Mark Thomas Sensei
September 2007
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Bushey Kids Class (Mondays and Fridays) Well after the lull during the school holidays we have been inundated with new memberships here in both the infant and junior classes on Mondays and Fridays. We have already made a great start in the infant classes with some rear strangles techniques incorporating a couple of throws as well. Monday juniors are already getting to grips with some shoulder, arm and wrist locks including a tactical take up and restraint. Friday Juniors are trying their hand at adding the hip throw to their arsenal of throws along with the Body Drop, Major Outer Reap and Leg Throw... we're heading for a half shoulder next. Bushey Adult & Intermediate Class (Mondays)
Congratulations to Joe Tarsh, who along with Elliot and Thomas, now joins the ever growing list of Intermediates moving up into the adult class... Good Luck Joe. Last month I mentioned a special thank you to James Pankiewicz, along with Mike Lee from B'wood Dojo for their help with Sempai Lou and Ruth's preparation training for their Shodan Ho grading. Well at the beginning of the month we all attended Honbu for our regular Advanced Training Day to witness and participate in a mammoth Shodan Ho grading for 4 candidates, Lou n Ruth from B'wood Dojo and Lisa n Dell from Thetford Dojo, it was a great day and I'm happy to say that both Eugene and James from the Bushey Massif were there to participate and support the candidates on their day. Congratulations to all our new Shodan Ho.
Two weeks later we were all back in Norfolk for our annual 2 day seminar, I must say a very big thank you to everyone from the Bushey Massif who attended the seminar this year, apart from the odd student or two, we almost had a full turnout from the Dojo. This year's Shochu Geiko was a fantastic event which was inevitably enjoyed by all those who attended.
I must say a very special thank you to 2 very special young men, who until recently were still members of the Intermediate class. They both moved to the adult class after their Yellow belt grading just a few months ago and have become proper training buddies and they both frequent the Borehamwood dojo on Thursday evenings. They both attended last year's international seminar as intermediate students and again this year but as fully fledged members of the Bushey Massif. As they were the only two members of Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu staying in the Thetford Dojo this year they were asked to assist Sensei Steve Fyfe and his guide dog Griffin. It was reported back me that both Elliot Nash and Thomas Garvin not only stepped up to the mark but far exceeded the request asked of them. I'm not only grateful to them both but also extremely proud of them as stand up members of the Bushey Dojo. As a thank you to them both I presented them with a ceremonial Tanto each on Monday's training night immediately after the weekend event.
Borehamwood Kids & Intermediate Class (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays) All the infants are covering the same work as the rest of the dojos, rear strangles including throws as well as practising their ground work. We have had some new recruits in the Wednesday and Saturday classes and they have all settled in very well. We have had a great response from all the juniors with the shoulder, arm and wrist locks and they love the tactical take up and restraint. I do feel for these kids here at the B'wood Dojo as any adult student will tell you the tatami here isn't for the faint hearted and when it comes to throwing techniques theses kids do give it their all. The intermediate class are really cracking on with their new yellow belt syllabus, we have already covered the basic throws, kicks to the head and the rear strangles from kneeling down and with the additional help from Matt Abbott the new recruits are getting on with their white belt techniques. Borehamwood Adult Class (Tuesdays & Thursdays)
As I mentioned above, both Mike Lee and James P have been helping out Lou n Ruth as well as preparing for their own gradings at the end of the year but it's all good practise. Well at last, finally after all these years we can now boast our very own female Shodan Ho, congratulations to both Sempai Lou and Sempai Ruth. Also, thanks to Gabriel, who, even at white belt understands the importance of these very special gradings and what it means to be part of history in the making. As a white belt Gabriel is not allowed to actively participate but being there to offer support shows the making of the man.
Two weeks after passing their Shodan Ho grading, Sempai Lou and Sempai Ruth were heading the Borehamwood Dojo at the International seminar in Norfolk. We had a good presence from the dojo even if a few good men (& women) were missing. Reports were filtering back that everyone had again enjoyed the warm up session by Shihan Mac and by the end of the weekend they were all comparing bruises left from his sessions. It was great to see our very own Sensei Andy Tierney taking a mat for the first time at the Shochu Geiko wearing his black Gi top and the coveted Ishin Ryu black belt... A great time was had by all.
Potters Bar (Thursdays) The word is spreading, five new members for the Infant class and 2 new members for the Intermediate class, things are certainly looking good for the kid's classes here. The infants will be learning some new rear strangles and throws as well as practising their ground work. The juniors will be learning some new shoulder, arm and wrist locks including the tactical take up and restraint. We will also finish off the throws from the last grading with step over arm bars and leg locks. As for the Intermediate class if it continues to grow like this we will have enough for some serious grappling sessions but until then we will continue to practice our groundwork and improve their fitness as well as preparing for their first white belt grading.
St Columba's School (Mondays) I'm happy to report a healthy increase in student numbers this term, as well as some very familiar faces the class has been boosted by many new members and also some returning from the college after leaving the prep school at the end of last term. I'm very pleased announce that Daniel Blackwell has again turned top student and as well as being my Uke again this term he will now be given the honour of being named as "Student Sempai" during his classes with me. St Andrews Tuesdays More good news as we again report an increase in student numbers here, as the class has doubled in size. We have already got off to a great start with our ground holds and front strangles. Manor Lodge (Wednesdays, Thursday & Fridays) Busy Busy Busy, loads of new starters here... all getting to grips with their fighting stances, punches and kicks and we have already made great progress with their ground holds. As for the regulars... well they have all progressed up the ju-jitsu ladder to the next level and will be working on Front Strangles and Rear Strangles, Body Drops, Major Outer Reaps and Leg throws and for the senior classes we will be working on Shoulder, Arm and Wrist locks. Lockers Park (Thursdays) This is another school that has seen an increase in student numbers, last term we topped out at 9 students, this term I'm extremely happy to report that there will be 21 students participating this term. After a very successful taster session everyone that took part has come back for their second and third lessons hungry for more phys, sweat and pain.. I'm happy to announce that Duncan Pullman will be given the honour of being my Uke and being named as "Student Sempai" this term. Mark Thomas Sensei |
