Winter 2008 Instructors' Intensive

[Saint Louis Ki Society]

This year’s Winter Instructors’ Intensive will be hosted by Saint Louis Ki Society in Saint Louis Missouri. We have a beautiful space for training on Friday and Saturday. The Sunday classes will be at the Saint Louis Ki Society Dojo.

The teaching will cover most of the arts for the 2008 Taigi competition in Japan. Kashiwaya Sensei will focus on how to teach taigi arts, and ukemi in the weapon’s taigi. Training will include Sokushin no Gyo, and there will be Senshin no Gyo on Sunday morning.

Details of the intensive and an application form are now available. Lodging, transportation and logistical information will be available soon. For details and downloads, go to the Midland Ki Federation website Intensive page at http://www.midlandki.org/intensive.html

Looking for someone to share a hotel room with? Post your request here in this forum. We'll be directing inquiries about room-sharing here.

All of the information for the Intensive will be on the MKF website.
For all questions regarding classes and registration for the intensive, contact Kashiwaya Sensei:
Email usaikido@earthlink.net
Mail:
Ki-Aikido USA
P.O. Box 75433
Seattle, WA 98175
Phone (206) 355-1199

If you have questions about lodging, transportation or other logistics in Saint Louis, contact us.
 
The primary contact is Dianna Fazio
Email intensive2008@midlandki.org
Phone (314) 303-7425
SLKS Dojo Phone (314) 726-5070

Secondary contact is Cindi Gille-Rowley
Email intensive2008@midlandki.org
Phone (314) 560-5443

[Saint Louis Ki Society]

A PDF of the guide for lodging, transportation, etc for the Instructors' Intensive in February is now available. You can download it from the MKF website at http://www.midlandki.org/intensive.html.

The rooms in the hotel we've chosen are far superior to the room  at the Hilton I had for the National Ki Conference, and they are half the price! And you really can be comfortable with two in a room (well I suppose that depends on getting along with your roommate :>)

[Barbara]

Anybody has managed to reserve a hotel room at the Holiday Inn Express in St. Louis yet?

I tried to make the room reservation for the 3 nights, but they tell me, at the reservation phone as well as at the hotel front desk, that they don't have a "Midland Ki Federation" group with a special rate of $76.95 in the system. Regular price of the rooms would be around 90-something $$!
I'll try to reach the hotel manager there directly later, she wasn't available when I called a few minutes ago.

Will keep you updated as soon as I have more information.
* * * *  Barbara

---  OK, after some phonecalls it worked, I got the room.
But you need to call the hotel directly at 314-773-6500, not the 800-reservation line, they don't know anything.
And the group name is "Ki-Society". I guess they got the "K-I" mistaken for "key" 
Many thanks to Cindi, who sorted everything out so quickly!

And please check the midlandki.org-page often for news 

[Barbara]

Updates regarding the transportation arrangements are on the MKF-page:

http://www.midlandki.org/logistics.html

If you want a ride between the metrolink station and the hotel on arrival and departure, please provide your travel schedule to the SLKS Coordinators by January 31 by email to intensive2008@midlandki.org.

[tedehara]

On the Cheap!If you want to save some CA$H, let me suggest:

• Take Megabus to St. Louis MO.  They have two direct routes going into St. Louis, from Kansas City and Chicago.
• If you can put up with dormitory life for $20 per night, stay at the  Huckleberry Finn Youth Hostel.  Sorry gals, but they're working on the women's dorm so it's guys only.  Bring your sleeping bags because they told me it might be cold.  Give them a call to reserve a bed.
• Walk to the Meeting House since it is only 0.6 miles from the hostel.
• Save a ton-o-money and treat me to dinner while you're there!

[lcrane]

Is any detail for Sunday's schedule available?

I am constrained to flying AA because of a voucher I must use. The only reasonable flights to Austin (i.e., NOT via Los Angeles) leave at 2:10 (direct, very nice) or 3:35 through Dallas (not so bad). So it seems I'll have to miss some of Sunday's class.

Do you think we'll be done with the Senshin no Gyo by 12noon Sunday?

Regards,
Lauren

[Saint Louis Ki Society]

Lauren,

Kashiwaya Sensei plans to do the senshin and sokushin in the morning. I expect we will finish by noon, probably earlier.

[Barbara]

Just posted information about lunches and the banquet on the MKF-page:

http://www.midlandki.org/lunches.html

The organisators need a headcount for the banquet by Friday, 8am: please email to intensive2008@midlandki.org if you'll attend and if you bring company.

See you there:
* * * *  Barbara

[Barbara]

My photos of last weekend's Instructors Intensive are up for viewing at

http://www.midlandki.org/intensive.html

If you have more pictures to add, esp. group photos and from the banquet, please send me a PM here.

Have fun!
* * * *  Barbara