This was a really excellent course.

The course took place this weekend over three days. I missed the Friday evening session which consisted of Judo, Iaido and Karate. The venue was Gristhorpe in Scarborough, Yorkshire. Saturday morning we had the formal Rei and the day begun with a Jujutsu session taught by Sensei Jim Walker 5th Dan of Bushindokai which was enjoyed by all of the participants.

I took over teaching the next session and used the theme of a single technique applied in different scenarios. The technique was the hooking hand position (associated with crane and mantis styles in additon to Karate) applied in four or five different ways.

Despite the rain we were determined to have a barbecue at lunchtime and the burgers and sausages went down extremely well (and the frozen veggie burgers make a great cold compress for a shoulder injury - it beats eating them!)

After lunch we had Iaido with Terry Lamb which was a good introductory session for some of those who had never studied the art. Terry gave a brief explanation of the history of Samurai warfare which led into our next session which wasn't Samurai arms but medieval British warfare.

This was the undisputed highlight of the weekend as Dale Brooks (also a Jujutsu student) and two fellow members of the Knights in Battle medieval re-enactment society treated us to a great lecture and demonstration of European armour and weaponry from the 1200s to 1600s. There were swords, shields, full plate armour, chainmail, bills, axes - which we all got a chance to have a close look at. These lads fight at full speed, full contact and put on a magnificient spectacle. They demonstrated for an hour - but nobody would have complained if they had gone on for three.

Sensei Reiner Parsons (6th Dan) and Clive Parsons (3rd Dan) taught a very good fun Goju Ryu and Kobudo session and finally course sponsor Craig Bailey taught a great Aikijujutsu workshop.

That evening approximately 40 of us went for an excellent meal (and maybe one or two drinks) at the superb Foxhound pub in Flixton. These are Samurai portions!

The next day started with a Chi Kung session taught by David Keegan, focussing on the Ba Duan Jin exercises for an hour. (Great hangover cure - so I'm told)

Sensei Tim Hamilton 5th Dan of Roshukai taught Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu outside (a few muddy hakama to be seen) which was clearly enjoyed by all the participants including Karate instructor Clive Parsons.

As usual perpetual sadist Colin Hutchison 4th Dan taught the most demanding session of the weekend - a very intense Judo training with lots of Randori.

I finished the weekend with a comparatively light session of Tegumi flow drills (which two of the instructors who attended my session have expressed an interest in studying further).

These days there are too many "McDojos" charging inflated prices for seminars. Our organisation gave three days of training (in Karate, Judo, Jujutsu, Iaido, Tai Chi and a demo of armour) two lunches, an evening meal, tea, coffee and soft drinks for a total of £15 per student - except for dan grades who were not charged at all. Each participant got a certificate and the pictures were taken by a professional photographer.

This weekend was about enjoying the arts and making new friends - as well as being re-aquainted with old ones - not about over charging students.