Stirling University
The meadowpark hotel played host to our christmas night out and prize giving
A Merry Christmas and a Happy new year to all & see you next semester
2009 -2010 Award Winners
Paul Delamore Dierdra Byrne
check out the news page for list of previous award winners
The Club Trains in the Gannochy Studio
Monday & Thursday 8.00pm - 10.00pm. A warm welcome awaits students
both old and new from Joe Corcoran and Roy Murray who will be your
resident instructors for this year.
Sen-no-kai principles can be looked at within two areas: practical and 'theoretical'. Of course this is all up for debate,
The practical is how we
approach our training/practice and the theoretical is how we see the
principles of Sen-no-Kai.
Practical:
Sen-no-Kai insists on mutual respect.
1. Sensie to student, student to student and student to sensei. We
bow when we enter or leave the dojo; at the formal start of a class and
the final act in the class. We bow before practising with an opponent
and when moving on to another partner or part of the practice.
2. We acknowledge the status of the Instructor and will do what the
instructor asks, to the best of our ability. If as a member we disagree
with an instructors teaching, we should privately question the action
later with the instructor during the class, or after but never in front
of the class.
3.Sen-no-Kai welcomes members of other martial arts to practice with
us but they should remember they are here to practice Sen-no-Kai not
their own style unless specifically asked by the instructor.
4. At all times this code of respect will filter through all aspects
of the class without it we are nothing more than fighters scrapping.
5. When using weapons the rituals used in lending and taking of a
weapon from a partner are crucial for safety even if they seem odd and
should be adhered to at all times.
Theoretical:
Sen-no-Kai is about the harmony that exists in the battle between
one or more opponents and yourself. We aim not to be stronger nor faster
nor harder than our opponent and the use of these attributes should be
adapted to suit the aims of Sen-no-Kai, not the other way around.
"Outer softness-inner strength."
The main theme that filters through the whole teaching of Sen No kai
is one of mental strength, strength through movement, distance, timing
and harmony, not muscular strength. We should aim to still and calm the
mind and body so that we blend seamlessly with the opponent.
We strive for low posture in practice, even though we recognise this
may not be practicable in street scenarios, to be flexible and to
project with techniques.
Sen-no-Kai places great emphasis on the three sen timings these can
only be achieved by forgetting about oneself and achieving harmony with
the opponent. Where there is only one person there is no battle to be
won or lost and the mental training to achieve this is just as hard as
the physical.
The main battle in Sen-no-Kai is against oneself. We need to push
ourselves as best we can.
When using the jo and the bokken we should remember that they are
there to help our hand and body movement and to ensure the weapon moves
with us, to stay relaxed and flexible and not other way around.
Sen-no-Kai has many dangerous techniques and we stress and teach
that power comes with the responsibility inherent in teaching and
practicing those techniques and none of our training is to be taken
lightly.
