It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update, primarily due to a combination of family emergencies, a new job, and just generally being swamped. There are a number of good news items to report.

First off, a recent connection we made through Meik Skoss with the dojo in New York City at which the Yagyukai trains provides the final piece we needed to get our swordsmanship class completely on track. We’re now working with Pam Parker of the Ken-Zen Institute for the iaido portion of our “generic” sword curriculum. Under Ms. Parker’s tutelage, we are learning the twelve standard forms used by the All Japan Kendo Federation, and those of our people who wish to do so will eventually be able to test for iaido rank under the All Eastern US Kendo Federation. Also, those interested now have the opportunity to continue into Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu iaido in conjunction with their “toho” practice.

Next, the professional pilots we worked with in 2002 have been authorized (and, more importantly, funded) to resume their self-defense classes. Their sessions started May 14^th, and will continue on the first Wednesday of each month through December. Since the corporation for which the pilots fly funded this round of training up front, our efforts to pay down a commercial loan carried by the dojo have been considerably bolstered.

We’re in the middle of a fund-raiser to generate enough of a lump-sum payment on the principle of the loan from construction of the dojo to reduce the remaining monthly payments from $350 to a more manageable level. Going in, we’d hoped to be able to lower the payments to no more than $200, but were wishing we’d be able to get closer to $150. With the money I’ve saved for the purpose, the donations already in, and now the pilots’ contribution, we’ll be below $150 for the remaining payments — perhaps substantially so, since a number of members still plan to make donations in the coming weeks. The lump-sum payment will be made in June, following the regular payment for that month.

Combined with the other cost-cutting measures taking effect this summer — reducing the size of the Yellow Pages ad and eliminating the dojo phone line in the office at my home — it looks as though by August we can conceivably reduce the monthly dojo expenses by as much as $500 (which would be by more than 20%). We put a phone in our home prior to finding a permanent location for the dojo, but now that we’re settled, combined with the fact a growing portion of inquiries arrive via e-mail, the original phone is no longer required.

In any case, I think it highly unlikely dojo enrollment will ever drop again to the level we endured in late 2002 / early 2003. Even if nothing substantially improves with regard to enrollment the cost-cutting measures should pretty well guarantee we are covered for basic expenses through the remaining three years of the initial term of the lease.

But enrollment should increase. A couple of returning college students will give us a kick-up for at least the summer, and there are a number of good people in the recruitment queue. Right now enrollment stands at 36 and I’m hopeful of getting back into the mid 40’s by summer.

The next few months will be busy. At the end of this month, Ellis Amdur is returning for two days of aikido. We’ll be working more on his style of ukemi and then our first test set. If we have time, we might also get into the second test set, but given the time available that might be pushing it. This will be a closed seminar since we’re working on our own stuff. Ellis’ influence has dramatically affected our practice already, all for the better, and I’m well satisfied the aikido class is now on a solid foundation.

In June we’ll be hosting a joint training session for eastern region Shinto Muso-ryu Jo folks; in July we’ll probably have Pam Parker back for more iaido; and then in August a bunch of us will head to Seattle for the SMR Jo Pan-Am Gasshuku. In September the womenfolk will congregate at Shutokukan Dojo in New Jersey for “Chicks with Sticks” with Nobuko Relnick, and then in October we’ll host Phil Relnick for the “official” east coast SMR Jo seminar.

Of course, all the SMR Jo trainees still aim to make it to Shutokukan Dojo at least once a month, usually for the Sunday morning class, and we need to start arranging some return visits to Ken-Zen Institute, so it’s fair to say we’ll be doing a lot of running around, ourselves.