Southampton University Branch, U.K. / Jan 2003 Contributor: Branch Master Adrian Foster-Starr

Southampton University Shorinji Kempo Branch was originally founded in 1992 by Sensei Cailey Barker. In 1994 he left the University to work in Africa and the club was inherited by two of the senior students training there, Sensei Adrian (the author) and Sensei Ian Ferguson, we were sho dan and first kyu respectively.

Since then we have run the club, initially with Sensei Peter Moore of the local Southampton Branch acting as coach, but; since passing our 3rd Dan grading in Paris 2001; as stand alone branch master and assistant branch master in our own right.

At the start the club was small with about 7 members so we decided on set goals, we called them 5 year plans, we wanted to make the training, realistic, challenging and enjoyable, and our first goals were to get 20 students in the club, train a black belt from beginner to Dan grade (which in England takes a minimum of 3 years), recruit more girls into the club (we figured correctly that where there are girls the boys will come!) get a female student to at least brown belt (to provide a positive role model for the other girls) and take the entire club to train at Hombu.

To start with the club was very physical in nature with an emphasis on kihon and press ups, our record for one memorable 3 hour session was over 450 broken up by punching, kicking and other exercises, sit-ups, squats and the like!

Our club motto: work hard; play hard.

Training was inevitably followed by a visit to the university bar where we would instruct our students to go and try to persuade other students to join the club before being allowed to sit and drink together.
Sensei Ian used his business background to design and implement an aggressive marketing campaign; there were 16 other martial arts at Southampton University everything from Judo to Ninjutsu!!! And we were the smallest.
We came up with a series of posters and a t-shirt figuring to turn every member of the club into a walking advert able to talk about Shorinji Kempo, we ran demonstrations, set up stalls, posted flyers in halls of residence, ran articles in the papers and conducted sponsored events, we organized social events and had fun.
I think we generally bothered people until they came to see what all the fuss was about and some stayed to train.

We completed our 5 year plan within 4 years with the club attending the 1997 Taikai with 21 members, 4 of whom graded to 1st Dan whilst there, with Ian and myself successfully grading to 2nd Dan. The club has attended Hombu 3 times now, in 1997, 2000 and this year 2002 for the summer training camp in September.

Southampton University Shorinji Kempo Branch is now a large club with over 45 members regularly training, making it one of the largest recreational clubs in Southampton University. In 8 years some 140 students have joined and trained at our club, some 20 attaining their black belts.
As a bonus two of our former kenshi: Sensei Dav Spilling and Sensei Mike Sadler, founded and now run the hugely successful Bristol University club, with Sensei Russ Jenkins, 5th Dan, of the long established Bournemouth Branch, acting as their branch coach.

Southampton University is still very enthusiastic club with training sessions four times a week, we also attend several big events around the country each year, including, the National University Training Seminar each year, which we've twice hosted and run, and we try to attend international events every couple of years when the club can afford them.

It has not all been good times, we have to overcome many difficulties including losing one third of our students, mostly our seniors, each year upon graduation, and struggle to recruit in the face of an increasing lack of interest in the martial arts throughout England generally.
For all of us, the balance between work, family, friends and relationships as opposed to Shorinji Kempo constantly changes; it requires constant monitoring and effort in all directions, equally, to maintain some form of equilibrium.

Tragedy has also struck us this year, with the loss of Bristol University's Nikki Carlton, a brilliant 1st Kyu, who died suddenly of undiagnosed leukaemia, we miss her hugely both as a friend and an enthusiastic and gifted kenshi.

We believe that Southampton University Shorinji Kempo has to provide a family for students away from home for the first time, it has a strong set of guiding moral values which it follows and, at times, is forced to enforce, We are not just my student's martial arts teachers but at the end of three years, hopefully, their reliable friends.
Our club is run by the students, for the students, with executive committee posts occupied in the majority by 2nd year degree students with a one-year tenure policy.

From their very first lesson all kenshi are taught that they can be teachers; there is nothing mystical about it, all it takes is hard work and commitment.

We are still a very social club and are constantly looking for new opportunities to spread the name and values of Shorinji Kempo, this year; for example; another series of women's self defence courses are planned, last year they were attended by over 150 students, this year's are planned to reach over 2000 woman of all ages and are being sponsored by the local council.

We are extremely fortunate to have Sensei Tameo Mizuno as our chief instructor within the British Shorinji Kempo Federation who supports us fully, and trains Ian and myself, we are also geographically blessed with two 5th Dan's, Sensei Russ Jenkins and Sensei Peter Moore who have local dojo and who both regularly visit the university to instruct and conduct gradings, I speak to one of them at least once a week, by phone or in person, and their continued support and advice is invaluable.

We are looking forward to the next 8 years of Shorinji Kempo practice though are running out of ideas for inclusion within our 4th 5 year plan, the only definite aim being for a foreign club to come and train at Southampton University for a change, why not make it yours?
You're always welcome and this article serves as an open invite to all.

We hope to meet you soon, work hard, play hard, and enjoy your Shorinji Kempo.

 

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