N W AUSKFNEWSLETTER

Vol. 16 No. 2October 28, 2013

KENDO

FIK Reminder and Reports on 2013 AUSKF Events

2012-2014OFFICERS:

PRESIDENT:Arthur I. MurakamiEXECUTIVE VP:JeffMarstenVP-PROM& EXAMS:Yoshiteru TagawaVP-COMPETITION:Tim YugeVP-EDUCATION:Shozo KatoTREASURER:Tsuyoshi InoshitaSEC-HISTORIAN:Norman K. Otani, Esq.AUDITOR:Court TanouyeRECORDER:Shinichi KoikeLIABILITY INS.COORD. (Interim)Tim YugeIAIDO:Shozo Kato

2012-2014DIRECTORS:Christopher Yang, Esq.Yuji OnitsukaShinobu MaedaAtsushi HoriTomoji KatoRobert Souder

FROM THEPRESIDENT:Greetings to all members of the AllUnited States Kendo Federation, andtheir families.

I have noted that in the recent few years,there has been an increase in the numberof AUSKF kendo & iaido sensei beingrecognized and invited to go to otherFIK (International Kendo Federation)countries to give seminars and to act asjudges for shinkyu shinsa. This is agreat honor for those AUSKF kendo &iaido sensei who are requested andreceive such invitations. However, Iwant to REMIND those kendo & iaidosensei receiving these invitations toremember that it is the current FIK(International Kendo Federation) policythat the AUSKF and All Japan KendoFederation (AJKF) be notified of suchinvitations before accepting to do them.

I would also like to acknowledge thatmany of the previous 15th WKC-TeamUSA members, have worked very hardin leadership roles to plan for the 4th

AUSKF Jr. Open NationalChampionships. Through these effortsthe many children/youth practicingkendo in our fifteen (15) AUSKFmember federations, will be able tocompete in this event and be qualified tobecome future WKC Team USAmembers and ultimately become futurekendo instructors.

Due to the late publication of this issueof the AUSKF Newsletter; the 4th

AUSKF Junior Open National

Championships already has been successfullyheld on Sunday, June 23, 2013 at theCoronado High School venue in Henderson,Nevada. Congratulations to all the youthkendoists who competed and an extracongratultions to those who received medalsfor their successful results [see details insidethis newsletter].

In addition, as noted above, due to the latepublication date of this issue of the AUSKFNewsletter, the 2013 AUSKF Iaido SummerCamp was also already successfully held inCouncil Bluffs, Iowa on June 27-30, 2013 [seedetails inside this AUSKF newsletter].

On August 30-September 1, 2013, the 2013AUSKF Kendo Summer Camp and KodanshaShinsa was also held in Cleveland, Ohio. Ibelieve that many of the AUSKF kendo senseiwho attended this annual kendo training eventwill enable them to make kendo in the USAstronger. In recent years, the AUSKF hasrecognized that the kenshi worldwide aregetting better and stronger. For this reason; Iencourage our AUSKF kendoists and sensei topractice hard together so that we are able tomaintain the world class recognition achievedby the AUSKF over the past several years.

Lastly, please e-mail or write to me anysuggestions or ideas to improve AUSKFoperations and these will be reviewed at thenext AUSKF board of directors meeting inNovember 2013.

Sincerely,Arthur I. Murakami, AUSKF President*Note: "new"e-mail address:ichiro.kendo(g)yahoo.coin

28 October 2013AUSKF NEWSLETTER

Page twoHighlights from the April 13 & 14,2013,AUSKF Board of Directors Meeting, SantaClara, California.Reported by Norman K. Otani, 2012-2014AUSKF Secretary-Historian.

[Note: This report is being made pending theapproval of the minutes of the April 13 & 14,2013 AUSKF Board of Directors meeting; thereader is forewarned that this information issubject to modification]I. OLD BUSINESS:A. AUSKF Liability Insurance [Update]:(1.) Previously an additional laibility insurancecoverage for the AUSKF board of directors andofficers {"D & O"] at a cost of $50 perindividual director and officer was approved andwas pending completion of the application, etc.It was reported that this D & O liabilityinsurance coverage was no longer available tothe AUSKF at this time, by the previousAUSKF liability insurance provider.(2.) Discussion was held about the recentdecision to terminate the AUSKF liabilityinsurance policy effective 4/1/13, with theprevious provider and the efforts made to locatea new AUSKF liability insurance provider.Although there was ongoing communicationwith an interested liability insurance provider;due to the urgency of the immediate needs of theAUSKF member federations, dojos andmembers to have liability insurance coverage tocontinue current kendo classes, etc.; it wasdecided to review on a day-by-day basis to makea diligent effort to obtain a AUSKF liabilityinsurance policy ASAP. An e-mail noticewould be sent by the AUSKF President, to thefifteen (15) AUSKF member federations toadvise that there was currently no AUSKFliability insurance coverage effective 4/1/13.Also, this e-mail notice would include anadvisement that if there was any urgentrequirement for liability insurance coverage byany of the fifteen (15) AUSKF memberfederations/dojos, a separate temporary liabilityinsurance policy was recommended to beobtained by the AUSKF memberfederation/doio, and the AUSKF agreed toprovide reimbursement of these temporary coststo the affected AUSKF memberfederations/dojos, pending the AUSKFobtaining a new liability insurance policy.

B. Report on the 2013 FIK Shinpanseminar.It was reported that on March 9 & 10,2013, the FIK held the America Zone FIKShinpan Seminar, hosted by the AUSKF-GNEUSKF in Annandale, Virginia. Theguest AJKF instructors were: ChiefInstructor: Taizan Shimano sensei, 8 danHanshi, Takao Fujiwara sensei, 8 danHanshi, and Norio Ohsawa sensei, 8 danKyoshi. For future FIK America ZoneShinpan seminars hosted by the AUSKF; itwas suggested that the AUSKF memberfederations provide the basic trainingregarding shinpan duties, so that the FIKShinpan seminars hosted by the AUSKFcan then cover more advanced shinpantopics in the future trainings.

C. Committee Action Items:(1.) Budget/Finance: The 12/31/12 end-

of-year financial report was presented andapproved.

(a.) Microsoft Office 365 [update]• AUSKF board of directors and

officers have now been provided apassword, for view only capability of theinformation now available in the AUSKFVirtual office.

(2.) Education:(a.) 2012 AUSKF Education Tour-

Western Region [November 30-December10]. It was reported that Yuji Nakatasensei 8 dan Hanshi, former Vice-ChiefInstructor of Tokyo Metropolitan Policewas a success. The tour covered seven (7)AUSKF member federations [PNKF,NCKF, SWKIF, SUSKIF, CCKF, SCKFand SCKO].

(b.) December 8-15,2012 AJKFChampion Tour. It was reported thatSusumu Takanabe sensei, 6 dan Renshi,[2010 and 2011 AJKF Champion] was wllreceived in the six (6) AUSKF memberfederations visited [AEUSKF, EUSKF,GNEUSKF, SEUSKF, ECUSKF andMWKF].c. ) November 30-December 1, the

AUSKF Mentor Program was utilized toconduct the MWKF laido Seminar led byTatsuhiko Konno sensei, laido 7 danKyoshi and Pam Parker sensei, laido 6 dan

Renshi; this event was held in Fargo,North Dakota (Agassiz Dojo).

(d.) The 1st AUSKF laido EducationTourwas held on February 1 -10, 2013. It wasreported that Chihiro Kishimoto sensei,laido, 8 dan Hanshi and Kendo, 7 danKyoshi [former Chairman of the AJKFlaido Committee] with the assistance ofShozo Kato sensei, conducted a successfultour that included ten (10) of the AUSKFmember federations [AEUSKF, EUSKF,GNEUSKF, SEUSKF, SWKIF, PNKF,NCKF, CCKF, SCKF and SCKO].An unfortunate incident occurred duringthe Seattle portion of the tour, in whichthere was a theft of four (4) iaitobelonging to both Kishimoto sensei andTatsuhikko Konno sensei. The AUSKFreviewed this unusual situation anddetermined that the amount/value of thelosses was estimated to be $4,000; ifuncovered by a homeowner's insurancepolicy, the AUSKF approved the paymentof the amount/value of the loss, estimatedto be $4,000 to Konno sensei/Kishimotosensei.(e.) 2013 AUSKF laido Summer Camp

will be held on June 27-30. There will bea AUSKF laido Kodansha Shinsa;approval from the AJKF will be requestedto use the two (2) invited AJKF iaidoinstructors as examiners. Also, theAUSKF Jodo program will be included asa workshop; currently, the AUSKF hasthree (3) 5 dan Jodo sensei. In response toAUSKF members' questions about havinga AUSKF Jodo promotion examination; itis proposed to conduct a AUSKF Jodopromotion examination in 2014, and aAUSKF Jodo sub-committee will be setupduring the 2013 AUSKF laido SummerCamp, for this purpose.(f.) 2013 AUSKF Kendo Education

Tour-Eastern Region [March 29 to April9]. It was reported that MasaharuKakehashi sensei, 8 dan Hanshi [(ret.)Chief Instructor of Tokyo MetropolitanPolice] conducted a successful tour thatincluded six (6) AUSKF memberfederations [GNEUSKF, EUSKF,AEUSKF, SEUSKF, MWKF andECUSKF].

28 October 2013AUSKF NEWSLETTER

Page threeHighlights from the April 13 & 14.2013,AUSKF Board of Directors Meeting, SantaClara, California.

I. OLD BUSINESS: C. Committee ActionItems: (2) Education: [continued]

A separate report was made regarding theprogress made to replace the laido medals forthe AUSKF laido National Taikai[Tournament]; the budget of $8,818 waspreviously approved for the replacement of thelaido medals.

Also, a progress report was made regarding thereplacement of the three (3) Perpetual Trophiesfor the AUSKF laido National Taikai[Tournament], which is also near completionwith the engraved name plates, etc.

(3.) Competition:

(a.) Training for Trainers program [update]It was reported that the Training for Trainersprogram was successfully held in combinationwith the AUSKF Zone 1 Referee Seminar onJanuary 26 & 27,2013 in Torrance, California.There were a total of ninety two (92)participants from the SCKF, SCKO and WKF:39 were 3 dan, 26 were 4 dan, 19 were 5 dan,and 7 were 6 dan. Also, it was decided that theFIK (International Kendo Federation)Regulations of Kendo Shiai and Shinpan\2006 edition] will be required for the AUSKFparticipants in the AUSKF referee seminars. Inaddition, it was recommended to download acopy of the AJKF Shinpan Handbook which wastranslated by Robert Stroud.Further, some of the previous proposed Zoneshave been changed due to logistical issues, etc.:Zone 2: SEUSKF, AEUSKF, ECUSKF, Zone 3:MWKF, GNEUSKF, EUSKF, Zone 4: NCKF,CCKF, Zone 4A: PNKF, Zone 5 [no change].Discussion was held regarding the certificationprocedure; a common standard is needed to becertified as a AUSKF shinpan.(b.) 4th AUSKF Jr. Open National

Championships.It was reported that the venue in Henderson,Nevada has been visited by several 4th AUSKFJr. Open tournament planning committeemembers. New fundraising ideas include a

photo of kendo kamae with a kendoistposed within the background.Budget was presented and reviewed.

c.) 1st Jr. Team USA Training Camp.A report was presented for the proposedtwo (2) AUSKF 2013 Jr. Team USAgassshuku training camps in April 2013 andSummer 2013. After discussion, thismatter was approved with the proposedbudget of $33, 269.Also, there was discussion that the Summer2013 AUSKF Jr. Team USA gasshuku,may be able to include eligible girls; theinitial considerations for this to be feasible,include separate accommodations, etc.

(d.) 2014 AUSKF National Tournament.It was reported that there was previousinterest expressed by PNKF to host the2014 AUSKF National Tournament;however, after discussion, it was mentionedthat the PNKF would not be able to locate agym facility for six (6) courts, but wouldstill be interested to host this event, butwould require three (3) days if a four (4)court gym facility was used.Also, there was a proposal to have the 2014AUSKF National Tournament in theWashington D.C. area; however, afterdiscussion, there were concerns about theproposed date of this event, assistanceneeded from AUSKF for logistical matters,etc.In addition, discussion was held regardingwhether or not to combine the 2014AUSKF Jr. Open Tournament with the2014 AUSKF National Tournament; thismay require changing the previous formatas to ages of the youth divisions, etc.

(e.) 16* WKC- Team USA. Selection ofCoaches and Manager.The 16th WKC-Team USA managerapproved is Yuji Onitsuka; additionally,Spencer Hosokawa will be the assistantmanager, Dr. Sean Shinada will be theMen's Team Coach, Marvin Kawabata willbe the Women's Team Coach, Kevin Herwill be the Assistant coach, Chris Yang willbe the Men's Team Captain, and SachiTamura will be the Women's TeamCaptain.Yuji Onitsuka announced that the 16th

WKC-Team USA Tryouts: 1st KyokaRenshu will be held in September 2013and all fifteen (15) AUSKF memberfederations will be invited to send theireligible kendoists. A new selectionprocess format was proposed andapproved to give the interested eligiblekendoists the required training regimenconsisting of: Saturday: all day trainingand shiai. Sunday; all day training andshiai. Then, after the initial selection ofthe 16th WKC-Team USA men's andwomen's team members is made; therewill be subsequent kyoka renshu inOctober 2013, November 2013 andDecember 2013; AUSKF would providetravel stipends to the selected kenshi, afterthe 1s1 tryouts/kyoka renshu, through thefinal selection.

(4.) Promotion:A review was held regarding the AUSKFpolicy when a private invitation isreceived from FIK countries requestingAUSKF kendo sensei to conduct kendoand or iaido seminars and serve asexaminers for kendo and or iaido shinsa.As there is no current AUSKF policyregarding this matter; a draft AUSKFpolicy and procedure will be written forfurther review.

Another matter reviewed was the AUSKFpolicy & procedure regarding non-AUSKF members [member of FIKcountry] taking a promotion examinationwhile visiting in the United States. It wasdecided that a AUSKF PromotionExamination form for non-AUSKFmembers from other FIK countries,requesting to take a promotionexamination in the United Statesconducted by one of the AUSKF memberfederations, will be prepared and postedon the AUSKF website.

(5.) Development:1. Virtual office/website:Discussion was held regarding thedevelopment of a Google calendar, on theAUSKF website, to include AUSKFmember federation events.

28 October 2013AIIQKP MFW<il FTTFR

Page fourHighlights from the April 13 & 14,2013,AUSKF Board of Directors Meeting, SantaClara, California.I. OLD BUSINESS: C. Committee ActionItems: (5) Development: [continued]

2. College Liason Committee:It was reported that the AUSKF Collegewebsite is being developed; a domain has beenpurchased and should be available soon.

3. College dues rate proposal.This matter is still under review; and there isno recommended proposal at this time.

4. Data base Virtual Office.It was reported that the AUSKF Virtual Officeis now accessible for promotion records,membership records, treasurer records, etc.AUSKF officers and board of directors will beissued passwords to allow access.

Additional AUSKF records will be added, inthe future, when scanned and made availablein an electronic format. AUSKF has retainedan IT person to assist with the development ofand inputting AUSKF Virtual Officeinformation.

(6.) Other:1. The current AUSKF by-laws description ofeach officer's duties is out of date; eachAUSKF officer was requested to review theircurrent duties and propose updates. Tabled tonext AUSKF board of directors meeting.

2. Establish clearer definitions of certain areasof concern, e.g. which AUSKF committee is incharge of shinpan seminars: Education orCompetition? Clear decisions anddeterminations in these areas should be madeby the AUSKF board of directors; so thatfuture planning of these programs can be doneby the appropriate AUSKF committee, withoutany confusion.

3. How to manuals.Currently available is the topic of hosting anAUSKF board of directors meeting; othersneeded are: Hosting an AUSKF NationalChampionship tournament; WKC-Team USAProcedures; Jr. Team USA Training CampProcedures, etc.

III. Committee meetings:Committee reports:

A. Budget:The end of year 2012 Summary Financialreport was reviewed.

B. Education.It was reported that there will be aNovember 2013 Western Region EducationTour.Also, the 2012 AJKF Champion, Kiwadasensei, will participate in the 2013 AUSKFEducation Tour to be held in the WestCoast area.

C. Promotion.Review of the AUSKF policy regardingAJKF promotion records; it was determinedthat there should not be individual requeststo AJKF for promotion records.

D. Competition.It was reported that the AUSKF ShinpanSeminars schedules are being revised asfollows: Zone 2 [SEUS, AEUS, ECUS]proposed to be held in Atlanta. Zone 3[MW, GNEUS, BUS] to be held in Fall,2013]. Zone 4 [NC, CC] to be held in Fall,2013. Zone 4a [PNW] to be held in 2014.Zone 5 [SWUS, RM, SUS] to be held inSpring, 2014.

Also, it was reported that the 2014 AUSKFNational Tournament proposed venues arein PNKF or SCKF.

In addition, the 16th WKC: Team USAselection procedure will begin inSeptember, October, November andDecember 2013. Final Team USAmembers to be selected by January 2014.

Discussion held regarding the 2002 medalreplacement for the 2014 AUSKF NationalTournament; a budget has been approved.

It was discussed that the AUSKF is in needof having a AUSKF flag for major AUSKFcompetition events, and a AUSKF flag forother AUSKF events.; this matter will bereviewed and a design drafted.

E. laido.It was reported that the 2013 AUSKF laidoSummer Camp budget is pending; due toseveral matters still undecided.

There will be new laido Championshipmedals, and perpetual cups made for the2013 AUSKF laido Championships.

F. Anti-Doping.It was reported that the 2013 FIK OOCTprogram included AUSKF selectedparticipants.

IV. New Business:a. Create Appendix D for policy andprocedure regarding Team USA.

The policy and procedure for selection ofthe Team USA manager and coaches andbudget matters was approved.

b. Request by SCKO to review"Hanshigo."

After discussion, it was decided that theAUSKF Promotion committee will takethis matter under review forrecommendation.

C. AUSKF relation with KKA and FIK.After discussion, as the KKA is arecognized FIK member affiliate country;the KKA issued menjo can be accepted forall kendo ranks by the AUSKF.

However, the concern that the KKA isable to conduct promotion examinations inthe United States is to be discussed byArthur I. Murakami, AUSKFPresident/FIK Vice-president with the FIKofficials, at the 2015 FIK meetings.

D. 2014 AJKF Foreign Leader KendoSeminar Rotation Correction.Due to an error in the early submission ofthe AUSKF recommendations for the2013 AJKF Foreign Leader KendoSeminar; it was agreed to make acorrection to allow CCKF to remain in thefirst position for the 2014 Foreign LeaderKendo Seminar Rotation.

E. November 2013 AUSKF Board ofDirectors meeting was confirmed to beheld in Houston, Texas, on November 9 &10,2013.

28 October 20 1 3KIFWCI FTTFR

Page fiveHighlights from the April 13 & 14,2013,AUSKF Board of Directors Meeting, SantaClara, California.

IV. New Business: (continued)

F. Other:2013 Sports Accord World Combat Games:Discussion was held regarding the AUSKFselection procedure and whether or not thisshould be part of the responsibility of theAUSKF Vice-president of Competition.

It was reported that in 2010, the AUSKFPresident coordinated the selection of theAUSKF participants for the 2010 SportsAccord World Combat Games [China] with the15th WKC-Team USA manager and coaches,with review and approval by the AUSKF boardof directors.

After review of the recommended selectionsfor the 2013 Sports Accord World CombatGames, made by the AUSKF President ArthurI. Murakami,in consultation with YoshiteruTagawa 8 dan, and Shozo Kato 8 dan; it wasdecided by the AUSKF board of directors toapprove those selected: Men's youth: TravisMichael, Women's youth: Martha Rebecca,Men's individual: Daniel Yang, Women'sIndividual: Nishiki Sano, Men's SpecialInvitation: Yoshiteru Tagawa, and also, theWomen's Special Invitation, to be decided bythe same procedure noted above.

Also, it was approved that the AUSKF providefinancial support for travel expenses for two(2) 15th WKC-Team USA members selected tobe the men's coach and women's coach, totravel with the selected participants for the2013 Sports Accord World Combat Games.

November 14-17. 2013: Latin AmericanKendo Championship.

It was reported that the AUSKF received arequest to send AUSKF iaido sensei [A.Murakami and S. Kato] to be iaido shinsaexaminers at the November 14-17,2013 LatinAmerican Kendo Championships; due to thehosting group's limited budget; the AUSKFapproved to pay round trip air fare for the twoAUSKF sensei noted above.

AUSKF SPECIAL REPORT:Tim Yuge, (Interim LiabilityInsurance Co-ordinator)

Since becoming the AUSKF InterimLiability Insurance Co-ordinator; Iwould like to briefly provide theguidelines for each AUSKF dojo tosubmit requests for an AUSKF liabilityinsurance certificate of coverage.

Please submit by e-mail, the AUSKFdojo request for a AUSKF liabilityinsurance certificate to:

Tim Yuge, AUSKF Interim-Liabilty Insurance Co-ordinator.

e-mail: ins. aiiskf(2>gmai I. com

The current turnaround time from dateof e-mail request to date of issuance ofthe AUSKF liability insurancecertificate, is between 10-days and 2weeks.

2013 AUSKF EVENTS

REPORTS:

4TH AUSKF Jr. Open KendoChampionships:On June 23, 2013, a successful 4th

AUSKF Jr. Openh KendoChampionships event was held inHenderson, Nevada

Results of Individual Divisions:

BOYS:

9vrs and under:1st A. Fujiwara, SCKO2nd S. Yoo, SCKO

3rd A. Onitsuka, NCKF3rd M. Nikaido, SCKF

10-llvrsold:1st R. Miyazaki, SCKO2nd Y. Kojima, SCKO3rd L. Levins, SCKO3rd B. Yoo, WKF

12 to 13vrs:1st B. Wang, WKF

2nd A. Ogikubo, SCKO3rd H. Cho, NCKF3rd J. Young Kim, WKF

14-15vrs:1st B. Wi, WKF2nd D. Kumagai, SCKF3rd R. Ogikubo, SCKO3rd T.Hori, SCKF

16 to 18vrs:

1st Y. Nogimura, SCKF2nd S. Park, NCKF

3rd D. Williams, CCKF3rd K. Kobayashi, SCKF

GIRLS:13yrs and under:1st T.Kim, SCKF2nd H. Kiuchi, SCKO3rd H. Yamamoto, SCKO3rd B.Park,PNKF

14-18vrs:1st E.Kim, SCKF2nd E. Dejong, PNKF3rd D. Hahn, SCKF3rd M. Sasaki, SCKO

BOYS TEAM: 1st SCKF A

GIRLS TEAM: 1st SCKF A

28 October 2013Al ICIfE MEXA/CI PTTPR

Page six

2013 AUSKF EVENTS REPORTS:[continued]

2013 AUSKF laido Camp

On June 27-30, 2013, the AUSKFlaido Camp was hosted by theSWUSKIF and held in Council Bluffs,Iowa; under the supervision of ShozoKato sensei, AUSKF laido CommitteeChairman.

As a tribute to the late TakeshiYamaguchi, the 2013 AUSKF laidoCamp; was held In Memory ofTakeshi Yamaguchi Sensei.

The guest laido instructors from theAJKF were:

Yasuo Sakono senseilaido Hanshi 8 DanFukuoka, Japan

Teruo Mitani senseilaido Hanshi 8 DanKouchi, Japan

Both of the AJKF laido instructorsconducted a very thorough review ofthe twelve Sei Tei laido katas, as wellas provide extensive iaido training forall levels of iaidoka attending the two-days of iaido seminar.

Special thanks to the Japanese toEnglish translators during the 2-days ofiaido seminar: Yuko Nishida andKazuko Uchida.

AUSKF Iaido ChampionshipsOn June 29, 2013, the results of the2013 AUSKF Iaido Championshipswere:0 kyu to 2 kyu Division;

1st Allen Smith, SWKIF

2nd Michael Miyamoto, RMKIF3rd David Aguero, NCKF3rd Ruth Alessi, SEUSKFFighting Spirit Award was

awarded to Jennifer Mayo, RMKIF

1 kyu to Idan division;1st Sean Hannon, RMKIF2nd John Mullin, AEUSKF3rd Douglas Picard, NCKF3rd Serena Tang, EUSKFFighting Spirit Award was

awarded to Lynn Miyauchi, PNKF

2 dan to 3 dan:1st Kevin Loughlin, AEUSKF2nd Gordon Hall, AEUSKF3rd Hiroaki Fukumoto, PNKF3rd Gunner Goerlitz, PNKFFighting Spirit Award was awarded

to Yuko Nishida, GNEUSKF

4dan and above:1st Susan Sekreta, AEUSKF2nd Paul Shin, GNEUSKF3rd Jason Hankins, RMKIF3rd Terry Fukui, GNEUSKFFighting Spirit Award was awarded

to Debi Farmer, GNEUSKF

The AUSKF Iaido ChampionshipsAwards Ceremony was highlightedby the presentation of the"newlydesigned " medals prepared by theAUSKF Iaido Committee; and theinauguration of the "new" perpetualtrophies: Murosako Cup,Yamaguchi Cup, and MurakamiCup.

There was also a Jodo Workshopled by Michael Skoss sensei, Jodo 5dan.

Lastly, the proposed location of the2014 AUSKF Iaido Camp wasapproved for New York City.

2013 AUSKF MEMBERFEDERATION REPORTS;

1. All Eastern U.S. Kendo Federation.Noboru Kataoka, President

e-mail: KataokaKen(o).earthlink.net

2. Central California KendoFederation

Norman K. Otani, Presidente-mail: norn iskf.info

3. Eastern U.S. Kendo FederationMozart Ishizuka, President

e-mail: '

In Memoriam:

JohnPrough [1940-2013]While attending the 2013 AUSKFIaido Camp; the editor wassaddened to learn that a very goodfriend and the Head Instructor ofthe Japanese SwordsmanshipSociety dojo, the late John Prough,had passed away.

The AUSKF extends its verysincere and deepest condolences tothe members of the JapaneseSwordsmanship Society dojo, onthe loss of their sensei, and goodfriend of the AUSKF. Mr. Proughwas very helpful to providehistorical information regardingJODO, that was included in a pastissue of the AUSKF Newsletter.

28 October 2013ME\A/gl FTTFR

Page seven

2013 AUSKF MEMBERFEDERATION REPORTS:[continued]

4. East Central U.S. Kendo FederationKoki Ariga, President

e-mail: koki.ariga@gmail.com

5. Greater Northeast U.S. KendoFederation

Tsuyoshi Inoshita, Presidente-mail: pcancer@zoomnet.net

6. Midwest Kendo FederationSteve Voss, President

e-mail: vosssen

7. Northern California KendoFederation

Court Tanouye, Presidente-mail: c.t

8. Pacific Northwest Kendo Federatio

Curtis Marsten, Presidente-mail: cvn

9. Rocky Mountain Kendo & laidoFederation

Hideki Iwakabe, Presidente-mail: Hiwakabe@aol.com

Submitted by: Monica Iwakabe:RMKIF hosted a Kendo Seminar withspecial guest, Migita, Kojiro Sensei(Kendo Kyoshi 8 Dan), fromKumamoto, Japan, on April 13-14,2013. Participants were from RMKIFand SWKIF. The seminar's focusedon proper kime and developmentaldrills. Migita sensei and his wifeenjoyed a tour of the mountains ofColorado, the Grand Canyon, and thesights o

10. Southern California KendoFederation

TimYuge, Presidente-mail:

11. Southern California KendoOrganization.

Atsushi Fujimoto, Presidente-mail: president(o),scko.org

12. Southeast U.S. Kendo FederationJin-Kee Hyun, President

e-mail: jkhyun22(o).yahoo.com

ANNOUNCEMENT:submitted by Ken Strawn

An updated and expanded versionof KENDO TRAINING by KenStrawn has been published bylulu.com. Price is $12.99 plusshipping for the softcover versionand $3.99 for the e-book verson.

13. Southern U.S. Kendo & laidoFederation.

Mark A. Kerstein, Presidentemail: kersteinlaw(S>g

14. Southwest U.S. laido & KendoFederation.

Steve Sasaki, Presidente-mail: stevensasaki@comcast.net

15. Western Kendo FederationDongsoo Lee, President

e-mail: westernkendo(o)hotmail.com

AUSKF NEWSLETTERNorman K. Otani, Esq., Editor

Future news items for the next issueof the AUSKF newsletter to bepublished on or about January 2014,can be submitted to my e-mailaddress:

norm otani(5)auskf.info

or news items can be sent to:2338 E. Minarets AvenueFresno, California 93720