Newsletter - 27 April 2011

 

 

Hi Guys

 

I hope you will forgive me for a short newsletter this term – heaps on at the moment, but it should calm down shortly.

Last term turned out to be a grading term which was not planned at all – this was due to so many of you putting in some real effort and progressing as you deserved to. We have always prided ourselves on putting on gradings when people are ready and you guys were ready, so we put on a grading.

 

Some of you have commented on the fact that we don’t always adhere strictly to the grading syllabus on grading nights. This is true, and there are several reasons for this.

 

Firstly, good instructors should always know where their students are at, if you are not ready to grade; we will tell you.

 

Secondly, it is always your choice – so if we tell you that you might not be ready, you can still grade and take the chance.

 

Thirdly, the grading syllabus merely tells you what you need to know for your grading – it does not mean that we will test you on all of it…we know what we want to see from each individual.

 

All this being said, you guys really impressed us last term and we wish to acknowledge this – so congratulations go to the following people who passed their grades:

 

• Jemma Walker – 9th Kyu (Red Belt)
• Perry Hudson – 8th Kyu (Yellow Belt)
• Patrick Brus – 8th Kyu (Yellow Belt)
• Brian Williamson – 7th Kyu (Orange Belt)
• Christian Yee – 4th Kyu (Purple Belt)
• Kane McNamara – 3rd Kyu (Brown Belt)
• Paul Bandt – 3rd Kyu (Brown Belt)
• Sam Wilkinson (2nd Kyu Brown Belt)

 

The standards demonstrated at this grade were very high indeed and I can only say that Helena and I are very proud of you all.

We really need to acknowledge Jon, Dale, Walter and Jelena for instructing to a degree that I consider being above and beyond the call of duty – you guys have certainly helped see our students successfully through their next grades.

 

I expect this next term to be one of consolidation and I don’t foresee many gradings happening – but I could be wrong…again.

The dates for next term are 4th May 2011 – 11th July 2011 with an instructors meeting at our place (as usual) on Monday 2nd May 2011 at 6:30 PM (come on Chris and Lee…we are counting on you).

 

On a health note, I am still plagued by illness and injury, so next term will see me instructing very much from the sidelines and participating in a minimal capacity – roll on the good times again.

 

Unfortunately, hall feels have gone up so we have no choice but to increase term fees by $10 for those training twice a week and by $5 for those training once a week. No increase for instructors though.

 

That’s all for now – see you again next term.

 

Cheers

 

Guss & Helena