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NEWS PAGE
Bill Davison; the end of an era
My apologies for being all Hollywood on you but for a change I write on this page with a somewhat heavy heart.
Bill Davison has been my friend for ermm well I am not sure how many years. And whilst he has not left the planet or anything like that he has left the dojo....and he was the last person from for the very first class. So, I write this a bit, well, choked up, I guess you could say.
The History.
Bill helped Ian Applegarth set up Budokan Dojo; it wasn’t his club but he was very much instrumental in setting it up. I first met him when the club had been going about a year or so; I went along and he was head of the line of wannabe’s. The club wasn’t very big but there was a heart to it that was real; a real warmth that you don’t get very often in many clubs or societies. Ian was the quiet one who was a 4th dan at the time; Bill was, even then , the shouty man who loved being able to tell people what to do. And I sat and watched wondering what the F**k is going on! Years of Ju Jitsu and before that judo were simply washed away watching something I knew I wanted to do.
Well, Bill was taking his Ikkyu (or was it his Shodan?) for my second sojourn and actual first class but the following week he returned newly graded and did his enbu. I was truly impressed. My second class and Ian was absent so Bill decided some hands on training would be fun – there was only two of us. Within minutes he pinned me to the floor; seconds later I had a full strangle locked on him and grinned up at him. I think we both knew from that moment we would be friends for life.
The clubs fortunes with regard to students varied over the years but at it’s core was Ian, Bill and me. The training was superb; Bill always loved being the supposed ‘hard guy’ but I knew he was (and is) just a guy who wants to gain love through admiration.
A true tale.
With apologies to Barbara, Bill’s wife, who is the loveliest of people evvah!! Her coffee making skills need some work....but she might argue that my drinking skills need more lol. The three dojo guys and our partners attended a lovely meal at Bill’s house. the food was great, the company was good, the wine was flowing. Ah, now you see the problem. I had wine and I aint subtle at the best of times let alone drunk. So when the time for coffee came I was spinning; the cup was given and tasted what was probably a lovely cuppa but I was too far gone to appreciate it. And even further gone to recall what the word ‘manners’ meant! “ugh this coffee’s crap” I blurted out. Barbara, bless her laughed out loud...but wifey dragged me out the house pronto. Barbara, still teases me about this to this day!
Grumpy Bill
The name? It came from an ex-student called Ben Taylor although I never ever saw Bill as Grumpy. In fact, Ben didn’t think of Bill as Grumpy either, he just knew Bill would relish in the title ( and he sooo did)...indeed I sometimes think Bill tried to live up to it lol. Of course, there were other names for him. Martin Chambers came with with Billious ( which I just loved – not because Bill is actually Bilious but because the term is so clever..it almost gives the name Bill an Imperial air whilst at the same time sounding like an insult). From there I coined the phrase Grumperious Billious and we moved on to Grumperious T Billious (sorry the ‘T ‘ is a bit too graphic for the written word).
Leaving
The day came in early December 2011 when it would be Bill’s final day at the dojo. Some of us had previously helped him move his furniture into the van bound for his new home ( one of us knew he had a HUGE eff-off table that he would move first and duly arrived an hour late when it had been safely carried onto the van – well done Frodo, PJ and Hoppy-Choppy; hope your backs have now recovered lol).
There was a great turn out from Budokan for his last official practice and a few from Ojika turned up too. Bill led the class one last time and the we all took turns to do an enbu to say a proper thank you for all his help over the years.
We arranged it so that the whole thing was by grade order. The shodans went first which included, Sophie, Mark, PJ, Andy W, Debz, Eddie and Katie – and they were very good. Followed, naturally by the Nidan’s – Phil B, Malcolm, Jonathon, Owen and Kev. The 2 sandans were up next Jon M and Jack. Phil hendo would have gone by himself as the only 4dan but we were running out of time so he joined Martin Chambers and I to do a 7 kata final enbu to show our appreciation.
And then to present giving. Sake was poured and drunk and I duly gave out his presents. First up was a T-shirt....not going to repeat the text here but Bill laughed out loud at it so I think he liked it. Then a crystal vase inscribed with the club logo and text about Bill. And finally a personal gift from me to Bill (made by Katie – thank you so much for doing this) ; a bespoke Budokan sageo.
To the pub to the pub. See pictures...of course we went to the pub.
But this was not to be the last hurrah. Bill attended one last class at Budokan. It was the following Thursday and it was a fairly regular class.
But it was really his last one. Really. We went to the pub and had a few beers. He said goodbye to Owen and Jonathon and Kim and Tracey and Phil. And then we said goodbye to each other as I walked with him out of the pub; an unashamed hug of dear friendship and then he left.
And the club is the poorer for his absence.
........and I miss my friend!!
Lee Mountain
Emiko's visit to Durham Dojo
On Monday 28th November we had a surprise visit to our dojo from Emiko Kajino, A Japanese lady who specialises in the art of kimono dressing and many ways to decorate your home with obi. She even came attired in full kimono and participated with the Iaido class.
Her main reason for visiting the UK was to help raise money for the Japanese Tsunami Appeal. She has published a wonderful book of the many ways of presenting obi "Emiko's Obi-Ties" of which all proceeds go to the appeal.
If you would like to support the appeal by purchasing one of these books, they are available on Katie Chaplins website "Japancrafts.co.uk" at the small price of £10.00.
http://www.japancrafts.co.uk/shop/category_9/Emiko's-Obi-Ties-Book.html
A recommended buy for anyone interested in Japanese culture; so stop being tight and get one bought!!! :-p
Northern Seminar November 2011
Well, another year; another stress inducing, life shortening arranging of a seminar!
So, after months of preparations I finally get there, the final grading seminar of the BKA calendar year. And despite the recession, and the fact that it is much further to travel the same distance northwards than it is southwards we get around 120 bods attending. To be fair this event has been well supported by southern dojo over the years especially Seishinkan who come en-masse.
Friday night and Peter West Sensei comes up to train in Sunderland. Martin and others from Ojika didn’t seem to get the text going round so they missed a treat. Somehow Kev and Andy made it and also managed, on the night before, to forget to tell their Ojika dojo mates it was happening! Hmm did they want more Peter time or are they really that forgetful?? Whoops, hope I haven’t stirred things for you boys .
Anyhoo, Peter came up with his Russian lady friend and we got some great stuff off him. So did she according to Bill! but that’s another story... (whistles suggestively so you get the drift)
We also got to know about his love of Oroshi and Mosquitoes...or at least Elena loves Mosquitoes ...ahem!!! This too cryptic for youse? Feel free to ask him what it means!!! lol Of course we never mentioned Sophie’s sojourn into the world of adult entertainment! (good job you cannot see that I have crossed my fingers)
Anyway, Saturday came and I am rushing around like a puppet with its strings all tangled up; buying sandwiches etc from the supermarket, making flasks of tea and coffee, splitting it into two lots so Bill has some for his venue, trying to make sure those with veggie diets are catered for. I get to the Education Village to find Owen and Jon M waiting for me (as are all the gang from Sunderland). So we start registration. It never ceases to amaze me how many people do not read instructions; but still...we got there.....and we got them to where they should have been!
And so to practice. Jon M, Jonathon, Owen, Eddie, Jack and I were with Peter West Sensei doing koryu. And it was jolly super I must say. Bill was teaching at Darlo college and Sophie, Mark and PJ were in that group whilst Frodo and Malcolm were with Chris Mansfield Sensei. Chris, Leslie, Ben and ‘Dave’ (or Charlotte as she is also known) did Seitei with Nobby Clark and Greg Drewe; I think they had a good time. Especially Dave as she was using her new sword that Ben has bought- ain’t love sweet....awwwwww
Saturday night and we meet up at the local pub near the Chinese restaurant I had booked for 34 of us. Bill was late (he blamed everyone but himself) with Genbukan and Peter’s entourage; Jack and Stuart’s Katsumushi mob made it just in time to go eat.
Now, I am pretty good at adding up but imagine my surprise when we seem to be a few chairs short. No...wait a moment, we have the right number of chairs! Oh, some people just decided to come along without bothering to book lol. To be fair, two did say they didn’t realise we had all booked it and happily went downstairs. It was a good job one person had cancelled on us though as one person had simply turned up and was determined to stay (shame he didn’t feel like leaving a tip for the staff when he left early - they worked bloody hard during the night keeping us all happy and refreshed). But we did have a whale of a time! Katsumushi Rob really loves Prawn Crackers.. or at least he would if we stopped stealing them from him. Alan Lever, I found out, can speak Chinese (except he didn’t help me chat up the very pretty young Waitress; might have helped if he could speak Fillipino hahahahah). The Food was excellent, the beers kept coming and Sophie was popular for having the wee-wee taken out of her. Kev kept losing beer; he ordered plenty but couldn’t work out why they didn’t bring him them – should I tell him Andy and I were drinking them when they arrived? oopsy.
Then GTB decided to give an impromptu speech. Thanking me for all the work I had put into organising everything. Yeah I was embarrassed but was nicely embarrassed.
I think my speech was pretty crap but everyone laughed...seem to think it was AT me rather than with me but hey-ho!
At the end Peter (and even Elena) asked Sophie to give them a ring. They couldn’t say that over all the noise so they simply gestured by holding their right hands by the side of their heads......which was nice!!!
On to Jack’s mum and Dad’s pub for some of us where Jack’s mum had taken a shine to Stuart. I fed her Labrador!!! (and no that isn’t a euphemism for some sordid sexual act you weirdos – I am trying to point out she must be blind ....sheesh!). Anyway, Stuart is telling her that he looks after Jack like a son when he is in Preston; I wanted to ask if he wet-nurses him but thought better of it.
So Sunday morning (cue the Velvet Underground!....another double-entendre for you to enjoy!) and Kev is hung-over. Owen and Sophie has camera. We have picture!
On to the seminar, and I get a few more hours with Peter. Scott Halls ( the big girls blouse from the West Midlands Posse, has defected to the Seitei group) but all the Northern Alliance are still there with a few more joining us. David Hickey, David Mac and Matt take loads of notes (nice body warmer Matt btw!!! that was taken on and off more than a professional dancers bra) whilst Jack decides to join me in looking posh in white.
Alas, duty calls and late morning I am needed to sort stuff out so that is the end of my practice. Jonathon has now discovered why kneepads are a good thing. Eddie, looked pretty bemused throughout ; but happy. Owen got loads of input and Jon Meikle was setting his stall up.
Gradings? Well, alas poor Frodo failed again and Malcolm didn’t pass either...but 3rd dan isn’t an easy one.
But ...pip pip Hurray...pip pip Hurray....pip pip Hurray... Sophus, Marcus Ralstonius, and PJ breezed their gradings....and I mean breezed them. And loads of Ojikalings passed their gradings as well. John Hartburn (he gives me heartburn , I tell ya) passed his jodo as did Big Willy, Kev and Jayne. And Kev and Jodie passed 2dan Iaido, Dee and Mike got their Ikkyu as did some newbies from Martin’s dojo who I haven't yet met.
As Brucie would say....”didn’t they do well?”
Or, as I noted when Stuart Shireff said that the Northern Alliance was the Gonads (referring to five dojo – Genbukan, Ojika, Budokan, Katusmushi Leeds and Katsumushi Preston) I pointed out that Budokan had three sites; Durham Darlington and Sunderland.
So that makes the Northern Alliance....the Magnificent Seven.
....theme music to fade.... dum dum-de-dum, dum-de-duddah-dum (you know how it goes!!)
Lee Mountain
European Iaido Championships, Andorra Oct 2011.
Well after selection onto the British Iaido squad it wasn't long before Andrew Armstrong from our neighbouring dojo Ojika and myself (Jon Meikle), had to pack our bags and jump on a plane over to Andorra to compete against the best Europe has to offer.
The British squad met up at two airports Luton and Gatwick on the morning of the 5th Oct. with great excitement / apprehension in order to catch the flight to Barcelona. Probably more apprehension on Andrews behalf as this was his first time on a plane! Of course plenty of jibes thus followed about the likelihood of wings / engines falling off during flight just to reassure him :-p.
Arriving at Barcelona was a refreshing change as there was sun! and it was really quite warm, good job that I had left my coat at home. The transfer over to Andorra by coach took us about 2 1/2 hours with a "beer stop" on the way... "coffee stop" sorry slip of the tongue.
Once we finally arrived at the hotel we were all pleasantly surprised, a very luxurious 5 Star hotel with all the trimmings. The Andorra Plaza served us very well throughout our stay and offered us full board and plenty of free wine at every meal!!
So the next morning the Seminar began, first two days for seitei practice with not one but three 8th Dan Hanshi from Japan. Kawaguchi Sensei, Kusama Sensei and Kamikokuryo Sensei headed the Japanese delegation.
Groups were split into mudan/shodan: nidan /sandan/yondan and godan /rokudan. Where we all got practice without having an on/off system, however it was getting a little tight on Shiho Giri and Sou Giri. Look before you cut mantra was taken onboard to the nth degree!!! The afternoon of the second day had us all performing an embu in our groups for the Japanese delegation, to show how much we had improved?? No pressure then!
Day three Individual Tai Kai Event .... Let battle commence!!! Well of course not before the opening ceremony and being entertained by some traditional Andorran dancers.
Some with very short Jo Staffs which they liked to bash together quite gaily! Actually they were very good and it was a great start to the forth coming events.
So the Tai Kai commenced... unfortunately Andrew and myself had difficult pools with stiff competition and we were eliminated sharpish :-( . UK team did do better in the higher dan divisions and came away with a Gold and Bronze in the Yondan division, Gold on the Godan division and Gold and Bronze in the Rokudan division. So not all lost!!! The experience alone was a reward in its self.
Day 4 was to see the team Tai Kai event in the morning. Go UK Go UK !!! Team UK easily got through the pool round and were making good progress in the knock out rounds. Unfortunately this wasn't to last and a dubious decision was to leave us with out a team trophy. So near yet so far!!!
That afternoon was allocated to the European gradings from Shodan - Nanadan. It is not very often you get to see these high end gradings so this was to be a good afternoon!
Bill Davison, David Collins and Andy Watson were to take there 6th dan and Greg Drew to take his 7th Dan. So all eyes were on our guys with anticipation.
Hmmmmm so what went wrong?? out of seven 4th dans, one 5th dan, eighteen 6th dan and five 7th dan only one of the 4th dans passed! Well there is always next time guys, lets hope those who deserve to pass do so then.
So I'd better sum up... Great hotel, cheap food and beer, great company. But to finish on a serious note the Europeans has certainly been an eye opener and it has been a great honour to be a part of the 2011 Championships and the British Team. Despite not progressing through the Tai Kai it has been a huge learning curve and I have learnt a great deal. This experience I'm sure will be embedded in my memory for many years to come. Better start training hard now for another bash next year.
Jon Meikle
New dojo in Sunderland.
A few months ago I received a call from a woman calling herself Christine enquiring about Iaido. After several years (well it felt like that) on the phone I gleaned that Christine and a few of her fellow Ju Jitsu colleagues had had some Iai training but felt they needed more.
So, at my peril, I invited Chris down to Durham to have a chat and the rest, as they say, is history.
Well, not quite but It did lead to Chris sorting out a venue for Budokan (with their chums from Ojika) to do some more Iaido.
First night was led by moi with the help of Hansel (Owen Wilson) and along came Chris with her mates, Leslie, Ben, Charlotte and Ronnie. And I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did ‘cos they seemed like a great bunch of people.
We are a few weeks in now and they are all proving to be excellent students. So let me introduce the Sunderland Posse to you all.
Chris – has bought a new sword and is the only person I know shorter than Danni and harder than a cage fighter
Ben – is the luckiest guy alive cos he got Charlotte to go out with him AND he now has me as a teacher
Charlotte – is really called Dave ( its true; honest) and likes to get changed in public!!!!! ( if that don’t increase membership nothing will)
Leslie – the only person to be more ‘ooer missus’ than me
Ronnie – has the rudest text jokes evvah!
Welcome to the mayhem guys and gals.
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NEWS PAGE ARCHIVE.
Northern Alliance In St Evenage (Summer Seminar 2011)
Summer Seminar - Brighton 2010
BKA National Championships 2010
Darlington Northern Seminar 2009
Summer Seminar Brighton August 2009
And the winner of the "slowest student to get changed award"
