Mark Thomas Sensei
September 2007
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Bushey Kids Class (Mondays and Fridays)
Both infant classes on Monday and Friday are all ready with their rear strangle techniques as well as their ground work with the added Shoulder Hold to the Mount. Myself and Renshi mark have seen some dramatic improvements in all the classes especially the senior grades in the junior classes. Student of the month is awarded to Giovanni Kavanagh from the Monday Infant Class who has shown the most improvement with his training and for all his help with his fellow students, namely Jessica as they have now become regular training partners.
Bushey Adult & Intermediate Class (Mondays) We welcome back James P from his extended family holiday in Japan and who came back bearing delicious gifts such as 47% Sake... Wow, thank you very much James it was much appreciated. We also welcome new members Chris E, Chris S and Rei who are already well under way with their White belt syllabus. Our best wishes go out to Elliot who due to a very unfortunate accident severing the tendons in his right hand will be out of action for at least 12 weeks. This of course means he will miss the December grading having worked so hard with his training partner Thomas. Elliot assures me though he will be there to support his partner and his dojo. Borehamwood Kids & Intermediate Class (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
All the infant classes have got to grips with their rear strangles, especially the more trickier ones like the rear throw which requires a good degree of balance and a really good back break fall (even more so on this tatami) I am more and more impressed as each week goes by with the junior classes who are having to cope with some more advanced throws and technical finishes, it’s good to see some of the more confident senior grades starting to sweep their partners legs in the Major Outer Reap and Leg Throw. Student of the month is awarded to Georgia Young whose etiquette and training is definitely on top form and as a purple belt senior grade is setting the standard for others to attain.
Borehamwood Adult Class (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
We welcome back Cristinel from his extended visit home to Romania and is back in training with regular visitor from Bushey Eugene. They are both heading toward their brown black belt grading in December. We recently saw one of the busiest training nights with standing room only, we had a full spectrum of grades on the mat with senior grades taking pride of place working under Shomen and our newly acquired Shodan Ho, Sempai Lou n Ruth, taking their first steps in to the realms of instructing each taking specific groups to teach.
Potters Bar (Thursdays)
The juniors are doing a great job with their syllabus work and technical finishes and after initially finding the figure four a little tricky they have all got to grips with the arm bar and reclining JCB arm lock and also the figure four leg lock. Student of the month is awarded to Niall Conyers who has shown giant steps in his confidence and this is reflected in his training. St Columba's School (Mondays) The class here has been split into 2 groups, novices and seniors, this has so far worked out very well as it gives all the new starters a better chance of getting to grips with their first syllabus of front strangles and ground holds. Meanwhile the seniors are able to continue with their slightly more advanced throwing techniques and technical finished. Well done to Elliot and Hector from the novice class who are like a couple of sponges who just absorb everything I have shown them. Also well done Harry and Joe who have both shown a vast improvement in their training. St Andrews Tuesdays Well done to all the new starters here, they are well under way with the syllabus work for their first grading, 3 front strangles and all their ground work. Well done to Evan, who as the youngest member of the class, has already shown a great improvement in his training. I.J.D.S. We have some new members in both the infant and junior classes and we have got off to a great start covering the basic requirements of fighting stances, punches and kicks as well as their break falls. Manor Lodge (Wednesdays, Thursday & Fridays) We have got such a broad range of work this term with all the new starters working on 4 x ground holds, the year 2 and 3 working on strangles and year 4 throwing techniques and 5 working on Arm locks. Renshi Mark and myself will shortly be making our decision for student of the year who will have their name added to the school shield. Lockers Park (Thursdays) I have been suitably impressed with this class as everyone has settled in nicely to their new Martial Art way of life. We have already covered all their fighting stances, punches and kicks as well as their ground work including Scarf Hold, Shoulder Hold and Shoulder Hold to the Mount and Side Four Quarters and we have now made a start with some front strangles as well not bad going in such a short space of time. Mark Thomas Sensei |
