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| Students awaiting their pre grading inspection. | | The successful candidates lined up at Honbu's Kamizar. |
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Students nervously awaiting the start of the gradings.
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On Saturday the 30th of June 2007, students from the Borehamwood, Bushey, Thetford, Dereham and Honbu Dojos met at the village hall in Caston for the 9:30am kick off for the summer national gradings. The morning commenced with our traditional inspection of the students equipment and their standard of turn out in their regulation Ishin Ryu dress code.
As per usual, the students had surpassed themselves in their presentation and it was over to Honbu for a quick pre-grading photograph. The students were then into their Gi's in preparation for the days grading.
All of the groups grading were on top form and impressed the grading panel made up of Soke, Renshi Trevor Steward, Renshi Mark Hayden-Smith, Sensei Andy Herbert, Sensei Mark Thomas, Sensei Andy Tierney and two of our affiliated instructors, Renshi Stephen Peil and Sensei Laura Peil from the Worcestershire Dojos.
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Putting their best foot forward for the
traditional bare footed run.
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I'm pleased to say that this time round, no one was thrown out and no group was asked to leave, all in all, an unbelievably good, strong grading. Well done to everyone, especially to Ruth and Lou from the Borehamwood Dojo who successfully passed their 1st Kyu Brown/Black grading, and are now fully focused on taking their Shodan-Ho exam later this year. Well done girls, as always, I am very proud of you.
Following the end of grading line up and presentation of belts and certificates, it was down to our trusty local, the Wagon and Horses at Griston for our end of grading dinner and karaoke. With over 50 students in attendance, it was cosy to say the least but the hospitality of the landlord coupled with his unbelievably good food preparation skills made it an evening to remember. It was great to see everyone enjoying themselves and I look forward to seeing everyone around the clubs in their new obi soon.
Soke
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Paul from the Honbu dojo happily collecting his
green belt and certificate. | | Ouch, that hurt!
Sempai Sheila and Ruth engaged in milling. |
Grading Letters
Ouss Soke,
Just a quick note to thank you for the Grading I really enjoyed it (Honest!!) and learnt an awful lot, mainly how heavy
Simon really is! And on that note Simon thank you for your comments (my fault not yours). Good to see that Leigh is up
and about, it was nice to have someone to talk to while our paths were crossing and on that note a big thank you to
Sensei Mark who despite needing the bed more than I did never stopped making sure we were both alright - Domo Arigato
Sensei.
The break is healing well and it won't be long before I'm terrorising the Infants before moving on to the Juniors in
the new year. I have bought in a large supply of Ice packs to replace Gabriel's who along with Sensei Andy T Sempai
Sheila and always Sempai Vearnon again for his words of wisdom (Cor you've made a right mess of that! was my favourite)
did a great job of making me more comfortable.
Domo Arigato
Regards
Daren Smith
Dereham Dojo
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Oussa Soke,
A huge thank you for giving me the opportunity to double grade from orange to blue belt. A tough and demanding grading
but one that was also hugely enjoyable - in a perverse Ishin Ryu way. I have to thank Sensei Mark for all the
encouragement and training, a man of real substance.
Domo arigato gozaimashita
Tony Leon-Hunt
Bushey Dojo
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Soke,
Many thanks for helping us get through a tough but ultimately very satisfying grading at the weekend. I have to say
that being given the opportunity to join the advanced training group’s sessions has really helped me prepare and
condition myself for the longer tougher senior gradings. So again thank you for extending that invitation to me.
With respect,
James Pankiewicz
Bushey Dojo
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Ouss Soke,
Just a quick note to pass on my congratulations to everyone who successfully graded at the weekend. Well done Lou and
Ruth on their Brown/Black (1st Kyu) belt and James Pankiewicz and Tony Leon-Hunt on their double grading to Green and
Blue belts, and also "Mike the Marine" (Sir, yes sir) on his double to Orange and Green belts. Please pass on my best
wishes to Darren Smith and I hope he has a speedy recovery from his knee injury. All in all it was another great day
for Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu,
Mark Thomas Sensei.
Borehamwood Dojo
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Ouss Soke,
Can you pass my congratulations on to all of those who graded and passed at the national adult gradings. Also, get well
to Darren from the Dereham Dojo after our little trip to hospital.
Domo arigato,
Leigh Keyte,
Worcestershire Dojos
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Soke
Thank you very much for a good weekend of training, just what I needed to iron out any cobwebs. I would also like to
say big congratulations to all that that passed their grading, and I was so glad to participate in...!
Look forward to seeing you all again.
Respect and Honour
Del Shannon
Thetford Dojo
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