CONGRATS TO NEW RANKS IN AMERICAN ZEN JUDO!

A good number of folks tested during Asageiko. Congratulations to them and to their club (the Inner Stairway in Charlottesville, VA), for a job well done! The new ranks are (in alphabetical order): for green belt: George Luzaich and Mark Y. Smith; for orange belt: Roderick Dew, Justine Jackson, Beth Miller, Mary Shemo, Justin Taylor, and Leonard Tuchyner. The testing also marked another important milestone in American Zen Judo's history. For the first time we had a black belt testing board in place for the event: Sensei David Ross, 4th Dan Zen; Sensei Vern Borgen, 4th Dan Zen; Sensei Ed Stockwell, 2nd Dan Zen; and Sensei Stephanie Bunte, 1st Dan Zen. Slowly, we are coming of age here... The next grading will take place at the Inner Stairway on the last Sunday of November. Some folks from the Wadokan will be testing for brown belt.

RADCLIFFE ZEN JUDO CLUB IS SPONSORING A BUDO TRAINING THIS DECEMBER

Sensei Gordon Lawson is inviting all of us to Radcliffe's Budo Course on the 4th and 5th of December this year. Radcliffe's trainings have traditionally drawn the best in Zen Judo and it always offers a great selection of practices. This year the course will offer lessons in Kata -- Kime no Kata, Ju no Kata and the "special" John Harding no Kata (not to be missed!). Along with that there will also be lessons in Thai kickboxing, Tai Chi, and English martial arts. As is traditional with Radcliffe training, the course will also include a party in the evening. All interested should contact Sensei Gordon at gordonlawson@btinternet.com, or the Technical Director for Zen Judo in the UK, Sensei Andrew Millard, at andrew.millard@talk21.com for further information.

ASAGEIKO TRAINING A SUCCESS STORY

American Zen Judo's international Zen Judo clinic, Asageiko (Summer training) was the highlight of October. The training took place on October 9-10 (Saturday/Sunday) at the North Court Hall, on the University of Richmond campus. Under the leadership of five black belts (Keo Cavalcanti, 6th dan, David Ross, 4th dan, Vern Borgen, 4th dan, Ed Stockwell, 2nd dan, and Stephanie Bunte, 1st dan) American Zen Judokas had two full days of training. On saturday, we started with Hapo no Kuzushi exercises, followed up by taylored drills for junior and senior students. Senseis Ed and Stephanie led the junior training on throws to groundholds and katame waza, while Sensei David organized the senior training with full sacrifice techniques. On Saturday afternoon we had the grading, with two Judokas coming up for green belt and six for orange. On sunday, the day was opened with Happo no Kuzushi drills again, followed by taylored drills for junior and senior students. The junior students focused on two by two's counters with Senseis Ed, Stephanie and Vern. The senior students continued with full sacrifice techniques, led by Sensei David. There were two sessions on Sunday afternoon. The first one involved self-defense drills using yellow and orange belt throws. The second one divided up students into junior and senior groups. The junior students were led by Sensei Vern into using combinations on the move as part of a escape/defense situation. The senior students worked on brown and black belt throws. All in all everybody seemed to enjoy the training and to come away with much to continue practicing further down the road.

GENTLE WAYS' KANGEIKO SCHEDULED!

The folks out in North Dakota are planning the last Kangeiko (winter training) of the century! Kangeiko 2000 the year of the dragon! Sensei Verb Borgen and his clubs invite all Zen Judoka for the party. The date is Satuday, February 12th, 2000, at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse at North Dakota State University. One of the Kangeiko's most cherished traditions is for everybody to run barefooted on the snow, in their gis, around the Bunker Fieldhouse! All polar bears are invited. Those wishing for more information, please e-mail Sensei Vern at vborgen@plains.nodak.edu

AMERICAN ZEN JUDO WELCOMES MIDWEST CLUBS INTO THE FAMILY

We at American Zen Judo are excited about welcoming Sensei Vern Borgen (4th Dan Zen, 5th Dan USJA) and the Gentle Ways clubs into the Zen Judo family in America. Vern and the clubs have always used the Zen Judo syllabus. In fact, Vern's 4th Dan was approved by Mac way back in the beginning of Zen Judo in the U.S. Vern has been a tireless worker for traditional Judo in America; he is a trusted counselor in American Zen Judo's Board of Advisors and also our liaison to the United States Judo Association. The difference is that now all our clubs will be part of the same family. Vern will be in charge of developing Zen Judo in the American Midwest, and he and all of his Dan grades who are running clubs will be voting members of the American Zen Judo black belt association (the Black Belt Association is responsible for setting policies and managing Zen Judo in America). Part of the excitement with this addition is that Vern brings much to our art. Vern's program in Fargo is one of the most solid Judo program in the U.S. right now, so we have much to learn from them!

AMERICAN ZEN JUDO WELCOMES NEW CLUB IN TENNESSEE

It is a pleasure to announce that Tennessee will have a Zen Judo club again. The Shelbyville Zen Judo club will be opening this month (Nov. 30) under the leadership of Sensei Stephanie Bunte! Workouts will be on Tuesdays for children and Thursdays for adults. The club will be using the town's rec center. They're getting a lot of publicity (radio spots, a booth in the town's festival) so we're hoping for a good crowd. Stephanie tells us she might have around 4 future Zen Judoka lined up for her children's class already (one is her own daughter, who showed us how to do some serious mae korobis during Asageiko!). Welcome to the family, folks. For those in the family wishing to send Stephanie their congratulations or help her along the first few months of being a Sensei, her e-mail address is: jsbunte91@cafes.net.

THROW OF THE MONTH

Kubi Nage This is the simplest and most basic of throws, the essence of hip technique. Turn in using "the right lead" method, your feet finishing up inside uke's feet and your back to his/her chest. Slide your right arm across uke's shoulders and around his/her neck, bringing uke's head forward under your right armpit. A strong pull on uke's right sleeve with you left hand coupled with a slight turn of your hips will complete the throw. (Bagot, Zen Judo: A Way of Life).