More info on Shihan Phil Legare's seminar in Vegas:
Ok, here's what you need to know:

Yes, everything is go and we still have room for more people.  If you want to pay with a credit card, please use Paypal on the links below, otherwise cash at the door.  See you Friday!

It's Friday, July 17th, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and Saturday, July 18th, Noon to 5:00 PM.  It will be worth driving into Vegas even if you can only make the Saturday session.  If you're coming in from Southern California Friday afternoon, try to plan a little extra drive time in case the I-15 traffic is slow.  The cost is $130.00 for both days or $50 for Friday, or $100 for Saturday.  There's a PayPal button below if you want to use a PayPal. 

Here's a map to the Dojo.  It is easy to find off of the I-95, but be sure to look at a map. to save yourself some drive time and be aware that traffic around the Strip can be a headache. (I'll recommend places to stay below.)  We use a gymnastics facility that will be a real treat for anyone used to smaller spaces and hard floors. Out of courtesy to my hosts, please stay off of any and all gymnastics and exercise equipment.  

For everything in a nutshell, see our flier for the seminar.  (It's sized for easy printing if you want to print out a few and pass them out in your dojo.)

We won't be working with cutting blades this time, but you will want training weapons: Tanto, boken or shinai, rope, etc.  Shihan Legare will be teaching draw cutting, so unsharpened metal blades will be useful, but are not mandatory.  There will be some extra boken and other training weapons there just in case anyone needs them.

This year's training theme of, "Ing" is a bit of an ineffable concept, but Soke has been speaking of tying everything together as with a rope, even if there is not a rope there, and the connections between all of the techniques as though they are connected with rope or string.  Shihan Legare will be fresh from training in Japan and will be able to further expand upon the theme.

White and green belts are very much welcome -- It's not just a seminar for black belts.  Shihan Legare does a wonderful job teaching all levels in the same class.  If you haven't been to one of his seminars, expect a warm reception and be ready to really enjoy the weekend.

If you are planning to attend and have a chance to do so, please e-mail me so I can have a better idea of how many to expect. 

-- Scott Armstrong


If you want to purchase with Pay Pal, please use the button below, and be sure to put in the names of those attending in the Customer Note box:
 


Hotel Recommendations:

On the strip:
If you have never been to Vegas, staying on the Strip is a lot of fun.  I would recommend the Las Vegas Hilton for it's location.  (As of this writing, rooms are about $130 a night for that weekend through the hotel site, but you may want to try priceline.com or such to get a better rate.)  It is at the North end of the Monorail line, allowing quick, easy access to the entire Strip without having to drive, and has the advantage of easy access to Desert Inn, which takes you directly to the I-95 without having to cross the strip. 

That being said, you can get rooms on the strip for $80 a night or lower without looking very hard as long as you book them ahead of time, and any place on the Strip is ok as long as you leave extra driving time.

Off the strip:
The closest hotel is the Sunset Station (not the Suncoast!) with rooms listed on their site at $99.00 a night.  Again, you can probably get a better rate there.  Next closest that is ok is Sam's Town on Boulder Highway, with rates advertised at about $70.  This is rougher area, but you won't have a problem at the property and there are decent restaurants, a movie theater, and a big casino.  For a no frills option, Boulder Station is available about 5-10 minutes drive from the dojo.  Green Valley Ranch is nice, has the advantage of being right next to The District, and is about 10 minutes drive southwest of the dojo.  Prices for that listing are about $125.  Again, do your homework and you may get a much better rate.  Of course there are the usual slew of Motel 6's and the like if you want to get cheaper yet.
Update:  I'm told Terrible's is cheap, but haven't checked it out yet. It's very close to the Strip, but a little east on Flamingo.

FULL SEMINAR:
JUST SATURDAY: