Martial arts enthusiasts gather for top course

The two-day spring martial arts course attracted students and instructors from Portsmouth, Reading, Northampton and Nottingham.

The club's chief instructor, John Robertson 2nd Dan Zen Judo, has been running the course for five years.

It had been held at Petersfield but the venue was moved to club's South Bersted Street venue with the help of Sensei Tony Richards 7th Dan, the chief instructor at the adjacent Kenseikai Jujitsu (Ronin) Club.

With 27 black belts and students attending each day of the course, a number of high grade instructors were also present.

They included Shihan Gordon Lawson, the head of the British Zen Judo Family Association, Sensei Ron Davidson 7th Dan Tae Kwon Do and Joe Harbert, 5th Dan.

This year's course covered several martial arts. They included kenjutsu, or the art of the sword, wadoryu karate, taekwon-do, ISTJ combat judo and zen judo.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the demonstration and talk by Sensie Joe Harbet on the judo throwing techniques of Nage no kata which featured background history and insights from his trip to Japan.

The course venue proved so popular that the 2008 session is already being planned.

Both Bognor Zen Judo and Kenseikai Jujistu clubs train on Monday nights in South Bersted Street.

More information from John on 0790 4081211.