Watchet Seminar 20th & 21st May [Archive]

ben spain

27th April 2005, 07:39 PM

Thought I would start a thread for the Watchet Seminar 2005

Should be a fair few Kendoka coming from my Dojo (Reading), some of who will be grading (good luck!) and for a large for a large proportion of us (including me) this will be our first Kendo Seminar.

I know that this is a very popular event within the UK, so who else will be attending?

sjp

27th April 2005, 07:46 PM

Several of us will be there from Stoke.

This has been an excellent seminar over the last few years.
As this is your first one you should buy the beer.

don don

27th April 2005, 07:50 PM

We're sending a few people as well (Portsmouth.)

Timeline

28th April 2005, 02:03 AM

I'll be going with at least one other from our Dojo. I've only been to one Watchet Seminar about 8 years ago!!! Looking forward to it.

Good luck all those going for gradings!!!!!
Oh, anyone got the grading questions for Ni Dan? I said I'd get them for a mate in Japan? Ta

ginger_justice

30th April 2005, 08:18 AM

I'll be going with at least one other from our Dojo.

the timeline part has now swollen to at least four of us. two of us're over 6 foot and have beards; please come and exchange opinions about modern art.

Sa Mu

30th April 2005, 10:50 PM

I'm not quite 6ft but do currently have a beard and can talk about (f)art.
I'd rather hit you with my Daito though...

Timeline

17th May 2005, 09:18 PM

From the BKA website:

Watchet Kendo Seminar, 21st/22nd May.

All non grading attendees will be training Saturday and Sunday at the West Somerset Leisure Centre,Bircham Rd. Minehead TA24 6AY
Attendees who are grading will be at Wiliton School. TA4 4SW. on both days. Please spread the word :)

ginger_justice

23rd May 2005, 12:54 AM

who went?

i had the pleasure with a certain mr. spain, and a fair few of his reading compatriots; one of the reading gents provided me with the best nuts-out, full-contact Man Keiko i've had in ages. at least, the best that didn't end with me being backed into a radiator.

i was the enormous ginger bearded type with the carbon-fibre shinai and the tendency to whip up into jodan at completely inappropriate moments in order to confuse and delight the adoring fans.

Talen

23rd May 2005, 05:16 PM

I was there, and one of the Reading mob to boot....fantastic weekend, great Kendo, great kendoka, great event....

Gota learn to deal with that Jodan....my men suffered bad.....

Come along to the Reading dojo anytime for some revenge, I'm sure Sensei Sullivan welcomes any visiting kendoka.

ginger_justice

23rd May 2005, 06:46 PM

Come along to the Reading dojo anytime for some revenge, I'm sure Sensei Sullivan welcomes any visiting kendoka.

i live just off the southern end of the reading unviersity campus, so i may well, assuming i can get my kit destenched after a wednesday night practice at some point.

do you all mumble 'far enough to be... safe... close enough to... remain in contact' as you're falling asleep at night? i might have to start. good thing i'm not married.

ben spain

23rd May 2005, 08:37 PM

fantastic weekend, great Kendo, great kendoka, great event....
Couldn't of said it (much) better myself!

Gota learn to deal with that Jodan
Jodan very much still foxes me. Unless I can hit your kote as soon as your up, I'm screwed!

i live just off the southern end of the reading unviersity campus, so i may well, assuming i can get my kit destenched after a wednesday night practice at some point.
Don't worry about the stink, at Reading we very quickly get used to it!

do you all mumble 'far enough to be... safe... close enough to... remain in contact' as you're falling asleep at night?
One night after practise I was practising Fumikomi in my sleep. I kid you not. My girlfriend had a bruise for two weeks

ginger_justice

23rd May 2005, 08:47 PM

i tai atari'd my ex once. not as filthy as it sounds.

the best thing about jodan: raised arms. the stink from my armpits hits them a few seconds before the shinai, which tends to bounce harmlessly of the men gane, anyway. alas. but at least their eyes water; to quote the bad guy in karate kid 2, 'if a man cannot see, he cannot fight'.

i spoke to a few reading people the other day, but fear i have a mind like a net made of merangue. is one of your weekly sessions more of a 'beginners' thing, and the other terrifyingly hardcore? i'm keen to come and join you for a practice at some point, though ironically, i may not have time to do so until i've moved away from reading to oxford.

ben spain

23rd May 2005, 09:13 PM

See the link in my signiture for Reading Dojo info.

ginger_justice

23rd May 2005, 09:18 PM

See the link in my signiture for Reading Dojo info.

ah. yes. good point. alas. i think i left my brain in watchet. cheers.

GMason

23rd May 2005, 10:57 PM

I also practiced with Mr Spain and managed to twat him in the eye with my Shinai, whilst doing taitari practice, which was nice of me ;-)

Someone was fencing Jodan ??? was this at Minehead or Danesfield and if at Minehead (I didn't see it) why didn't they fence me no fair :-(

ben spain

24th May 2005, 12:21 AM

My fault entirely!

I also remeber Jigeiko with you during the first day. Both yourself and another guy from your Dojo are seriously quick!

ginger_justice

24th May 2005, 01:39 AM

Someone was fencing Jodan ??? was this at Minehead or Danesfield and if at Minehead (I didn't see it) why didn't they fence me no fair :-(

at minhead; think i may have had a wee tussle with you, actually, right down the far end of the hall, but you were too bloody quick for me to do anything as stupid as jodanning you. trying to hit the indigo blur was hard enough with two hands.

in all honesty, i was only really doing it when i was knackered and pretty sure there weren't any sensei watching, right down the junior end of the hall, because i was interested to see what kind of reaction it'd get. as anyone from my dojo'll testify, i'm not exactly god's gift, and am more used to another form of one-handed fighting. one day, i'll do it properly, and they'll all die of shock.

edit: jodan, that is. the other 'katate kamae', i've had down since i was about 12. and they're quite used to me doing that in the dojo...

GMason

24th May 2005, 05:53 PM

Yep I remember fencing you both..... good fun...... Thanks

Sorry for not realising who you where, I will say hello next time (are you going to the Bowden)

The seminar was a good as ever. It did make it a bit different having it split into two but still good fun.

The other guy from my Dojo would my cousin Mark H. Did either of you get to fence the Chinese Girl from my Dojo.... Now Leng was on good form that weekend. (We travel around together like three homeless people to as many seminars as poss wtih them two kicking ass and me just trying to keep up :-) )

ben spain

24th May 2005, 06:59 PM

GMason

24th May 2005, 07:35 PM

Leng's Kendo is very natural and looks like she is putting no effort in at all, which is so frustrating for someone like who has to try very hard.

Too far !!!! we had to travel for five/six hours for watchet.... you southerners ;-P

The Stoke Seminar is good fun, usually about 60-70+ I think. They get some good teachers to come up as well. The accomodation is usually quite cheap as well as they get some rooms from the Uni (Don't know if they are doing that this year). I don't know if you know the guys from the Kagamishin... but they are..... a very socialble lot (that is a polite way of calling them piss heads :-P) so the second Dojo usually very very good as well.

If you have any questions about the seminar if you get in touch with Steve Plimbley I'm sure he will be more than happy to help you out. He posts on KW as SJP I think.

Talen

24th May 2005, 07:36 PM

I had the pleasure :confused2 , honour :ko: to fight against Leng on the Saturday, and was mercilessly pulped...

Had a much better fight against Mr Mason, but I think he was tired after a bout with one of the senior sensei's as I seemed to actually be able to hit him, think my one good uchitoshi surprised him :grin:, although maybe not ;)

GMason

24th May 2005, 07:45 PM

No No No... the reason you hit me was..... I was injured... yep that was it.... I had hurt my back.... no my foot.... no it was leg.... yep that was it.... it was leg was dodgy, doctors told me I would never walk again..... but I managed to get out of my hospital bed for the kendo.... So I was injured :p :p :p :p :p :p

Talen

24th May 2005, 08:06 PM

So I was injured :p :p :p :p :p :p

Thanks for bringing me back down to earth Gareth.......:emb:

GMason

24th May 2005, 08:09 PM

Na I am just trying to convince myself..... not working though :cry: :cry: :cry: :wink:

sjp

24th May 2005, 10:44 PM

The Stoke Seminar is good fun, usually about 60-70+ I think. They get some good teachers to come up as well. The accomodation is usually quite cheap as well as they get some rooms from the Uni (Don't know if they are doing that this year). I don't know if you know the guys from the Kagamishin... but they are..... a very socialble lot (that is a polite way of calling them piss heads :-P) so the second Dojo usually very very good as well.

If you have any questions about the seminar if you get in touch with Steve Plimbley I'm sure he will be more than happy to help you out. He posts on KW as SJP I think.

I am not going to fall for this one you yorkshire dwarfe.
I'll just say
'I saw the light on the night that..........'

Seriously Stoke Seminar is a good weekend, excellent teachers always,lots of good kendo and a good atmosphere.
If anyone needs any information get my email from the BKA site.

GMason

24th May 2005, 11:42 PM

'I saw the light on the night that..........'

I passed by her Window... NA NA NA NAAAAAA She was a amazing.......

Thanks for bringing me back down to earth Gareth.......

That's it make me sound like a git.... :-( :-( :-(

Seriously I enjoyed all the fences that I had last weekend. I don't think there was anyone I fenced who was bad. Everyone seemed to fence well and enjoy it !!! The problem is you get to fence so many people it is difficult to remember who is who.

Timeline

25th May 2005, 06:31 AM

Great seminar. O'Sullivan Sensei was on form. Were any of you at the advanced end of the hall when he showed us the mind reading bit. The seme and say now? Very useful, I just wish we had more time with that.

Right, onward to the SF Bowden!!!!

sjp

25th May 2005, 07:28 AM

Right, onward to the SF Bowden!!!!

Not unless you submit your entry by the 28th

PhilMcLaughlin

25th May 2005, 07:30 AM

I didn't get the chance to fence her, but I hear from other peole that she was awesome - I believe that she was commented to have "Perfect Kendo"!! Maybe next time.

I can't make Bowden, but I really want to go to the Stoke seminar (16-17 July), but it is a long way for a day of Kendo (I won't be grading). ?

you IDLE bugger ! - its 3 hours by train reading to stoke & the dojo is nearby
its about 3 hours to drive
thats too far to train under 6th & 7th Dan teachers ????????
So F&&&&g what if youre not grading ?

Ive a good mind to let a certain Mr O'S see this

sheeeshh

What is Stoke like? Has it got the same feel as Watchet?

its a quaint, rural, provincial area where the natives speak strangely but is much colder than the rest england except maybe Yorkshire which is a foreign country anyway :-)

so in some ways its like Watchet......

best way to find out is bl%%dy go there & get some kendo in - if youre thinking of grading later this year how many other seminars are the ????

no wonder the Stokies reckon southerners are soft....

PhilMcLaughlin

25th May 2005, 07:33 AM

I passed by her Window... NA NA NA NAAAAAA She was a amazing.......

That's it make me sound like a git.... :-( :-( :-( .

you ARE a git - whats the problem ? (dont mean it really...... ;-)

I think its time some of the Sandans had a go at being floor manager....

ginger_justice

25th May 2005, 07:34 AM

Great seminar. O'Sullivan Sensei was on form.

aye, shame the kata session with him on the saturday was so short; the calming effect of the man's voice was worth the entry fee alone...

ben spain

25th May 2005, 05:12 PM

you IDLE bugger ! - its 3 hours by train reading to stoke & the dojo is nearby
its about 3 hours to drive
thats too far to train under 6th & 7th Dan teachers ????????
So F&&&&g what if youre not grading ?

Ive a good mind to let a certain Mr O'S see this

sheeeshh

its a quaint, rural, provincial area where the natives speak strangely but is much colder than the rest england except maybe Yorkshire which is a foreign country anyway :-)

so in some ways its like Watchet......

best way to find out is bl%%dy go there & get some kendo in - if youre thinking of grading later this year how many other seminars are the ????

no wonder the Stokies reckon southerners are soft....

It is not so much the time, but the cost. I am in the middle of buying my first house and the costs keep piling up. £200 (which is about what Watchet cost) is a LOT of money at the moment and it means that I have to take another (unpaid) day off work and I can't do house stuff at the weekend. I did say that "I really want to go to the Stoke seminar", so it is not that I don't have the inclination!! A certain Mr O'S knows my situation.

Anyway, after discussions at my Dojo last night it looks like I might be able to go - finances permitting - with a few others from Reading Dojo.

GMason

25th May 2005, 05:38 PM

you ARE a git - whats the problem ? (dont mean it really...... ;-)

I think its time some of the Sandans had a go at being floor manager....

OK fair enough..... I will except the critisim.... I'm a GIT :wink:

I would have done the floor managers job, but you where doing such a good job of forgetting the commands and telling everyone off, I thought I would leave you to it :) :) :)

PhilMcLaughlin

25th May 2005, 06:38 PM

OK fair enough..... I will except the critisim.... I'm a GIT :wink:

I would have done the floor managers job, but you where doing such a good job of forgetting the commands and telling everyone off, I thought I would leave you to it :) :) :)

I wasnt on good form,:-((( mind you so many people were just having a natter in the background that it made me cross !

I feel sorry for Mike Molloy and his camera that I thought was a mobile phone though ;-)

mind you any digital device that beeps and whirrs during kata is mean to the candidates I think

cheers

PhilMcLaughlin

25th May 2005, 06:40 PM

snip..

Anyway, after discussions at my Dojo last night it looks like I might be able to go - finances permitting - with a few others from Reading Dojo.

excellent ! look me up in ji geiko and you can get your own back at me the traditional way :-)

ben spain

25th May 2005, 07:20 PM

excellent ! look me up in ji geiko and you can get your own back at me the traditional way :-)

I'll certainly try and find you in Stoke - but get my own back....I think not!

It's still not 100% definate, but I am of course going to try and get to Stoke (if it was a simple choice of yes or no, I would be there the day before!) - just hard to commit money and time at the moment.

sjp

26th May 2005, 02:42 AM

[QUOTE=ben spain]I'll certainly try and find you in Stoke - but get my own back....I think not!

QUOTE]

Ben you will have no problem.
Phil is easy... ;)

D'Artagnan

27th May 2005, 12:54 AM

Phil is easy... ;)

... Maybe we should keep this discussion to Kendo... :wink:

PhilMcLaughlin

27th May 2005, 01:49 AM

[QUOTE=ben spain]I'll certainly try and find you in Stoke - but get my own back....I think not!

QUOTE]

Ben you will have no problem.
Phil is easy... ;)

Bl@@dy hell, you cant rely on anyone to keep quiet these days
Now see what youve done Mr P.
last time i let you cut me ;-)

Kendoboy

17th June 2005, 02:26 PM

Does anyone have photos of the event posted?

dwez

8th September 2009, 09:23 PM

As good a Watchet thread to resurrect as any. I'm pretty certain there was a Watchet kendo seminar and grading this year but I've heard reports Tsunami dojo no longer exists, their website certainly doesn't.

Unfortunately I can't access the BKA forum at the moment [but I'm one of the few people who actually post so I'm unlikely to get an answer from myself] so does anyone know the state of Tsunami and the future of the Watchet seminar? I've also got a map to update but the BKA list still show's it's active, perhaps the pigeons have got lost en-route to inform of it's demise?