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December 30th, 2006

30/12/2006

2006 Year Review

2006 Sponsored Spar & End of Year Presentations

Well done all those that took part in the sponsored spar, another successful end of year charitable event. As soon as we get the sponsorship money in we will have a presentation for our chosen charity MENCAP so let’s chase up those pledges. Congratulations are in order for the students of the year, Emily Byng and Sam Bowkett for Walsall. Phil Carter who helps me with sessions at Four Oaks was Student of the Year along with Sisters Jodie and Hannah Freeman who are the junior Students of the year for Sutton Clubs.

TWO NEW BLACK BELTS
Two long serving students reached their long term goal they set themselves many years ago,
John Farrelly who trained for over 7 years and Phil Carter 41/2 years both achieved a great result in the 5 hour Grading showing great skill, endurance and power. Both promoted to 1st Dan –

John Farrelley and Phil Carter get their Black Belts

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2005 Review

30/12/2005

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2005 Year Review

"During 2005 - as an association we have once again grown in strength, knowledge and experience. I hope you have done the same.
As we start a new year - it is a great time to make plans and set goals -
Try and do something at least once this year that scares you !! -
look forward to another year with this Martial Art giving you many chances to experience some great events.
In just a few months we will be at SENI - preparation for this will start very soon. Maybe you would like to be performing on a stage in front of thousands at Europe's biggest Martial Art exhibition. Or maybe you fancy stepping in the ring and battling it out in a Semi or Full contact bout - we will be taking part in the BKBU kickboxing tournament where some have already tested their fighting skills in the boxing ring.
Maybe you want to step up the training you already do, get rid of those mince pies and rich meals we have indulged in and make this year a year of great progression and self improvement.
Whatever your goals within ChongshinDo we can help you achieve them - just ask !
It is important in life to experience as much as we can in order to learn, grow and develop - physically, mentally and spiritually. Reflect on your own growth as a Martial Artist - how do you feel about yourself, do you feel stronger fitter, more confident. Are you feeling the physical and mental benefit from taking part in such a sport. Martial Arts is a vehicle for Physical, Mental, and Spiritual growth.
ChongshinDo is such a vehicle and we have the experience, knowledge and enthusiasm to drive it" - M Blakeway

2 NEW Black Belts - Holly and Neil

Congratulations to Holly and Neil who were awarded their Black Belts on this event.
Holly who has been training for over NINE years was awarded her Black Belt - ChongshinDo's First Junior Black Belt - Holly did very well in her 5 hour physical exam - showing great determination and spirit even when exhausted. Well done. So you younger members look to her for inspiration-it can be done with lots of effort and dedication-maybe you are the next one!
Neil Alcock a Black Belt already in a similar style was also awarded our Black Belt and although he had been there already once before - this was in his words "the biggest physical and mental test yet"- there was no surprise at the result as his experienced showed in a great overall performance. Well done.

NEW Black Tag members are Sarah Fryer and Phil Carter -these two join Nathan Salmon, John Farrely, Jamil Aslam, Gurjinder Ghuman. Which of these will be next years Black Belts - time will tell. We wish them well on their preparation which starts NOW !! good luck

Holly with Instructors
Gary Taylor
and
John Skeldon

Student of the Year awards

Ian Maye

Stephen Byng

Neil and Holly with some of the Black Belts

Students receive awards at the end of the year

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June 18th, 2012

18/5/2004

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2nd & 3rd Dan Grading 2004
With SOKE Brian Dossett

May 2004 Chongshin Do welcomed one of Britains greatest Martial Art experts
Grandmaster 10th Dan Soke Brian Dossett (and other members of Spirit Combat International) to take an informative six hour seminar on Aikijutsu.
The day started with a grewling 3 hour Grading for Chongshin Do's senior Members.

Sensei Martin Blakeway took his 3rd dan while Sensei's Steve Pride, Jim Lloyd, Chris Whiting, Richard Barrett, Andrew Docker all took their 2nd Dan on the Aikijutsu Syllabus including the harmony Aikido flow and advanced self-defence techniques.

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SENI 2003 Newsletter by Sensei Martin Blakeway

19/6/2003

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Once again I start the newsletter saying how proud I am of our clubs, association and its members. Once again we were at the biggest Martial Art exhibition in Europe and the members of Chongshin Do demonstrated our art to a massive crowd at the SENI 2003 show at the NEC - 1000's of martial artists attended and once again we were making heads turn.

SENI 2003 - Reviewed
Once again we showed we are a Martial Art that not only has a great deal to offer but has some fantastic talent to back it up. Many, many thanks to the guys that took part and demonstrated (with much professionalism) our art. James Eccles demo'd some great breakfalling as my knee was fit enough to take part this year- james took over two hundred falls this weekend and ended up with some nice friction burns from all the falling - well done to him and all the others. Ben Vowels & John Skeldon did a great demo of realistic street self defence again - much to the delight of the crowd and Nathan Salmon, Richard Green and others demonstrated some fantastic high kicking sparring action.

There were many others - and thank you ALL for being a part of the show and showing the public who & what Chongshin Do is all about. It was also very pleasing to see ourselves and the members of Spirit Combat demonstrating together once again - sometimes we take for granted what a great organisation we belong to - Soke showing he is still an expert Martial Artist at 66 years old, and showing that Martial arts doesn't have to be ALL serious

James Eccles puts Ben Vowels through his paces with the boxing focus mitt drills

Jujitsu throws and application techniques demonstrated on James Eccles -ALL weekend - he ended up with some great friction burns from all the breakfalling - nice one James !

John Skeldon & Ben Voels demo self-defence techniques

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June 19th, 2002

19/6/2002

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Street wise Self-defence Seminar

Streetwise a FREE seminar for the public.

The afternoon started with Sergeant Farley of the West midlands Police Force giving a short talk on local crime stats and general tips on avoiding trouble.

Following this Sensei Martin Blakeway took the group through a short warm up and then explained some theory & psychology of self-defence. Stance and basic techniques followed before the group was split into three manageable size groups.

Sensei Steve Pride & James Lloyd took their group through wrist locks, and defence from grabs to clothing, wrist and arms.
Sensei Andrew Docker with the help of Marc & Matt Allen explained & taught techniques to use to defend rear attacks. This included elbows, backfists and back kicks.
Sensei Martin Blakeway took his group (with the help from James Eccles) through simple effective blocks including outer & inward palm blocks, forearm block and the importance of the "fence" - defence stance. He combined these with palm heel strike the use of the forearm.

The afternoon simply flew by - every 35mins the group rotated and were taught by the next instructors and their techniques.

As the afternoon came to a close Sergeant Paul Farley (wearing full riot gear) reinacted a mugging scene and showed how the police restrain their criminals. He then gave a talk on reasonable force and citizens arrest. Rounding things up nicely.

The final part of the afternoon was a great demonstration on how it can be with regular practice - Sensei Steve Pride defended against armed & unarmed attackers in the form of Arron Dovey & John Skeldon. He showed the devastating techniques of Chongshin Do including throws & takedown techniques to restrain, disarm and control your attacker.

All in all the group enjoyed the session and all left with a new insight in how to deal with attacks from different situations. Many thanks to all who was involved.

Public comments -
Excellent - very informative and clear useful to practice in safe environment.

Fantastic - In such a short time I have had my eyes opened.

Very good relaxed atmosphere, made to feel really welcome. Learned allot.

I learned plenty of things I did not know - was surprised at the effectiveness of even the simplest technique. Very informative.

Very Good - Excellent - a good range of different things.

Very interesting especially the fact that the instructors made it fun to do. Learned allot leaving me better prepared.

Very good - good balance of information and practice. Very user friendly! for all ages & abilities - well done.

Informative, well planned - enjoyable.

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SENI Martial Arts Exhibition 2002

19/6/2002

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SENI - Reviewed
Once again we showed we are a Martial Art that not only has a great deal to offer but has some fantastic talent to back it up. Many, many thanks to the guys that took part and demonstrated (with much professionalism) our art. Matt Allen & James Eccles demo'd some great compromise Jujitsu sparring, Ben Vowels & John Skeldon did a great demo of realistic street self defence and Jamil Aslam & Nathan Salmon demonstrated some fantastic high kicking action. A Special thanks to the three younger members, Bradley Topham was there on Saturday & James Wedgwood & Joshua Atkins (both 8 years old) demo'd some great sparring in the ring on the Sunday - got the huge crowd cheering - a day they wont forget.

Bradley Topham using strike sheild

Members waiting to perform - Nunchaku and Viking Combat

Ben Vowels & Nathan Salmon in the ring

Ben Vowels and Nathan salmon demo Jiu-Jitsu

There were many others - and thank you ALL for being a part of the show and showing the public who & what Chongshin Do is all about. It was also very pleasing to see ourselves and the members of Spirit Combat demonstrating together - sometimes we take for granted what a great organisation we belong to - Soke showing he is still an expert Martial Artist at 65 years old, and showing that Martial arts doesn't have to be ALL serious !

The demo's just got better as the weekend went on and our final demo on Sunday was a superb show of power training on the shields & Thai pads, Great Jujitsu action & top sparring as well as forms and harmony work - as the music played I looked and I must admit - I was impressed!!. A great comment from Gail Haughton who was at the show - she said" the demo's were fantastic - they looked so professional and it inspired me to return to training - I just had to be part of this group" - that is great to know that we put on a great show against the best and once again shone through - I am very proud.

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June 22nd, 2001

22/6/2001

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SENI 2001 - Europes biggest Martial Arts Exhibition

20,000 martialartists enjoy "The Fighting Spirit"
Europe's biggest Martial Art Exhibition

10th Dan Grandmaster and Spirit Combat International Team up with us

Martin Blakeway (right) pictured with the SCI demo Team with their 10th Dan Grandmaster Soke Dossett (Centre)

Meeting the Shaolin Monks at SENI

A few lucky junior members meet the world famous Shaolin Monks at the show.
The Monks had a stand at the show this year promoting their tour of "The Wheel of Life"
Martial art extravaganza