Congratulations to the following people on successfully passing their grading in December:
1st Kyu
2nd Kyu
4th Kyu
5th Kyu
6th Kyu
8th Kyu
9th Kyu
Well here we are at the end of 2011 – a year that has seen Nick Cole achieve 5th dan, Brian 3rd dan and Stef & Hazel finally reached 1st dan.
We’ve had Monday sessions that have helped the kyu grades enormously with some people double grading at December’s grading session. Unfortunately the Monday session won’t be continuing next year due to the poor turn out as we just don’t have the money to keep it going. But if you really want to rain on a Monday and can make the commitment to pay monthly in advance then we’ll see what we can do in January (email Araz, Daniel, Jaz or me).
The equipment order has now been placed and should be ready for our first Tuesday session on Jan 10th, so if you’ve ordered a Gi please turn up and collect it!
The next grading will be Easter and there will be a specific dan grading session as we have three people who will be attempting the earn their 1st dan.
So, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year and get ready for the Year of the Katana!!
– Bill
Due to the Social Hall being used by other associations there won’t be any Sunday training during November.
– Bill
Well, we are already six sessions into the new year, so I’d thought a little update was in order.
The Christmas grading will be held in the first week of December as usual BUT there is a requirement to attend 16 session to become eligible to grade (kyu grades only).
Sounds daunting but it’s much easier this year to achieve the minimum as there are 31 training sessions this term alone – that’s almost 40% more than we managed to make available last year and they are all within 10 minutes walk of Founders too!
You will soon be able to order your training GI through the Committee so watch out for the announcement coming in the next few weeks and there is also the opportunity to buy your own training weapons for later in the year.
Seminar arrangements are underway and Budo Bash 12 is starting to take shape, confirmation of the date is expected soon as are the costs but please speak to the Committee about travel arrangements as we usually take a mini bus to Swindon.
Questions, nobody ever asks a question! How many of you know that we are actually studying 9 schools of which only 3 are ninjutsu based? Do you all know what the grading structure is or why girls wear red belts? Remember if you don’t ask then we won’t tell.
– Bill
We have successfully added a new session to our week starting on Monday 26th September.
We will be training from 5 -7 pm in the Social Hall so please come along and make the most of this extra session.
– Bill
Just a quick note to say that training will continue on Tuesday evening from 8 – 10pm in the Sport Hall as usual – please check the calendar for details.
–Bill
Just a quick note to clarify a few points with regards to gradings:
If you wish to grade with me or have me recommend you for a grade (particularly shodan and above) then you MUST train with me, just attending a seminar and expecting a grade is just not realistic.
I have often been asked to give a “second opinion” when other Shidoshi / Shidoshi Ho are grading their students, please don’t be offended but I will expect to see the correct level of knowledge and skill that the grade requires.
– Bill
Training restarts at Royal Holloway on Tuesday 26th April but due to the main sports hall being used for exams we are required to move outside.
Therefore we will be training from 7pm until it gets too dark or too cold to continue. The venue will be the sports field to the right of the usual sports hall as we manage to get some shelter form the wind there.
Outside = long weapons, so be prepared for bo, naginata, yari etc.
– Bill
It has come to my attention that there is a misconception about training at Royal Holloway University – twice in as many days I’ve heard from various people that “the RHUL Ninjutsu Club is a university club for university students only and that external people are not welcome“.
This, of course, is completely incorrect and goes against all the work that the committee and I have been doing over the past years. That said, there is a distinct clique of students that external people find unsettling which could account for the rumours.
So training at RHUL Ninjutsu Club is for everybody and the only criteria for training is that you join the Student Union as an Associate Member which costs £15 for the academic year and you get insurance thrown in too.
Please note that RHUL Ninjutsu Club is a part of Bujinkan Honryu Dojo which is registered with the Hombu Dojo in Japan.
–Bill Liddle..
Well that’s BB all done and dusted for another year, roll on 2012 when we’ll be having training followed by a pirate themed fancy dress party (apparently?!).
Training was extremely technical at certain points over the weekend and was mentally and physically tiring for both students and instructors as we explored the various aspects of kihon happo and introduced principles taken from our many collective years of training.
Congratulations go to Stefano and Hazel who earnt a well deserved shodan (1st dan) and to Brian who excelled to gain his sandan (3rd dan).
