Joining?

Hello,

I'm really excited to have found a MJER group in the UK!

My name is Colin Clark, and I started iaido in the UK (under Tony Janew sensei, a student of Fay Goodman sensei; I learnt seitei-iai at that time), then MJER iaido in Paris (Makoto Dojo, ultimately under Esaka-sensei from the ZNIR). I'm living in Hokkaido, Japan at the moment, and my teacher is Nakamichi-sensei (8d hanshi); I took my first dan last month (the head teacher in Hokkaido is Ishigaki sensei (10d)). I'm coming back to the UK (to Oxford, where I'm going to do a PhD) in September. I have a question (well, two).

Firstly, how would I go about joining your group/association (if possible)? I do think the seitei iai are interesting, but my interest is in MJER. I'd love to study it in the UK, rather than just on my own, and I'd be happy to travel to seminars.

Secondly, as regards the UK offensive weapons act ('sword ban') and UK Customs, would it help me to come back to the UK with my iaito if I could show a membership card of your association? The Home Office, as well as Clive Sinclaire of the To-ken society, said that 'membership of a sporting association (for which you need an iaito)' would help to prove I have a valid reason for bringing an iaito into the UK. I'm a bit worried about it being taken away from me (or of getting arrested!).

Hope that's not too many questions. Best wishes,

Colin

Hello Colin,

Firstly, welcome to the forum!

With regard to membership Neil Kemp would be the the person to talk to. He is the current Eikoku Roshukai Kaicho and acting secretary. If you contact him he will be able to answer any questions you might have regarding membership and anything else you might want to know regarding our group. His email address is: neil.kemp AT virgin.net

I was in Japan in April checked in my bags, and iaito, at Birmingham International without any problems and I didn't have any trouble getting back in with it 2 weeks later. I did have my Roshukai membership book with me just incase though.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Ian

Hi Colin,
there is a seminar starting this weekend in Ie Ozu (near Matsuyama) if you are still in Japan!
You will find Esaka sensei's iai slightly different to ours under Iwata sensei, but still just as challenging! Were you at the Paris dojo with Gilles? I met him last year whilst there on holiday, he's moved to Nice, but the dojo is still running...
A membership card would be good for the iaito as we have had various responses from Customs depending on where you are going/who is on duty...I got stopped leaving UK, but no problems coming back.
I am trying to work out the nearest dojo for you, maybe Brian at Nottingham, but I am sure there are people from Brians dojo from Oxford...and if you go to the Bodleian library my old buddy works there who collects swords and tsuba... no doubt there will now be a LARGE collection of study books on these subjects... :-)

Hello Folks,
I studied MJER in Hornsea east Yorks a while ago now with a guy from Harrogate called Martin? (big Guy), anyway life sort of went mad and I lost contact. I really enjoyed the discipline and trained for about two and a half years. I would really like to get back into it and need to know if there are any dojos in the hull area. Have sent e-mails as per the home page but no answer. Please help.
kind regards
Carl

in that case you know me as Martin's instructor.... I will have taught you at some point! :-)

Not sure on nearest dojo, I guess either Leeds or Nottingham? You are welcome to pop up and see me at Teesside university, see here for details... http://chidokan.tripod.com/
I can give you enough practise ideas to get you going, then either pop over to one of the seminars or keep coming up and we can organise a longer day for you andd my other travelling students... If you have enough guys who fancy trying it, my auntie lives in Hull so I could pop down for a day...

Regards, Tim

Thanks Tim, is martin still around? I used to have a video with all the forms on, is it still available? We all popped up to darlington to do some training would that be you?

I know his mrs remarried, and also bumped into a later girlfriend of his... but after that, Martin seems to have disappeared entirely...
I do have an excellent DVD of all techniques with Iwata sensei, but it is now a little dated compared to what he teaches. I guess its ok as a reminder at certain levels of ability, or as a memento of him, other than that we are told not to use them.
I used to teach in Darlington, but halls got too expensive so i went to the uni at Teesside because its free... hence I don't charge fees, just ask everyone to join the main club!