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Report – 2025 Autumn Course Chippenham.

The Shikukai Autumn Course took place on 1-2 November, with Sensei Carol Chatterton 6th Dan and members of Kiku Wa Jyuku in Chippenham welcoming more than 30 students to a somewhat wet and windy Wiltshire. We were fortunate to have Sensei F Sugasawa with us to direct and supervise on both days, and to haveContinue reading “Report – 2025 Autumn Course Chippenham.”

Report – 2025 Weekend Course in the Netherlands with Tim Shaw Sensei.

Travelling on Friday 10th October to Eindhoven, I had to pinch myself; no queues at Stansted, no queue at the gate and on the plane, and settled in my seat 40 mins before take-off, which happened ahead of time. Ryanair, what is going on? Add to that, I luckily ended up sat next to aContinue reading “Report – 2025 Weekend Course in the Netherlands with Tim Shaw Sensei.”

Report – Norway course with Steve and Pam Rawson September 2025.

As I drove to our ‘local’ airport to collect the Rawson Senseis for their annual instructingweekend of Norway’s Hoku Sei Jyuku, I was hoping that the weather forecasts were wrongand our recent warm and sunny spell would continue. Alas, we would not be quite thatlucky but it was positively Caribbean compared to last year whenContinue reading “Report – Norway course with Steve and Pam Rawson September 2025.”

Report – Tim Shaw Sensei, Doncaster 2025.

‘How am I benefitting from this?’‘What am I getting from this?’ This was the theme that ran in the background of the seminar delivered by Tim Shaw 7th Dan Sensei, (The Budo Journeyman), hosted by Andrew Genery Sensei and Kishinkai Wado Ryu. Sensei promised 2 deep dives: (1) Wado Ryu basics Junzuki and Junzuki NoContinue reading “Report – Tim Shaw Sensei, Doncaster 2025.”

Report – Sugasawa Sensei, Instructor’s course 2025 Brittany.

There is usually no good reason to get up at 3am, unless its August and time for the annual Shikukai course at Mumei Juku in Breton. So it was that people travelled by sea, rail and road to venture into the French countryside for three days of training under the meticulous instruction and guidance fromContinue reading “Report – Sugasawa Sensei, Instructor’s course 2025 Brittany.”

Report – Hungarian Summer Course 2025.

This year the jump from an English summer to a Hungarian summer was not such a big one. While parts of the UK cooked up to around 33 degrees, Hungary was enjoying temperatures that were very much like a better version of the typical Brit summer. For training this made things rather more comfortable. TheContinue reading “Report – Hungarian Summer Course 2025.”

Report – Shikukai Spring Course 2025 Osprey Leisure Centre, Portland.

After three weeks of lovely hot sunshine we knew the weather would probably breakbefore the course, but luckily we had a mixed bag of sun/cloud and wind, with therain mostly overnight.Sensei, Julie and Steve Chamberlain brought the sun with them when they arrived onThursday, joining us for refreshments in the garden before going on toContinue reading “Report – Shikukai Spring Course 2025 Osprey Leisure Centre, Portland.”

Report – Holland Course March 2025.

Time yet again for one of my regular courses hosted by Kenkokai in Eemnes, not far from Hilversum. These are seminars organised by our Shikukai representative in the Netherlands, Martijn Schelen de Vries. Martijn has a healthy Dojo of well-established students who come back year after year, which is a real advantage, as it givesContinue reading “Report – Holland Course March 2025.”

Report – Pre-Dan Grade Course and Mock Grading.

Steve and I always try to think of new approaches when planning courses and theidea of a Pre-Dan Grade training/mock grading was decided upon.We held it in two parts, at two different venues, so we could cover a larger contentand make travelling a bit easier for the students. Session 1 was held at The OspreyLeisureContinue reading “Report – Pre-Dan Grade Course and Mock Grading.”

Report – 2025 Shikukai Winter Course.

Winter is not everyone’s favourite time of year, but there has to be at least one shining light the other side of Xmas. We always hope that for Shikukai, the annual Winter Course provides some respite from the short days and the grim cold evenings. This time, to shake everyone out of their complacency, weContinue reading “Report – 2025 Shikukai Winter Course.”