Gorleston Self Defence Club Holds Annual Summer Dan Grading

On Sunday 27 th May, the O-Yama-Ryu Goshin Jitsu Martial Arts Club, held its annual summer Dan gradings at the Church Lane Community Centre, In Gorleston.
This year there were four students who were attempting to earn their second Dan grades. The format for the gradings were to be a training seminar taken by the student and his training partner (or uke), which is an opportunity for the student to teach some different styles and techniques of martial arts to a mixed group of experienced students and some junior grades, which they have been studying since their first Dan grading.
The first seminar was given by Daniel Storer and his partner Wendy Simnet, This seminar was based on a Dutch training Kata called “Ju Jitsu Ne Waza Kata “, Daniel took the group through the first 6 techniques and  allowed the students time to attempt the techniques with correcting any minor mistakes. This was the first time this kata was tried within the clubs training sessions. Daniel and Wendy are both members of the  O Yama Ryu’s sister club Bradwell All-Styles Martial Arts Club.
The Second Seminar was taken by Sensei Gillian Barber from Belton O Yama Ryu club and she was assisted by her daughter Sarah Barber, (who is also a second dan student). Gillian’s seminar was based on the Kodokan Seiryoku zen’yo Kokumin Taiiku, which is built up of three sections (a warm-up exercise routine, a kata called Kimi Shiki and the final part which is a kata called Ju Shiki) due to time restrictions Gillian and Sarah took the group through the first two parts and allowed the students to try out the techniques for themselves. The first part of the kata is still taught in Japan in all schools and factory’s as part of the way of life, and to keep people fit.
The final seminar of the day, was taken by Rebekah and Ryan Guest, who are also members of Belton O Yama Ryu club. The training returned to another Dutch training kata and this time it was the “Ju Jitsu Uke Waza Kata” . Both Rebekah and Ryan took the group through the techniques and allowed the students to try them out for themselves and offered assistance when it was required.
The event's host Shihan Kevin Garwood said that it was a great pleasure to see the students taking the seminars and being able to show some new variations in the clubs basic syllabus, and he hoped that all who took part in the training enjoyed trying something a little bit different from the normal classes, and it shows that even though you may think the prized black belt is a goal to be achieved, a persons training in martial arts isn’t finished by attaining it. The black belt is really the start of your learning a martial art, and even a 5th or 6th Dan student can still learn something new every day.
Shihan Garwood then had great pleasure in awarding the four students their second Dan grades complete with certificates, which were countersigned by all the other Dan grades who were present at the seminars. As a special surprise for Wendy Simnet, who had stepped in as Daniels Uke at a late stage in his training, for all her hard work, she was awarded her first Kyu grade (brown belt)
This training day was attended by just over 25 mixed students of all grades and ages from a variety of the local martial arts clubs, and an excellent days training was had by all who took part.