2021-2022 Season Highlights

Hey everyone!

We’ve come to the end of the 2021-2022 season! We’d like to say a big thanks to the exec team for leading the club this season and to all our new and returning members for their effort and dedication that continues to make McGill Naginata Club great! Let’s take a moment to look back on the highlights of this season.

First of all, we’d like to give a shout-out to all our new members. Welcome to McGill Naginata Club! Many of you transitioned from learning how to hold a naginata in September to competing in the Quebec Regional Taikai and the Canadian Winter Classic a few months later! Keep up the great work!

We’ve been training hard at weekly practices:    

Group photos after practice in the Activities Room – October 2021
McGill Naginata Alumni dropped by for a visit – November 2021
New members who joined in September take part in teaching the new cohort of beginners at the Winter Activities Night – December 2021
McGill Naginata Club gets festive for the holidays! – December 2021
Group photos after practice – March 2022
Final practice of the season – April 2022

In addition to practice, we had a few competitions and seminars throughout the year!

McGill Naginata Club made an excellent showing at the annual Canadian Naginata Federation seminar hosted in Montreal in October! Kudos to everyone who attended! In addition to advancing their naginata skills, they had the chance to network with sensei and fellow naginata athletes from across Canada!

Group photos at the Canada Naginata Federation seminar – October 2021

In November, McGill Naginata Club participated in the 2021 Quebec Regional Taikai. We were joined by members from the Rosemont Naginata Club as well as the Saint-Eustache Naginata Club. Congratulations to Akiko for winning the Fighting Spirit Award!

Quebec Regional Taikai Group photos – November 2021
Quebec Regional Taikai – Shiai photos

In March, McGill participated in the 2022 Canadian Winter Classic and was joined by the Rosemont dojo from Montreal and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre dojo from Toronto.

Canadian Winter Classic Engi-Kyogi competition
Canadian Winter Classic Shiai competition

McGill had a great showing at the tournament. Grace and Akiko won the Best Match Award for their Engi performance! Grace won first place in team shiai! Audrey and Grace both won the Fighting Spirit award! Congratulations on their achievements!

Canadian Winter Classic – Grace and Akiko in their award winning engi-kyogi match!
Canadian Winter Classic – Grace (white tasuki) in team shiai competition
Canadian Winter Classic – Audrey and Khoa in Engi-Kyogi

In addition to tournaments and practices, we had many fun socials throughout the year including Karaoke night, Jackbox parties, Bubble tea, and watching movies.

Having a social at the cinema!

Moreover, McGill Naginata Club got awesome new jackets with the logo designed by one of our club alumna, Sage!

Group photo with the new McGill Naginata Jackets!

We would also like to make a farewell announcement to our senpai who are graduating this year and to Simon sensei who is moving to Vancouver (and perhaps starting up a club there too)! Congratulations to Mei, Grace, Akiko and Marco for finishing undergrad at McGill and congratulations to Simon on his new job! We thank them for being our friends and mentors and for their leadership in McGill Naginata Club! We wish them the best in their future endeavours and we hope to see them at future seminars and taikais!

Thanks to everyone for making this season a success and we hope to see you next season!

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Welcome back! Outdoor practices Fall 2021

Welcome back to our returning members and a warm welcome to all our new members! Thank you to everyone who made it to our first practice of the year! The school year is ramping up and so is McGill Naginata. While the weather is still suitable, we will be holding practice outdoors at Jeanne-Mance park on the field across the street from the statue on:

Wednesdays: 5-7pm

Saturdays: 3-5pm

Please note that Covid-19 precautions are in effect; masks and vaccine passports are required at practice. Stay tuned for more information on the announcement of indoor practices and upcoming events!