIAL NOW! THE ZEN JUDO FAMILY HAS ITS OWN WEB DOMAIN: WWW.ZENJUDO.COM

Folks, we finally found a provider (virginia.com) and the Zen Judo family now has its official space in virtual reality: www.zenjudo.com. As those of you who check the page out will realize, we're still putting things together. So any suggestions you have for things we should have on the page, any information you think we should pass on to visitors, any pictures you think would make the page look better, or any other Zen Judo links that you want us to highlight, please let us know. Send all those good suggestions to our webmaster, Andrew Ross at aross@richmond.edu and we'll add it to the site. It would be nice to have an easy to use directory of Zen Judo clubs with the times and days of their practice, so that those interested in the art could find us more easily, and as Zen Judokas travel they will have a place to practice by visiting other clubs. The family is now in cyberspace for good!

REPORT ON KENSHINDORYU's ANNUAL GASSHUKU

The Kenshindoryu's annual gasshuku was held at the Rockley Park Holiday complex in Poole, Dorset this year. Most members arrived on Friday 10th September and took advantage of the substantial bar facilities, in traditional preparation for the training run at 8.30am on Saturday. Training, proper, began at 10.30, with Sensei Jim Dart, running through some throws, as performed in ISTJ Combat Judo, while Sensei Andy Wright taught Shotokan karate on the other training area. Shihan Andrew Millard took over at noon, for an excellent session based around Tai Otoshi, while Sensei John Cox, of Wadoryu Karate continued the "un-matted" training. Members were encouraged to train in any class that interested them, even if they had no previous experience in that art and a number of judoka and karateka swapped sessions, to benefit from the immense experience of these two instructors. After a short lunch, the afternoon was taken up by Ross Mockeridge and Alan Caine teaching Combat Sombo groundwork (Sombo is the Russian grappling/striking art taken largely from Judo), after which, almost everyone retired to one of the swimming pools for some much-needed R&R. Day two commenced again with a relaxing (?) run to the beach and some gentle (??) warm-up excercises, followed by breakfast, then training in the dojo from 10.30. Shihan Millard started off Sunday's proceedings with a session concentrating on the intricacies of Uchi Mata, while Sensei Jim Dart taught Wadoryu Karate off-mat. Sensei Gordon Lawson took over at 11.30 for 1.1/2 hours of groundwork in his usual informative and entertaining style, while the karate members went out into the glorious sunshine to practice Kata and Bo Jutsu techniques. The final sessions commenced with everyone together for Knife-defences, taken from the Kenshindoryu Jujitsukai syllabus, taught, again, by Jim Dart, followed by a chance for senior grades to demonstrate their own favourite techniques from whatever arts they practiced. The course training was rounded-off with a half-hour of randori, where everyone got to experience "fighting" against people from other arts, before the final Rei, and rush for the Jaccuzzi !! The course will be run again next year on the second weekend in September and all are welcome, based on a cost per adult of about £40 ($65 US) inclusive of accommodation and training fees. More details will be available from Jim Dart on Kenshindoryu@compuserve.com

ASAGEIKO IS HERE! Our annual international Zen Judo clinic (Asageiko) is coming soon! It will take place on October 9-10 (Saturday/Sunday). The setting is the campus of the University of Richmond, recently voted the most beautiful college campus in the U.S. All of its buildings are in collegiate gothic style, surrounded by wooded areas; a charming lake adds a sense of distinctiveness to the place. The training proper will be hosted in the North Court Hall of the university, one of its oldest building. The area is very spacious with three or four times the mat space of an average dojo. We will have two days of Zen Judo training with top ranking Zen Judo Senseis instructing! On Saturday afternoon we'll have belt testing for all American Zen Judokas who are ready to grade. And we'll also have the annual meeting of the American Zen Judo Yudanshakai (the ruling body for American Zen Judo). All Zen Judokas are invited to the event. Registration is $30 dollars for the two days, including food and beverages. The Richmond Inn will be the official hotel for the event.

THROW OF THE MONTH

Hiza Guruma As in all techniques, break uke's balance forwards with a slight pull with both hands, stepping back towards your right rear corner with your right foot as you place the sole of your left foot against the outside of uke's right knee. Turn your body to the left and wheel your partner over your foot. Your right hand should move in an upward circular direction whilst your left hand moves in a downward direction around the same circle, not unlike using a large steering wheel. Properly executed, uke will land behind your original position and not just to your left side as is too often the case. You should always remember to keep hold of uke's right sleeve to ease the breakfall and enable you to enter groundwork or to finish the technique as you wish. (Bagot, Zen Judo: A Way of Life).