17th Jikishin Ju Jitsu Association International Course & Championships - 2007

Report by Peter McCarney

It was 9am for Registration and Weigh-In for all participants and competitors so we could gather for the 9:30AM Start at the excellent Southend Tennis and Leisure Centre. The International was opened by Sensei Brian Herbert, 7th Dan and Head of Jikishin, who thanked everyone for attending and handed over the mic to Sensei Vince Bull, who introduced Senseis John Hunt, 7th Dan, Ricky Izod, Graham Sergeant, Chris Shepperd, Brian Mallon, Lee Philips, 5th Dans all from Jikishin together with Guest International Senseis Eric Schoot, 6th Dan, Club Sensei Wichelen, Sensei Steven van Hauwermeiren, 5th Dan, Club Sensei Erpe, Sensei Hassan Emankaf, 5th Dan Club Sensei Anderlecht and Sensei Stefan Seyaert, 1st Dan, Club Sensei Diksmuide from Belgium; Sensei J. Johansson from Denmark; Master Kan Chinese boxing and Danny Buzzotta Vale Tudo. We were also delighted to have Sensei Martin Dixon, 8th Dan, together with his wife, Sensei Sheila Dixon, 7th Dan. They were present through-out the day and Sheila helped with the Judging.

Vince then handed back to Sensei Brian, who invited Grant Wakeman, 3rd Dan, to lead the Warm-Up. It was a pleasant surprise that allowed everyone to exercise their muscles through a sensible Range of Movement supplemented by Striking and Kicking Drills: such a contrast to our usual Assault Course Circuit Style Warm-Up with which we usually begin our training sessions. Jason Warren 2nd Dan Norwich JJ was nicely aglow but seemed disappointed to miss out on the usual 100 press-ups, sit-ups and more that he has learned so well from his visits to us.

With so much to get through, Sensei Brian encouraged everyone to assemble on their allotted mat space so the seminar work could begin. As I got to the Black Belt mat, Sensei Brian Mallon had already begun to teach so it was catch-up for me. He taught what he called ?Dance Steps?, well it looked pretty deadly to me. He then built on this with variations that enthused us as students: I was with Grant and Eddie Garvey, 3rd Dan, who were delighted at what was being taught. Sensei Mallon handed over to Sensei Graham Sergeant, who introduced an under-the-Bicep Strike allowing you to drop down to knuckle strike the outer thigh and then punish both inner thighs so allowing a take down of the Right Leg and the application of a Leg Bar. Crikey. That will be limit of technical knowledge because you should only practise under the eye of a qualified sensei. Graham also used Sensei Rick Allder, 3rd Dan, as Uke to demonstrate additional techniques: should I add that Sensei Colin Humbles, 4th Dan, also acted as Uke? This should give you an idea of the quality of the instructors and the high grades of the students on the Dan Grade Mats.

Daniel Buzzotta taught a simple yet sophisticated Takedown. The simplest ideas can also be the most difficult to grasp by the student ? well, that?s your writers experience. He was perfectly clear in his instruction and wholly fluent in his application ? if only I could emulate his quiet skill(!). Daniel is a Jikishin Dan Grade and MMA (Cage) Fighter. I recall him in past Internationals winning both Sparring and Groundfighting with ease, so skilled is he. Well, he?s now moved into the more competitive arena and passed on to us a glimpse of his talents.

The rotation of senior Senseis continued through Senseis Eric Schoot later by Sensei Steven Van Hauwermeiren from Belgium to Sensei Johansson from Denmark (who reminded us of the legal consequences of Self Defence when he taught knife defences) through to Sensei Brian using Sensei Ray Egleton, 3rd Dan as Uke, who showed some ?fast hands? exercises with multiple strikes melding into a takedown. Blimey. We soon got over our awe and had fun with those. This gave way to Sensei John Hunt, who taught a variety of simple techniques that none of us knew. Oh, the knowledge! Sensei was assisted by Sensei Dave Rintoul, 5th Dan, as Uke ? see, there?s the Quality ? and managed to send him to the floor with a simple Palm Press with Finger Press. He built on this by screwing Sensei Dave into the floor by using a Palm applying downward pressure within an Arc. Sensei John related this to a Kata movement so unlocking one of its secrets.

All clever stuff that we were still trying to practise when the Seminar was declared over.

At this point, I saw Sensei Earl Walker, 4th Dan, performing heroic work running the administration; you thought it ran smoothly by itself? In assembling the papers to record the student entries and competitions and note the judges, scribes, referees, helpers, he was probably the busiest person in the building as he bent over his laptop to pull the Event together. The proverbial Swan gliding serenely upon the still pool so you don?t notice the frenetic paddling below the surface. Oh, by-the-way, I?m most grateful for the informal snack bar with its tea, coffee, chocolate and pies and pasties cheerfully served.

Before we took lunch, Sensei Brian called on the North Kent JJ Kai to demonstrate both a children?s Ko Budo set supplemented by applied Ko Budo from Senseis Grant Wakeman and Eddie Garvey. It was a terrific display with all children making enviable execution of Jo versus Bokken, Nunchukas Pairs, Tonfa Pairs and all in unison. Grant and Eddie engaged in a practical Attack and Defence with the same weapons that saw each sail through the air. The spectators around me were agog at the skill and imagination on show and awed by the blood that sprang from Grant?s eyebrow after the Tonfa got too close. Still, it did not bother him as he carried on to the completion. A thoroughly enjoyable exposition of martial skill that enthralled many a spectator.

After Lunch, the Hall had been magically re-set, with Mats 1-8 with Tables, Chairs and Water for the Judges. The competitions were to begin but before this took place, all the competitors and seminar attendees assembled in their Clubs to perform a March On. There some 30 or so Clubs, from Banbury, Cornwall, Louth, London, Swindon and even Essex (well, quite a few from that particular county).

I was seconded to help Sensei Chris Shepperd on Mat 6 for Senior Random Attack Dan Grade and was called on to Uke for Lorna Crump and Luke Shipwright. It?s OK the bruises are clearing up nicely. Seriously, they were good but the only weakness was probably me. I then got called on to compete myself and did OK but my opponent did better so I was back to helper status. I stayed to watch the Purple to Browns Random Attack and saw Emma Probets, OEL, win Gold with Rob Line, Imperial, win Silver. It was very close and was to a very high standard so well done to each.

Back to help or hinder Sensei Chris, I watched the very competitive sparring. It made me aware of yet another area to improve in myself and the value of Master Kan?s kicking drill in the earlier seminar. The Belgians were very well schooled and it showed. Guy Middleton 2nd Dan called on his extensive martial arts experience to win Gold and Tom Wyld 1st Dan, NKJJK won Bronze.

As Mat 6 wound down, I wandered over to Mat 8 and ended up doing Empty Hand Kata and then followed it by Weapons (Ko Budo). My sensei returned from hospital with his eyebrow glued (yes, really) and won both Golds. Now, there?s a standard for which to aim.

In the background, I espied Mat 4 Pairs Demos and saw Sensei Steve Hobday and Wendy Rosser (3rd Dans) perform a detailed and enthusiastic Kata. They rightly won Gold but were chased by Simone and Roger Harvey (1st Kyus) who won Silver with another excellent Kata.
In the foreground came the Women?s Groundfighting and Genevieve Frohlich win Gold against Nazarella Scianguetta of NKJJK. Nazarella surprised many as to get there she beat both a Black and a Brown Belt. As a Yellow Belt these were terrific performances.

The children were also very busy in Sparring, Groundfighting, Random Attack and more. There were loads of them and they all demonstrated commitment and a well-balanced bearing whether they won or lost. Additionally, Sensei Sheila Dixon apparently commented on the improved skills of the juniors. Now there?s a feather in the caps of all those teaching Senseis!

A large gathering by Mat 6 showed that the Men?s Senior Groundfighting was in session and I went across to see Willy Murley 2nd Dan grappling with John Suleyman. This was a very competitive bout and wholly technical as each fought for Grip, Guard Position and countered each other with a fluency that spoke well of their knowledge and commitment. Willy edged it by Arm-bar but it had been fascinating to watch.

 

The competitions, over the medal ceremony took place and it was a pleasure to witness the joy it gave to so many children who had competed so wholeheartedly. The Pee Wee section was widely applauded and included a Standing Ovation for all but particularly for 5 year old Bethany Williams, who won the hearts of many a spectator winning 2 Silver Medals in Sparring and Random Attacks. As I have never won a medal in either category, I may have to ask her for some tips.

Well, you see there was so much going on that sometimes you can only appreciate part of it. They will be the seniors of tomorrow so it?s appropriate for all seniors to provide the correct example now for them to emulate.

The International over, everyone embarked onto the evening?s entertainment. A lovely Carvery meal was taken followed by the always essential and popular ?Disco?. This led to Mr Bywater reminding everyone of his Rugby background and various renditions of songs of that ilk. So, Lee, ?Why was you born so beautiful? Why was you born at all??? Ah, the poetry of the lyrics. Tony Park then sought to cap it by launching into ?The Lumberjack Song? and, yes, ?he?s OK? because ?he laughs all night, and he sleeps all day?.

Er, did I mention the Fireworks on the Pier? Oh, yes, just now.

Final note is to thank all those helpers who I saw running about to make it so conspicuous a success. In no particular order, Vince Bull (Organiser for the day), Sarah Bull (special thanks for Sarah who organised the hotels and evening entertainments especial as the event was double booked and dates were changed), Lee Bywater, Tony Parks and there team for organising mats for the day) Alan Stone (Hall and sound system), Earl Walker (Competition organiser) Ray Egleton and Chris Barnham (Security), Lorraine Egleton , Jackie Walker, Steph Mindel, Ann and Terry Kitchener, Steve Cole, Dave Gadd, Sandy MacKay, Roger Bunnage, and apologies to the many I have missed out. Well, it was a very busy day with so much to see!

Thanks also to Sensei Brian for leading such a successful International and here?s to 2008.

From Brian Herbert

A big thank you to Peter, for the Report, from Sensei Brian Herbert.

And the following received from our friends in Belgium:

Dear Brian, Dear Friend

I hope you can look back to a very successful week-end. Anyway for us it has been very pleasant and successful. Your hospitality was great and everything went very well. Our students that also had participated last year found this year even better that the previous one and they already have expressed their wishes to participate to the next year edition.
Hassan Emankaf

Dear Brian,
I would like to thank you for the great week-end you organised with your team. We had a very good time at Southend, not only on the tatami but we enjoyed also very much your great hospitality.
Please pass our very best regards and congratulations for the job well done to Sarah and to Earl.
Best regards
Marc DeSchrijver

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Results of Jikishin BJJA (GB) National Championships Southend 2006

Junior Events
Random Attacks - White / Yellow
	Oussama Ait Boumhand	Anderlecht - BE
	Marie De Witt	Diksmuide - BE
	Johnny Dawson	OEL
Random Attacks - Orange
	Megan Smith Brentwood & Southend
	Tyler Williams	Stanford le Hope
	Shelby Trowers	Southend
Random Attacks - Green
	Koen Leemans	Wichelen - BE
	Charlotte Bridger	Stanford Warriors
	Kathryn Smith	Becontree
Random Attacks - Blue
	Amy Lucas	Becontree
	Luke Egelton	Becontree
	Robert Woodgate	Becontree
Random Attacks - Purple
	Debbie Widdick	OEL
	Max Fitch	Billericay
	Anthony Noe	Becontree
Random Attacks - Brown
	James Edmonds
	Roxanne Carney	OEL
	Ben Reeves	OEL
Random Attacks - Pee Wee aged 6 to 7
	Emily Standing	Stanford le Hope
	Bethany Williams	Stanford le Hope
	Billy Cleary	Hando JJJC
Sparring - Girls 40 kg and Under
	Georgia Jackson	Hando JJJC
	Lucy White	Stanford Warriors
	Kathryn Smith	Becontree
Sparring - Girls over 41 kg
	Sanae El Maach	Anderlecht - BE
	Lauren McLardy	NKJJK
	Jenny Smith	Becontree
Sparring - Girls Pee Wee
	Emily Standing	Stanford le Hope
	Bethany Williams	Stanford le Hope
Sparring - Boys 35 kg and Under
	Tyler Bowers	Stanford Warriors
	Billy Bowers	Stanford Warriors
	Elliot Page	Stanford Warriors
Sparring - Boys 36 to 45 kg
	Stuart Tryhorn	Stanford le Hope
	Sami Amallou	Anderlecht - BE
	Matt Goody	Brentwood & Southend
Sparring - Boys 46 to 55 kg
	Lloyd Young	Stanford le Hope
	Alex Bridger	Stanford Warriors
	Redmond Carney	OEL
Sparring - 56 to 65 kg
	Steven Charalambous	Becontree
	Joshua Locke	Billericay
	Steven Doe	Stanford Warriors
Sparring - Boys 66 kg and over
	Ben Reeves	OEL
	Kevin Van der Bulcke	Erpe - BE
	Fraser Simpson	Hando JJJC
Sparring - Boys Pee Wee
	Flynn Astbury	Stanford Warriors
	Ben Kelly	Stanford Warriors
	Harry Docherty	Becontree
Groundfighting - Girls 35 kg and Under
	Bethany Powell	NKJJK
	Sophie Egelton	Becontree
	Christina Marriage	Tiptree
Groundfighting - Girls 36 to 46 kg
	Lauren McLardy	NKJJK
	Claire Haynes	OEL
	Lilly Wainwright	Tiptree
Groundfighting - Girls 47 kg and Over
	Sarah Davis	Brentwood & Southend
	Debbie Widdick	OEL
	Natasha Clarke	Becontree
Groundfighting - Pee Wee - Mixed
	Ben Kelly	Stanford Warriors
	Flynn Astbury	Stanford Warriors
	Callum Conquest	Stanford Warriors
Groundfighting - Boys Under 35 kg
	Elliot Page	Stanford Warriors
	Robert Woodgate	Becontree
	Freddie Langdon	Tiptree
Groundfighting - Boys 36 to 45 kg
	Stuart Tryhorn	Stanford le Hope
	Matthew Goody	Brentwood & Southend
	Jordan Ives	Brentwood & Southend
Groundfighting - Boys 46 to 55 kg
	Lloyd Young	Stanford le Hope
	Coen Leemans	Wichelen - BE
	Anthony Noe	Becontree
Groundfighting - Boys 56 to 65 kg
	James Edmonds
	Joshua Locke	Billericay
	Robert King	Tiptree
Groundfighting - Boys 66 kg and Over
	Tyler Hands
	Kevin Van der Bulcke	Erpe - BE
	Jack Hutchins	JK
Kata - Pairs Demonstration
	Phillip & Nicole Knight-Stevenson	NKJJK
	Georgia Lucas & Katie Lucas	Becontree
	Georgia Lucas & Lauren Cassidy	Becontree / Stanford le Hope
Kata - White / Orange Belt - Open Hand
	Emma Dickens	Stanford Warriors
	Sophie Asser	NKJJK
	Trudi Kitchener	NKJJK
Kata - Green / Blue Belt - Open Hand
	Kathryn Smith	Becontree
	Robert Woodgate	Becontree
	Isabella Brown	Stanford Warriors
Kata - Purple / Brown Belt - Open Hand
	Roxanne Carney	OEL
	Lauren Cassidy	Stanford le Hope
	Lois Shipwright	Harlow
Kata - White / Orange - Weapons
	Sophie Asser	NKJJK
	Bradley Ainscough	Stanford Warriors
	Sam Smith	JK
Kata - Green / Blue - Weapons
	Tyler Bowers	Stanford Warriors
	Phillip Knight-Stevenson	NKJJK
	Sarah Mitchell	Becontree
Kata - Purple / Brown - Weapons
	Ben Reeves	OEL
	Lauren Cassidy	Stanford le Hope
	Joe Blake	Stanford le Hope
Senior Events
Senior Random Attacks - White / Orange Belt
	Sharon Siebert	Diksmuide - BE
	Dave Poulter	Billericay
	Jean-Marc Vanhassel	Diksmuide - BE
Senior Random Attacks - Green / Blue Belt
	Arne Everaert	Diksmuide - BE
	Jason Woolmer	Billericay
	Donald Brown	South Ockenden
Senior Random Attacks - Purple / Brown Belt
	Emma Probets	OEL
	Rob Line	Imperial
	Simon Kingdon	Tiptree
Senior Random Attacks - Black Belt
	Stefan Stayaert	Diksmuide - BE
	Faitha Kellouch	Anderlecht - BE
	Wendy Roser	OEL
Veterans Random Attacks - White / Brown
	Sally Lacey	OEL
	Roger Devries	Callington, Cornwall
Veterans Random Attacks - Open
	Steve Dickens	Stanford le Hope
	Danny Searle	Becontree
	Simon Cook	Becontree
Senior Sparring - Women Open Weight
	Vanessa English	Norwich
	Emma Probets	OEL
	Stephy Deschrijver	Erpe - BE
Senior Sparring - Men 70 kg and Under
	Darren Bird	Southend
	Ismael Taghzou	Anderlecht - BE
	Paul Anthony	Harlow & Ongar
Senior Sparring - Men 71 to 80 kg
	Guy Middleton	Harlow JJC
	Hassan Saybak	Anderlecht - BE
	Thomas Wyld	NKJJK
Senior Sparring - Men 81 kg and Over
	Luke Shipwright	Harlow
	J Fairhead	Cheshunt
	Steve Calder	Stanford le Hope
Groundfighting Women - 60 kg and Under
	Greet Steeman	Erpe - BE
	Emma Probets	OEL
	Holly George	Imperial
Groundfighting Women - 61 kg and Over
	Genevieve Frohlich	Norwich
	Nazarella Scianguetta	NKJJK
	Stephy Deschrijver	Erpe - BE
Groundfighting Men - 70 kg and Under
	David Reade	Hando JJJC
	Darren Bird	Southend
	Simon Kirkpatrick	Southend
Groundfighting Men - 71 to 80 kg
	Davy Maeschalck	Erpe BE
	Peter Gilmore	OEL
	Peter Linthout	Wichelen - BE
Groundfighting Men - 81 to 90 kg
	Will Murley	Hando JJJC
	John Suleyman	OEL
	John Calderwood	Norwich
Groundfighting Men - 91 kg and Over
	Luke Shipwright	Harlow
	John Fitch	OEL
	Neil Richardson	Billericay
Senior Pairs Demonstration
	Wendy Roser & Steve Hobday	OEL
	Simone Harvey & Roger Harvey	Stanford le Hope
	Stephan Stayaert & Arne Everaert	Dikmuide - BE
Weapons Kata
	Grant Wakeman	NKJJK
	Guy Middleton	Harlow
	Carrie Bywater	OEL
Open Hand Kata
	Grant Wakeman	NKJJK
	Carrie Bywater	OEL
	Wendy Roser	OEL