An outstanding end to this year's Darlington Iaido & Jodo seminar with all ten people who took grades passing them. I have to confess to being psychic as I dreamed the night before that Dee would get the red hakama she promised herself if she passed. A fitting tribute for Sean passing his 4th dan would be for him to get a pink spotty one!

Iaido Passes:

4th dan    Sean Gray

2nd Dan  Jodie Jackson, Kev McNeill

1st Dan   Neil Pendlington, Mark Ralston (Budokan), Sophie Ralston (Budokan), Phil Johnson (Budokan)

1st Kyu    Mike Ilderton, Dee Ilderton, Mark Burgess

Jodo Passes:

3rd Dan   John Burn

2nd Dan  Jayne Armstrong

1st Dan   Andy Wilson, Kev McNeill

Martin

Andrew Armstrong has been picked to represent the UK at nidan level at the next European Iaido championships in Andorra. Also well done to Jayne who is first reserve, so between now and October her husband had better test his food before he eats it!

Andrew will be going over with John Meikle from Budokan who is on the team at sandan level, not bad for the Northern Jikiden group. Two more Union Flag nafuda in the dojos!

Team entries - Northern Open

Ojika A Team

The Iaido & Jodo summer seminar 2011 was held in Stevenage between July 29th - August 2nd. Lots of information, lots of points from the Japanese sensei about Jikiden Koryu (we're waiting for Sophie to teach us everything she learned from Morita sensei!) and success in taikai and shinza.

Ishido Sensei Koryu Taikai

Due to the sheer volume of people at the seminar (over 180 from all over the world), the taikai was held with a different format this year. An Embu Taikai where pools of up to six people were on the shiaijo at the same time with only the one with the most votes going through, so even getting to the final was a major achievement. A very strong showing from the North East Dojos, with Martin, John B, Jayne and Andrew all competing and putting in good performances. However, special mention must go to -

John Burn for taking silver in the yondan division.

Jayne Armstrong for getting to the final of the shodan division.

Iaido Grading Results

Andrew & Jayne Armstrong both passed their nidan gradings; Andrew has been invited on to the UK squad for the European Championships in Andorra and Jayne is first reserve.

The 2011 Iaido Nationals were held in Stevenage on the 16th July.

Kev took silver in the shodan section.

Martin took Fighing Spirit in the Godan section.

Sean and Willy both got out of the pools but went out in the quarter finals.

In the team event Kev, John B & Martin made up Ojika A, and Sean & Willy, with Colin Porter borrowed from Masamune made up Ojika B. The B team had a tough draw but made a decent show although they didn't get beyond the pools. The A team took Bronze, special mention for John who only dropped one flag all the way through!

Our friends from Budokan also had a good showing. Lee Moutain took Bronze in the godan, John Meikle took silver in the sandan and Budokan A (Lee, John M and a pressganged mudan) took the other bronze in the team event. A nice return home for the Northern Jikiden Alliance!