BJMA EAST COAST

𝗕𝗝𝗠𝗔 𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗔𝗦𝗧 – 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 & 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘

Last weekend, our instructors came together for our 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗺 𝗗𝗮𝘆.

Importantly, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗕𝗝𝗠𝗔 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱, giving each club the opportunity to contribute to the discussions and help shape our direction moving forward.

As a group, we discussed our grading structure, Senjo, Dai Senjo, curriculum development and how we can continue to provide appropriate grading and development opportunities for students across the East Coast.

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦

𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦

• September gradings will be held as 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀.
• Zen Do Kai and Muay Thai students can grade locally 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘁.
• There will be 𝗻𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.
• Instructors agreed that students preparing for higher-rank gradings can defer to the November opportunity where appropriate.

𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟳 𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗗𝗔𝗬 & 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚

• A 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘆 will be held for instructors and students.
• A 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 will also be available for eligible Zen Do Kai and Muay Thai students seeking 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘁, 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲.
• Special consideration may include circumstances such as injury or illness, a death in the family, work or university commitments, exams, travel or significant family events such as weddings.
• Applications for special consideration will be considered by the 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 (𝗘𝗟𝗧).

𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦

Our normal local grading opportunities will continue in December.

𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗝𝗢?

The group discussed the timing of Senjo and agreed that this year's September event was too close to Dai Senjo, particularly with relatively few higher-ranked students currently ready to grade.

There was strong support for having 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗶 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, provided there is another appropriate pathway for Black Belt, 1st Degree and 2nd Degree candidates who are unable to attend or have genuine special circumstances.

📅 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳

The proposed grading calendar is:

• 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 – Local Gradings
• 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 – Dai Senjo
• 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 – Local Gradings
• 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 – Development Training Day & Special Consideration Grading
• 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 – Local Gradings

The 2027 Dai Senjo is also being considered for approximately 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 (around Weeks 6–7).

Further discussion will take place regarding which ranks will attend Dai Senjo. One proposal is 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, although the structure may be different for junior students aged 12 and under.

We are also considering the inclusion of 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝘃 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘀𝗸𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 as part of Dai Senjo, with appropriate safety controls in place for weapons-based activities.

These changes are designed to create a 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆, while maintaining the importance and standard of Dai Senjo and providing flexibility for students facing genuine circumstances that prevent them from attending.

More information about the November Development Training Day, Special Consideration process and the 2027 calendar will be provided once details are finalised.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 who contributed to the discussion and continue to support the development of BJMA East Coast and our students.

An amazing weekend for BJMA East Coast Black Belts in freezing cold Melbourne at All Active Martial Arts for the Doce Pares / BJMA Eskrima weekend camp. 🥶⚔品

A dedicated crew of 9 from 3 different BJMA Queensland clubs trained hard across the 3 - day Filipino martial arts experience, taking in so much new information that everyone agreed their brains were completely full! 🧠💪

The world-class teaching, guidance, and support from GM (Hanshi) Marc, Master Vela, and all the Guros was exceptional. We are all excited to bring this new knowledge back to our local mats, and plans are already underway for next year. 🙌🔥

Instructor Course Certifications:
Congratulations to Kyoshi Steve, Kyoshi Zoe, Renshi Sam, Sensei Damien, and Sempais Jeff and Corey for completing and passing the 12-hour, 4-module "BJMA Eskrima Level 1 Instructor" course.
These guys can now teach BJMA Eskrima concepts and skills in their Zen Do Kai and Krav Maga classes at Shuryu Academy 4 Martial Arts and RSMA - Rising Sun Martial Arts 😎

Grading Successes:
Kyoshi Rob – BJMA Eskrima 2nd Degree Black Belt
Sensei Chris – BJMA Eskrima 1st Degree Black Belt
Erin – BJMA Eskrima Green Belt

Rob and Chris offer fully graded BJMA Eskrima classes at SOGO Academy of Martial Arts in Mitchelton on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Fantastic representation from the BJMA East Coast crew! 🚀
Well done everyone!

Kyoshi Rob
SOGO Martial Arts - Mitchelon - Brisbane

🤩Start your week right with wonderful people having lots of fun learning top quality martial arts!
This week at SOGO we have:
🥊Kids Muay Thai 7-11 years Monday & Wednesday @ 4pm
🥊Teens Muay Thai 12-15 years Monday & Wednesday @ 5pm
🥊Adult Muay Thai 16 years + Monday & Wednesday @ 6pm + Tuesday @7.20pm
🥋Kids BJJ 7-11 years Tuesday & Thursday @ 4pm
🥋Teens BJJ 12-16 years Tuesday & Thursday @ 5pm
🥋Adult BJJ 16 years + Tuesday & Thursday @ 6pm and No Gi Wednesday @ 7.20pm
👊Zen Do Kai 12 years + Monday, Tuesday & Thursday @ 7.20pm
🥢Eskrima 12 years + Friday @ 7pm
🙇Open Mat for Members Saturday 10am to 12 noon

If you would like to know how to get started in your no-obligation 2 week trial message us now and we can help get you started.

Our calendar is filling up for the first term, check out the opportunities at SOGO:

- 15th of Feb - Zen Do Kai & Muay Thai probationary black rank gradings
- 1st of March - SOGO Open Day in the morning with special membership offers, a lucky door prize, demonstration classes, mini private lessons and more
- 8th of March - Women's Personal Protection Workshop for International Women's Day
- 15th & 16th of March - Zen Do Kai Brown and Black Belt Camp
- 29th of March - Local Zen Do Kai, Muay Thai and Eskrima gradings @ SOGO
- 5th of April - Muay Thai Master Class and pad holding private lessons with Muay Thai champion and legend Soren MonkongTon @ SOGO
- 12th of April - Zen Do Kai Kata/Form application and Kobudo (weapons) Workshops with Shihan Jason Griffiths

📱 0439 739 619 - Rob
📧 [email protected]
🏠 24 Blackwood Street, Mitchelton
💻 www.sogomartialarts.com.au