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British Federation / March 2008
- Contributor: James Woodward, Durham University Branch Master
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University Training Seminar (UTS) held in Bristol, UK
On the weekend of 23rd and 24th February, the UTS took place in Bristol, United Kingdom. Every year a different University Branch hosts the UTS and this year it was held in Bristol. There were around 140 kenshi attending from the many University Branches in the UK and instruction was given by British Federation instructors: Mr. Tameo Mizuno (British Federation Chief Instructor), Mr. Peter Moore, Mr. Terry Goodman and Mr. Cailey Barker.
Practice began on Saturday with Chinkon-gyo and was followed by taiso and kihon and kenshi then went learn techniques by grade, instructed by Mizuno Sensei, Sensei Peter, Sensei Terry and Sensei Cailey. Several Branch Masters from University Dojos assisted with the instruction.
After breaking for lunch, Mizuno Sensei spoke about the importance of Shorinji Kempo being more than simply a martial art that focuses purely on overcoming onefs opponent. Mizuno Sensei showed the recent Shorinji Kempo magazine with the cover photo showing British kenshi practicing zazen meditation at Hombu following the Taikai last year. We were also shown a Japanese financial magazine that had an article and photograph of BSKF University Branches joining in a friendship agreement with Japanese University Branches that took place at the UTS in Glasgow in 2007.
Mizuno Sensei talked about how Shorinji Kempo is valued for its focus on developing strong characters who can play a positive role in their communities and also the importance of forging strong friendships and links between countries.
On the Saturday afternoon there was further technical training by grade and then we all went to ready ourselves for the evening entertainment. After a meal together and some karaoke, there was a team competition that is really too complicated to explain here but involved flying big paper planes, balloons and Morris Dancing (traditional English folk dancing). Each team had to consist of kenshi from different Dojos and was enjoyed by all.
On Sunday we continued with practice and enjoyed a great atmosphere that was created by new friendships and working together. As the weekend drew to a close we were all very grateful to the BSKF Instructors and also to Bristol for all their hard work in organising another great University Training Seminar.
James Woodward
Branch Master
Durham University Branch
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