County Show
1.7.07 - Latest news is that the county show has been cancelled so we will not be taking part in the event this year.
Surprise Gradings
1.7.07 - Sensei Gray and Sensei Armstrong turned up to grade 2 more Tenshin students on Wednesday night, much to the surprise of Garry and Jane who are our newest 5th kyu's in the class. Congratulations to you both!
First adult Gradings
Congratulations to Alison, Paul, Les and Janine who are offically the first adult students to grade out of the Tenshin Dojo. They impressed Sensei Givens and Sensei Dignam with their stuff and walked away with a 5th Kyu each. Well done from everyone at the club.
Adult Gradings
25.3.07 - There will be a grading course on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th April. Cost is £20 for an adult, £10 for students/unemployed and under 16's.
Children's Grading
25.3.07 - Gradings will be held at the Hagakure Dojo on Saturday 31st March at 11.30 am. Priced at £6.50 per child. Anyone unable to attend can take their grading on Wednesday April 4th in class.
Happy New Year!
5.1.07 - Sensei Jeff and Sensei Clare would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year, thank you for your support in 2006 and wish you health, happiness and plenty of training in 2007! Classes begin Wednesday 10th January at the Tenshin Dojo and Saturday 6th January at the Hagakure Dojo.
What a fantastic end to an amazing year.
23.12.06 - Our club has been open less than a year, but already we have grown in strength, students and experience. We as instructors cannot thank you enough for the hard work and dedication that the Tenshin students have given us in this our first year and not to mention the support given by our sister club Hagakure Dojo and their students and instrutors. But this said who were we to know the year was about to get even better and end on a huge high for Sensei Jeff. As usual Hagakure Dojo held its annual christmas grading course, however what we didn't suspect was the surprise visit from Sensei Linus Dignam and Sensei Errol Givens this proved an even bigger surprise for Sensei Jeff, who assumed he'd be on the grading panel, when in reality he actually graded for second dan! Sensei Jeff took the Tatami and was asked to demonstrate a range of higher grade techniques, from 2 man tatami attacks, jo and bokken techniques to 4 and 6 person free attack. I am sure all the students who watched the grading will agree that it was an excellent grading and he truly deserves the grade of 2ND DAN! Well done Sensei Jeff! From everyone at your club.
WOW!
16.12.06 - Thank you to all the children who attended the aikido christmas grading and party at the Hagakure Dojo. The day was a huge sucess and great fun, starting with an amazing warm up by Sensei Paul Gray with all 86 children involved! The children were given a chance to experience some Kendo strikes thanks to Sensei Simon Jewitt and become involved in Iaido thanks to Sensei Paul Maddison. As well as timing and Parachute exercises by Sensei Jeff Taylor and Sensei Clare Gray. The children worked incredibly hard and we're proud to say that all of them passed their gradings and showed incredible patience and respect thoughout the day. THANK YOU to all who took part and especially parents and instructors who proved to be an invaluable help throughout the day. Believe it or not, this wasn't the end of the day, after 2 hrs training the children then turned into pirates, princesses, vampires and a whole host of other strange and wonderful creatures to enjoy a fun packed afternoon of party games, food and prizes. We even had a surprise visit from Santa himself! The children and instructors had a great time and again thanks to all who helped.
Well done!
25.10.06 - Congratulations to our junior students who took part in our second sucessful grading. Sensei Derek Armstrong visited the club and graded the students, who for some are now proud to wear their 2nd tag. Well done again to all who took part, and thanks to parents for your support.
Leeds trip cancelled
8.10.06 - We are sorry to inform you that our planned trip to Leeds Royal Armouries has had to be cancelled due to the exhibition been delayed. We will plan another trip as soon as we have a new date from the armouries.
A surprise visit.
16.8.06 - A normal Wednesday training session turned out to be something very different on 16th August. When Sensei Jeff and Clare arrived at the dojo they were met by Sensei Errol Givens (4th Dan) and Sensei Linus Dignam (4th Dan) who had travelled up from Birmingham to visit the Tenshin Dojo. Students had a fantastic opportunity to train with and learn from these 2 excellent instructors and aikidoka. On behalf of the students and instructors can we take this opportunity for travelling so far and please come back soon!
Sensei is awarded 2nd Dan.
16.8.06 - Having taught an excellent session at the Tenshin Dojo, our Birmingham guests travelled to the Hagakure Dojo to deliver more surprises! During the training session Sensei Clare was graded and awarded 2nd Dan, by the Alliance Committee and instructors. Congratulations!!!
Our First Gradings!
Congratulations to Liam J, Phillip R, Jamie R, Scott M, Joe R, Kieran H, Heather M and Sarah S who are the first students to receive their grade within the Tenshin Dojo. It was a proud night for Sensei Jeff and Clare as Sensei Paul Gray, Sensei Derek Armstrong from the Hagakure Dojo and Sensei Eric Carpenter awarded the students their first yellow tags. The students were remarkable and all praise goes out to them for their hard work and dedication. WELL DONE!!!
Washington Community Development Trust lend a hand!
We gratefully received a letter in the post this week from the above trust with a cheque for £400 towards the cost of extra mats!!!! Our thanks go out to all those concerned.
County Show another huge success!
Alongside our Hagakure club, July 15th/16th proved a hot, exhausting and fun packed day for the Tenshin Dojo. The Durham County Show at Herrington Park is proving to be an annual event for our clubs. We spent both days training and demonstrating our aikido, ranging from traditional hand to hand techniques as well as some more unusual aspects, including, blindfolded techniques, gun taking and an excellent fully dressed kendo assault! Can't wait till next year!!!!
BT helping the community!
A sucessful bid was recognised this week by BT Community team. We applied to BT asking for funding towards the purchase of new and extra mats for the club. A cheque of £225 has been gratefully received. Thanks to all concerned.
