THE NORFOLK AND NORWICH CUA SHIN-GI-TAI AIKIKAI YODOKAN
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During your Martial Arts training, does your Sensei teach any Spiritual aspects to His/Her teaching?
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WHAT THIS PAGE IS ALL ABOUT
As I Teach Aikido most of the time, I find that my fitness level HAS NOW drops. Over the last few months I have been looking for some way that I could get my fitness level back up TO THE LEVEL IT USED TO BE and be a challenge to me and other people.
I will be taking up the Sport of Fencing which in my view, is a Martial Art. As far as I am aware, there is no other totally Blind person Fencing so, I have found a Coach who like me is very open minded and he has agreed to be involved with this experiment and this page will contain details of Fencing in the Norfolk area and how I get on with the Sport. This activity is not intended to replace Aikido it, I hope, will suppliment the art of Aikido that I love so much. |
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR FENCING IN NORFOLK
The information below is to help you if you wish to find out more about Fencing in Norfolk. The best website is: www.sowerby-fencing.co.uk This website has all the information about fencing in Norwich and Norfolk. If you wish to Contact Andrew Sowerby Personally his phone number is: (01603) 747870 I am sure he will do his very best to inform and help you. I understand he is a very good and worthwhile Fencing Coach. |
FENCING DIARY
This Diary is intended to track how I get on with Fencing. I have never atemted anything like this before and Andy has suggsted that I start a 5 week Foil Course. I am hoping in the long tterm to take up the epee, The Dualing Sword. This is nearer to the Combat situation because with this weapon, all parts of the body is a hit target. The Foil, has a much less body target but, is a good Sword for learning the basics. I start next Wednesday September 8th. Will let you know next week what happens..... |
8TH SEPTEMBER 2004 FIRST LESSON
Griffin My Guide Dog and I arrived at the UEA Sports Park ready for my first fencing lesson. I found all the people extremely helpful and I quickly felt at home and at ease with the class.
I studibasic foot work and the lunge movement. I was shown The weapons used and for the first time the mask. I was very surprised by the mask both by the weight and size. When I tried it on, I felt slightly disorientated, very interesting experience. I am sure I will get used to it.
I was kindly offered a lift home very much appriciated. Looking forward to next week will be hot work with the gear on.
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15TH SEPTEMBER 2004
The lesson was on the same lines as the previous week, with the addition of circular blade movements so that I can always find the apposing blade. I soon became used to wearing the fencing protective jacket, glove and mask, was very hot.
I am looking forward to my next lesson.
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22ND SEPTEMBER 2004 3RD LESSON
I had my usual lesson and was just putting my things away ready to go home,wheen a Coach asked me if I would like another lesson. After consulting my coach, I had anothlesson two in one you might say. It is now becoming complicated with suttle blade movements and footwork I like that sort of thing lots to think about.
I would like to thank all those who have offered to give me a lift home and thank everyone for all of their help and encouragement. Looking forward for the next lesson.
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29th SEPTEMBER 2004
Lesson 4, It is now starting to get very complicated. I had another two-in-one lesson this week both coaches were extremely helpful. I do feel however, that there seems to be a lack of understanding of teaching someone without sight. So, far, the best coaching this week wwas by aa young lady Diana. she seems to take on board my needs very quickly where as the other coach Ken I felt he was losing patience with me. Not My Problem.... I would like to thank all those who have given me a lift home, very much appriciated. Still looking forward for the next class. Took me over two hours by bus this week may be the reason why I was not on form.
I must try and find a way of going back and forward in a straight line if any one has any ideas I would appriciate an Email.
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6TH OCTOBER 2004
Lesson 5:
I have now reached the end of the Foil Course. We went over all the material that has been covered rather a lot.
I will be carrying on with Fencing as a memember of The NorfolkFencing Club. At this time I will be hanaving a weekly lesson and it is hoped that I will eventually be joining the others to fence with them and practice as the others do.
I am starting to make friends and getting to know people. Part of the object of socialising. I would like to thank Kathrine for giving me a lift home very much appriciated.
I think that progress will be slow but solid.
At this point, I would like to thank Adrrew, Paul and all those who have helped me with the learning processes.
Looking forward for the next wweeks' a new faze.....
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OCTOBER 13TH 2004
Lesson 6:
It is already the sixth lesson cannot believe that time has gone so quickly.
Yesterdays' lessons covered: Ken going through footwork drills and the lunge. John going through different paries and how to detect wher the atacks are coming from and circular paries both clclockwise and anti-clockwise.
progress is slow but sure.
still looking forward to the next lessons....
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MONTHLY REPORT
From now on the Fencing Diary will be kept up to date monthly not every week. Lessons now are very much the same and to report on a weekly basis would be both time consuming and reparticious. |
NOVEMBER REPORT
It has been a hard month learning to fence. If anyone had told me it would be easy I now know differently.
This month has seen a lot more mevement and blade work.
I am practicing with other now and this makes a lot of variation and tactical iinterpritation.
Next Month will be shorter owing to the Christmas and New Year break. I would like to take this oportunity to thank all those who have helped me and Kathy for giving me many lifts in her car home.
Both Griffin (My Guide Dog) and me would like to wish all those at the Norfolk fencing Club a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
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DECEMBER/JANUARY
Fencing continued throughout the holliday period. Griffin and I are much more confident with finding our way to the sport centre and usually arrive early. Steady progress is being made. The AGM was at the Last week in January. Very useful more interesting than most AGMs that I have attended in the past. Still have not got any equipment yet due to lack of money. |
FEBRYARY
The Month of February has been a hard month owing to the snowy weather I missed one class due to the conditions. Lessons are becoming much harder and there is a lot more movement involved and much more blade tactics. |
MARCH/APRIL/MAY
It had been a hectic three Months, yes, three Months The fencing lessons have been very much the same with the exception that the speed has increased considderably and tactics have also increased. I have had a number of lessons with John who has been taking me through the sword possitions and tactical principles. I am enjoying going to fencing very much and I did not think that I would get as far as I have. Hope that it will not be another three Months since we put the next report in..... |
JUNE
It has been a very busy month this month and very hot....The fencing lessons have been very hard work with many combination movements and dificult blade work.
In the first week of July, I am going to attempt to take my first grade in Foil (Grade 1). I am told that it is easy......
We shall have to wait and see.......
Griffin and me seldom get lost going to the UEA now takes a lot off my mind.
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JULY
This month is beginning with my first certificate in Fencing. Grade 1 (Foil). I would like to thank all those involved in teaching me over the last year. This Grade is as much for them as for me.
John has already started on the sylabus for Grade 2.....Oh, Dear....
Lessons now are very much harder with more movements and combinations of blade work.
Very hot work ....
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AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
It is now ending the Month of September already.....time to catch up with what has been happening on the fencing front.
August time was spent preparing for grade 2 (Foil) extremely hard work. On the 21st September, I took Grade 2, I had to take it in two parts owing to lack of knowledge of full sylabus requirements. On the 28th September, I completed the requirements to the Coach's requirements and passed Grade 2.
Also, during the Months of August, September, an application for a grant was made on my behalf for a sports grant and I was granted a small but valuable amount toward fencing equipment. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people involved in helping me over the past year, as, it is now just over a year ago that I started to learn to fence at the Norfolk Fencing Club.
It means so much when people encourage and help each other because, fencing may appear to be easy, but, I can asure all who think that, you would be completely wrong....
Looking forward now to recieveing my fencing equipment and I can at last start being like the other members of the club.
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OCTOBER-HAVE MY FENCING KIT OH.........
Last night I recieved my own fencing kit. I would like to thank all those people involved in sorting the order and the money out for me. It is very much appriciated and I certainly will make the best of use of it.
Very much lighter in weight t than I thought it would be.
Saturday 15th October John and I are traveling down to Stoke Mandavillle Buckinghamshire, tas a fact finding mission to see if we can gain any useful knowlege that may help with my tuition.
Will write down in this diary when I return my thoughts on the visit.
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OCTOBER - FENCING COACHING DAY
We left for Buckinghamshire, at about 7.35 am. a.m. and arrived about 10.35 very good going considering the rafic.
After some searching, and getting lost we found the fencing hall, room and after waiting a short time was introduced to the Coach for the day.
He informed me that he had taught blind people before but, when I asked for either more details or ways to contact the individuals that information was never forthcoming. That type of thing always makes me a little suspicious and wary.
I believe that he knows what he is obviously doing but regarding coaching for blind people, there was not anything new that I as a Coach did not already know.
Most of his coaching is based on common sense and nothing really exciting.
John who was with me seemed to have got more from the day than I did, but overall the day was not disappointing.
I honestly believe, that one should be able to do any sport without making great changes in order to accommodate the disability it should be the other way round.
In the Norfolk fencing club, I am treated just the same as anyone else the only difference is that I cannot see.
At the present time I am undertaking a lot of distance training exercises by using different parts of the blade to ascertain the correct distance not an easy thing to do.....I would advise other fencers to try this with eyes closed.
There is still the problem ot moving in a straitght line but, I understand that sighted people have a simular problem. It all is about keeping the front foot straight so that the blade maintains a solid line. Not as easy as it sounds.
I will be reporting on other exercises as and when they happen and how I get on with them and if anyone out there has any ideas John and I would like to hear from you.
Just use the Email form on the welcome page and contact me.
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
It is now nearing the end of 2005, and what a year it has been.
During the last few Months, things have picked up in a big way for me in the Fencing world.
John is now in the process of research and develpment in to a weapon that can be used on a tactile basis so that I would be able to feel where the target was in front of me through the handle of the weapon.
I am not saying any more at this stage, but if this work it will revolutionise Fencing for Blind People throughout the world.
It is a very exciting development and I hope within a few months to have more to say on the subject.
More people are fencing and working with me and develping new fencing skills and creating new problems for me to solve......
Blade work and moveing in a straight line is improving all the time and I hope by this time next year to be able to take any of the club fencers on at their own game.
I believe that having a Martial Arts background has helped although, it would not had mattered if I had not.
John and others are always exploring new ideas and posabilities and I am always interested in trying out new ideas.
At this point and lastly, I would like to thank all those who have very kindly given Griffin and me a lift home each week, you know who you all are so one thanks to you all I hope will be enough.
I also would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Fencing Coaches, John and many others for all of their help throughout the past year. Thank you all once again.
Next time I write will be January/February 2006, see you all here then.
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JANUARY 2006
It is now nearing the end of January and, I have only been to fencing twice over the Christmas and New-Year period. Owing to bad weather and I have now picked up an injury. Nothing to do with fencing I hasten to add...!
Next week will be February and I hope at the end of the new month to have very much more to say and comment about.
Until then I close this Fencing Diary until the end of February.
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February/March
Hi, everyone, it is now nearing the end of march 2006, and, instead of spring weather it is still like winter.
On the fencing front John and I are looking at all types of electronic posibilities to help with fencing issues that effect people with visual impairments.
I have used an electronic foil which was very interesting owing to the fact that it was very much lighter when attempting to score a hit than one realised with a practice foil.
It seems as if one just needs to touch the opposing fencer with the tip of the foil and that would be enough to score a hit (point).
The original idea we were working on for fencing weapons for people with visual impairment has been shelved for the moment and we are now looking at other possiblities. More info will be forthcomeing during the next few months.
I am learning all the time and now spending a little time with the Sabre as well as studying for grade 3 in foil.
Until April hope to have much more news then.
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APRIL/MAY
It is now coming to the end of May when writing this report and the weather is both sunny and showery.
On the Fencing front I have now passed Grade 3 in Foil and, Grade 1 in Sabre. All the people that have worked with me over the last few months are very pleased and happy about the Grading success.
We are still at this time waiting for the electronic side of my fencing to be sorted out things may be happening any time now. Watch this space....
Until next time.
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