2007 News

On 7th December we invited Sally Barter, a first Dan kendo instructor from the Norwich Kendo Club, to take our session and give us an insight into the art of kendo.

Students used bokken and practiced the formal kendo set forms and cuts. Striking was also practiced using kiai and the session closed by Sally showing us the impressive traditional kendo protective armour (Bogu). Overall a very interesting session from a very knowledgeable instructor, enjoyed by all. We look forward to Sally returning to show us some more techniques next year.

On November 3rd the following NJJC students travelled to the 17th Annual Jikishin Nationals course and competition in Southend.

In the morning we received 3 hours of instruction from a wide variety of instructors including MMA cage fighters, Chinese boxing, German JJ instructors, Dutch JJ instructors, all 5th Dan and above and including the HEad of our Association Sensei Herbert.

In the afternoon the championships were held which enables students to compete against each other in sparring, groundwork, random attack, kata, and weapons. NJJC is very proud to say that our students received the following medals including the clubs first gold medals !

Student	Event	Medal
Vanessa English	Sparring	Gold
Genevieve Froehlich	Groundwork	Gold
John Calderwood	Groundwork	Bronze

On 19th October we were very fortunate to have Sensei Grant Wakeham, 3rd Dan Ju Jitsu, teach at our Friday session. Sensei Grant is a good friend to NJJC and runs the North Kent Ju Jitsu Club. The session started with a warm up which set the scene for the night .... fast, energetic, fun and exhausting !

The techniques taught were using all manner of everyday objects from paperbacks, combs, credit cards and belts. All techniques were superbly demonstrated, useable and without question ... painful !

Photos from the very enjoyable session are below and we look forward to seeing Sensei Grant (front row 3rd from left) back soon.

A busy month for gradings and we're very pleased to see so many successes at all levels as follows -

	Ben Clarke, Craig Godbold
	Carl Purkiss, Vanessa English
	Lee Grimes, Christopher Rose, Stephen Rose
	Jason Webster, Kieran Reeve, Simon Hughes, Wayne Branson, Ruth Emms, Liam Rogers

On 12th September Jason and Gen attended a Close Quarter Combat Suggestive training course run by a military Special to Arm Close Quarter Combat instructor at one of our Jikishin friends clubs in London. The evening brought a whole new meaning to self defence ... this was aimed at true life threatening situations. Techniques were all ones we knew, but refined to the absolute essentials, but applied with a very different mind set with devastating results. An excellent evenings teaching enjoyed by all. Photos below

On 10th September 9 members of NJJC attended an Appointed Persons First Aid course run by the St Johns Ambulance.

Attendees were Jason, Dominic, Adrian, Ben, Carl, Vanessa, Christopher, Stephen and Lee.

The 4 hour course covered many aspects of First Aid and is mandatory for Jikishin Instructors as part of their coaching accreditation.

Below are photos of the event ... and despite 'Annies' ribs being crushed numerous times by all, poor girl ends up being choked by Sensei Dominic !

On 11th and 12th August Sensei Adrian Buck successfully completed his Level 3 coaching certificate with the BJJA GB. The course was a 2 day event containing scenarios, coursework and knowledge sharing from some of the UK's most experienced martial arts instructors. Prior to the course sensei Adrian also had to submit essays on various aspects of coaching.

On 5th August 9 members of the club went on a an excellent Skirmish Paintball event held in Norwich. However everyone was disappointed that hand to hand combat was not allowed by the marshall !

On 6th July Sensei Jason returned to Sensei Ian Soame's Taekwondo club in Watton. The techniques this time were focused on the Taekwondo syllabus and self defence requirements. As usual we had a great evening with a very enthusiastic class.

Ian Soame, 5th Dan Taekwondo, came along to our club and taught us some very powerful kicking techniques and drills. The result was a a very enjoyable, albeit exhausting, session !

Sensei Jason will be visiting the Taekwondo club on 2nd July to teach Ian's club some further Ju Jitsu techniques as part of the exchange.

On June 2nd Sensei Jason attended the Kobudo course to gain further knowledge in Jikishin weapons. The instructors meeting was also held to discuss wider Jikishin events, strategy and policies.

On 27th and 30th March Norfolk Ju Jitsu club held its quarterly gradings. Pictures below of the students who successfully progressed to their next belt.

On March 9th March Sensei Jason Warren, as part of our instructor exchange, taught Ju Jitsu techniques to the Watton Taekwondo club. The session was great fun and very well received with the self defence techniques complementing the Taekwondo style well. We look forward to returning again in 3-4 months time and for Ian Soame to return to NJJC.

On Feb 23rd we had the first of what we're hoping will be a regular event, an instructor exchange. We were very fortunate to have Ian Soame, 5th Dan Taekwondo, come along to our club and teach us some excellent Taekwondo techniques and drills. Apart from being a 5th Dan Black Belt, Ian is a qualified Black Belt Examiner for the UKMAF and undertakes many Dan Grading's. Ian also holds a level 3 coaching course qualification (Coaching Assessment Officer) and conducts annual Instructor Coaching Courses. He also took over the running of Saracen Martial Arts in 1988.

These new techniques will prove very useful when we next have one of our sparring sessions !

Kubotan session taught by Martin and Paul. Real, practical self defence techniques using the Kubotan weapon. An excellent well attended session with some awesome techniques demonstrated.

On Sunday 10th December NJJC student Adrian Buck successfully graded to Shodan black belt with a CREDIT ! This is excellent news for the club and rewards the amount of effort Adrian put into his training and confirms our ability to teach to high standards.

The grading took place in Brentwood in front of the Jikishin Ju Jitsu senior instructors, the head of Jikishin Brian Herbert 7th Dan, and the founder of Jikishin Ju Jitsu, BJJA (GB) and the UNJJ Terry Parker 9th Dan.