Yamabushi RyuThis years spring course will be taking place at the yoshin Ryu judo club in Leigh, on Sunday, April 12th, from 10am to 4pm.
Martial arts covered will include
Judo
Jiu jutsu
Kung fu
Kick boxing
Kali
Weapons
Pangration
The price is £25.00, which includes all training, certificates and food and drink.
This promises to be a really enjoyable course, so please make sure you support your club and association by attending.
The end of year course was held at Leigh Sports village this year, on Saturday November 22nd, and what a superb venue it was! Students and instructors from all local clubs were in attendance, plus we had a very special guest of honour present: Prof. Charles Spring from the university of Derby.
Charles is a high grade karate instructor, as well as having extensive experience in several other martial arts such as Krav Maga and kick boxing. Prof. Spring is a founder fellow of the institute of martial arts and sciences and it was in this capacity he was in attendance. Not only did he teach an interesting and exciting kata to all those in attendance, but also imparted information concerning the university courses that are now available to members of the IMAS through the university of Derby.
The gathering was further blessed by a visit from Eric and Mark Hayes Sensei from the Yoshin Ryu Judo club. This Father and Son team have been running the local martial arts club in Leigh for as long as anyone can remember, and are incredibly well respected for the time and effort they put in to doing this. Jaimie Lee-Barron had actually had the distinct honour of teaching at the Yoshin Ryu almost twenty years ago, so it was a very warm reunion for all concerned, with an invitation being extended for Jaimie to teach at this legendary club once again.
A special session on safeguarding and child protection was delivered by Jacob Sibley Renshi of Dojo Ikiyoyo in Manchester. Jacob is the chief safeguarding officer for the Yamabushi, and helps ensure that all of our instructors stay up to speed on such important matters. While most of the instructors attended this special class, it was up to Gareth Waite Renshi of Dojo Shugenja, Atherton to keep everyone busy which he did with his usual infectious enthusiasm, teaching some of the devastating jiu jutsu techniques he is so well known for. This segment was well received by all those participating.
Mention must also be made of David Yates Renshi also from dojo Shugenja, who taught a very enjoyable segment on Iai jutsu, as well as acting as uki for the ken jutsu class. David is a long serving, long suffering uki, and his presence is always appreciated.
Pete Houghton Renshi was also present, but contented himself with training hard throughout the day with his students from Dojo Sohei, Billinge. Pete is a quiet, modest stalwart of the yamabushi who is always there to help and support the group. He might think we don’t notice, but we do, and we count ourselves very lucky to have him. During the course of the proceedings, an official photographer showed up and proceeded to take several pictures for the local paper. These pictures, together with a short article, appeared in the Wigan Evening Post on Friday, November 28th. They did a fine job, giving us a centre spread of two full pages, good text and lots of pictures. As the training drew to a close, there was just enough time to conduct our own photo shoot to commemorate the event, before making our way to the local hostelry for some much needed food and drink. Needless to say, everyone who attended this part of the proceedings enjoyed themselves immensely, and it was a fitting end to an extremely enjoyable and successful day.
It must be said that this type of event would not have been possible without the help and support of people like Mark Calland Tachi, who was awarded his Yondan on the day and, in particular, Dannial MacKenzie Sensei, who worked so hard for so long to make the day a success. Dan was awarded his Sandan, and our heartfelt thanks go out to both of them. Also to Gareth Waite Renshi for helping with securing the venue and Graham Parrott Sensei, our grading examinations officer and, last but by no means least, Prof. Charles Spring, Godan, who travelled quite a way to share his knowledge and expertise with us all. Well done to them, and to all who took part and made this day so special.
With such energy and enthusiasm, it is clear that, not only are the history and traditions in safe hands, but the future of the school as well.
The Yamabushi Ryu end of year course will be taking place on Sarurday, November 22nd at Leigh Sports Village, Greater Manchester.
Training will take place from 10am to 4pm, and there will be a social event afterwards. This year, we have some special guest instructors in attendance, and there will be a special segment dedicated to child protection and safeguarding.
This is an important and enjoyable event, so don’t miss out. Lets get together, train, learn and party in the age old Yamabushi tradition!
This is an event that you should all support if you possibly can. More details are available on the institute website:
www.instituteofmartialartsandscienced.com
please go to this website and see what’s on offer.
Just as instructors should think about what they are going to teach and how they are going to teach it, so. Too, should the student prepare themselves to learn. The transfer of knowledge from one person to another is a special sacred and spiritual undertaking, as we are making ourselves a part of an ancient tradition that has existed since the dawn of time. From one generation to the next, down through the long centuries, the ageless wisdom of the warrior has been poured from one heart and mind into another. A cup with a hole in it cannot contain liquid for very long, no matter how careful the person pouring it might be, nor how nice the drink might taste. Becoming a yamabushi means we should always be mindful of how well prepared we are as receptacles because, if we cannot grasp what we are meant to, then how are we to share what we have with others? Remembering things is important, and this straits with remembering who you are and what you wish to become. Never underestimate the importance of what you teach and what you learn: They are faces of the same coin that can, one day, make us rich.
This years course was as successful as ever, with yamabushi students and instructors from several clubs in attendance.
The venue was Tyldesley Community Education Centre, which was particularly well suited for such a course, having excellent facilities on iste for all our needs. Once everyone was changed and on the mat, training commenced in ernest, as it was to be a long day and we had a lot to get through.
Techniques covered included biken jutsu, bo jutsu jiu jutsu and kobu jutsu (nunchaku) In addition, Jacob Sibley Rensji, the dojo-cho of ikiyoyo in Manchester and the schools cheif safeguarding officer, gave a special course for all responsible adults concerning child protection and safeguarding procedures. This was well received and is a vital part of our instructor training..
Gareth Waite Renshi, dojo cho of shugenja in Atherton gave an extremely interesting, enjoyable and informative lesson of ne-waza, explaining, demonstrating and teaching some of the finer points of groundwork and grappling, which I found to be quite fascinating Peter Houghton renshi and Gavid Yates renshi both demonstrated some devastating tai jutsu no waza, and they were enjoyed as always. I was especially impressed by the younger students who stayed on and practiced the whole day long, with such energy and enthusiasm. They did very well and we are all proud of them.
Once the training was over, it was time for the social part of the procedings to commence. We first retired to a local hostely entitled “The Pendle Witch” in Atherton. Here, the adults among us managed to regain some much needed fluid, as we exchanged chat over how we thought the day had gone so far. This was a warm and welcoming little pub, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting a relaxing drink in a xosy atmosphere. Once we felt suitably refreshed, it was time to pay attention to our now rumbling tummies!
We had an absolutely delicious indian meal at a restaurant called the “Sylhet City”, comfortably washed down with a few more drinks, and accompanied by good conversation and lots of laughing. This social aspects is just as important and enjoyable as the training aspect in such events, as it helps to bring us all closer together in a setting other than the dojo, and reminds us that we are more than just a club: We are a family.
Each and ebery part of this event went smoothly, and this is thanks to none other than our own Daniel MacKenzies sensei, our events manager who organised the whole thing. So, a very big “Well done and thank you” from all of us for doing such a good job, and making the day the success it was.
Warmest congratulations to Carl, from Dojo Ikiyoyo, on the occasion of his recent marriage to his new wife, Lisa. We all wish them the very best for the future. From all members of the Yamabushi Ryu, but the instructors and students at Ikiyoyo in particular.
A bew page has been added to our website which will highlight some of the instructorss and officers of the Ryu. Please be sure to have a look..
Living, as we do, in a modern society, very few people will have any idea as to what “yamabushi ryu” actually is. Therefore, if one of our members includes this phrase upon their C.V., no one will really understand what it means. To help rectify this, we will be introducing a new certification and awards programme.Individual certificates will be issued for specific skill – sets, such as:
Self Defence/Personal Safety
Traditional Jiu Jutsu
Oriental Weaponry
Etc.
This will help to improve your C.V. and make it more reader friendly by giving instructors a far more impressive list of qualifications in a language that is easily understood by everyone, regardless of them being a martial artist or not. [lease note: These are in addition to, and not in place of, our regular, official grading certificates and titles.
The awards have been introduced for a similar reason, and will include such things as “Instructor of the Year” and “Student of the Year”, Etc.
Once again, this will look impressive upon your C.V., and so should help you in the wider world outside of the dojo. These awards must be earned through effort and merit, and members may caste votes for whom they deem worthy to receive them.
Presentations of these awards, along with certain dan grades, will tale place at the end of year dinner and presentation evening, which will help to make it a more memorable event for all concerned.