The sands of time...

It had to happen sooner or later.
The once a month sessions were not attracting enough regular students, and the room was to small to warrant any further advertising other than this blog, and the poster in the Dance Studio coffee lounge.
Added to this, anyone wanting to hire the room for a regular event was put off by the loss of one Friday a month being booked.
So, when I decided that I was going to open a weekly dojo for the practice of Iaido and Jodo, it made sence to merge the HNIR class into the new dojo, and practice more regularly - twice monthly , from the start of July.
To find us now, you will need to come to Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, in Solihull , and fortunatly, their website has a map for you. Just type in Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, and click on the map - could not be simpler.
We will be practicing on Wednesday nights, from 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm.
I hope to see those of you that found once a month was just not working for them, and any new faces that would like to try Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu, at the new dojo - named Katsujinken ( the Lifegiving Sword).

Well, the monthly classes are progressing into 2006, and new practitioners are always welcome, subject to space available.
The first Leeds session of the year is upon us, and four of us from Birmingham and Walsall dosokai groups are wending our way up there for the 12 March, for a day of Niten practice.

For those interested, the Guelph Seminar with Soke et al, is coming up in May, and it's time to start thinking about this years Paris semminar, with Phillippe and co.
Details of such sessions will be posted, and in many cases, beginners are welcome, but do check with the event organisers before attending.

Word on the 'street'.......

Those of us who have made the great trek north (to Leeds) to practice with our fellow kenshi may have been aware that both of the practitioners seen as the more advanced students in the UK are planning to move away from the UK in the next couple of years .
Word on the street is that there is another senior in place, to ensure that we get some co-ordination in our practice. This person will be the interface between the UK dosokai groups, and Hombu dojo.
More details when they are 'made public'. (Yes, I do know who it will be)

Not quite Niten...

It's not quite Niten, but, I've just had a great week-end in Cork, including a session of Jodo with a great bunch of guys from the Cork Kendo Club.
They had had no experience of Jodo before, so it was a real 'let's start from the very beginning...', and a real pleasure for me to see these guys taking to the basics like ducks to water. Keep up the practice lads, you were good, and I hope to be back with you soon.


Patrick

Paris 2005 - part Deux

Back in Brum after three of the hardest days training I have ever had. Constant work, more work, and then we did some more work.

Itto Seiho was the order of the day, and the next day, and finally the last day. Some groups did get to walk through the first Nito kata, for a few minutes, and then it was demonstration time.

There were two sorts of demonstration. Firstly, we hardened students showed what we had picked up over the seminar, then, Soke and the Japanese sensei showed how it could be done (er, should be done , if truth were known). Two truly stunning demo's, perhaps for different reasons......

Hard work, and thoroughly enjoyed by all taking part.

At night, French hospitality came out, BIG TIME. The first night we attended a Chinese restaurant, and the sensei and about twenty of the students, hosted by Philippe and his wife, and the French students who had been organising the show. The main table was full, except for the seating reserved for the Japanese delegates when we Brits (Me, Scott Halls, and Kieron K Kennedy) arrived. We were put on an adjacent table, and ended up right next to our teachers and interpretters.

As the evening progressed, much eating and exchangeing of alcohol occured, until a strange murmerring from the far end of the main table took over. This was the Finnish contingent proving that they can outdrink everyone - which of course, they can (and do).

The second evening had a group of us at a local Italian pizzeria, again, about 25 people plus the senseis. Japanese, French, Swiss, Brits and Finnish speaking the international language of Drink.

The British, to prove a point, stuck to beef, despite the signs saying 'NO BRITISH MEAT USED HERE'. Kieron asked for his steak to be well done, as west indian people are 'funny' about how their meat is cooked. Yes, the waiter said, repeating in English 'Well Done'. Scotts and mine were rare, Kierons was still chewing grass when it was served. However, with the assistance of the Finn's, everthing faded to a blur.

The blur cleared quickly in the night air. We were not going back to the hotel, but to a meeting at the dojo, to ask Soke questions, and hear his views on the art of HNIR, and Go Rin No Show. About twenty people turned up to sit with Soke and the sensei on the dojo floor, until we were 'respectfully' asked to go, as it was reaching eleven o'clock, and the staff had homes to go to. The group was made up of some of Philippes French group, the Finns, members of Birmingham, Wallsall and Leeds dosokai, and two guys from Greece.

On Sunday night, a slight error occurred, which I shall not dwell on it, just to say NEVER trust Scott Halls sence of direction or memory. Having walked away from the hotel, looking for the railway station, we had to walk back when we discovered that it was in the opposite direction.

I decided that I would not join the two intrepid explorers in their journey into Paris. I went back to the Chinese restaurant, and ordered dinner. Soon after, another loner drifted in, who I recognised from the seminar. Dennis, from Switzerland, was not going home until Monday and had set of to find somewhere to eat, and upon recognising each other, I invited him to join me at my table. Before he could order, the Finns arrived. Much alcohol was taken, as well as some food. The two Greeks guys turned up and joined us, and one, a brave soul called Kostas (sorry if the spelling is wrong) asked if he could buy us all a drink, as it was his wedding anniverary. We accepted, and if Mrs. Kostas ever reads this, we toasted her for her anniversary, and for allowing her husband to be away on this special day.

Kostas announced he was a dead man.

When we returned to the hotel, despite the invitation, I had to make my excuses, and go to bed. The Finns partied on.

All in All, an excellent seminar, and thanks to Philippe and his helpers, it went smoothly. Well done to you all. Socially, I may recover, but it could take days yet. We met many old friends, and made several new ones.

To anyone reading this who has not practiced HNIR, consider attending one of these seminars. There were several absolute beginners - they ended up being taught by Soke himself.

Paris 2005

Some of us are heading for the Paris seminar in October. We will be joining members of the other Midland practice centres, and will meet up with many friends made at earlier seminars. We will then be passing on the teachings to our fellow members of the Dosokai in our three local dojo.

Site photo

Err, a little error occured when my blog was being set up for me, and a photo was picked from 'the web' by my son, to illustrate this site. By pure fluke, he chose a photo of Yvonne Jordan, a friend of mine from Holland. A lovely photo, and Yvonne has said she is happy with my using it, so until I get something more appropriate (like a good photo of me), I keep this picture.

Practice Details

Niten Ichi Ryu - Birmingham is a member of the Dosokai, a group of practitioners sanctioned by the Soke, or Headmaster of the school, in Japan.

We practice once a month in Birmingham, at the Moseley Dance Studios, on Alcester Road, in the middle of Moseley, close to the Prince of Wales pub.

Practice times are 8:00 to 9:45 on the second Friday of the month, and the dates for the rest of 2005 are:

Friday July 8th

Friday August 12th

Friday September 9th

Friday October 14th

Friday November 11th

Friday December 9th


To contact me for more information try ukpatrick@aol.com or 07976 720497

Good news for UK Niten Fans

Wow! Looks like we've got a site up and running. Check back here for details about Niten UK - I'll be updating regularly.

Patrick