88 Balham Road,
Yapton
Arundel
West Sussex
BN18 0JY
BEGINNERS AND VISITORS WELCOME
DARREN'S BIO
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Darren began the study of Traditional Aikido on Thursday 13th June 1991 as a member of the Tokushima Budo Council International. The TBCI was set up as for the preservation of the philosophical and spiritualistic concepts of the Classical Arts of Japan by Kenshiro Abbe (15 December 1915 – 1 December 1985). During his time with the TBCI Darren trained with multiple teachers around the UK include Saito Morihiro & Pat Hendricks.
It wasn't until 1995 he met Kyoshi Passmore that he first experienced iaido and karate at various Budokan events and he began training in iaido under Kyoshi Ansell in 1996. Darren continues to enjoy training train with both, with the latter under the auspices of British Kendo Association where he has been selected to represent the UK at multiple European Iaido Championships.
Joining the Dai Nippon Butokukai (DNBK) in 1996 Darren had the privilege to attend the first 3 World World Butoku Sais in Norfolk Virginia (1998) and at the Butokuden in Kyoto, Japan in 2002 and 2008. These were led by the then Deputy Sosai, Jiko Higashifushimi, a cousin to Emperor Akihito. Apart from these events he has attended many European Butoku Sais and Rensei Taikais with the DNBK.
At these events that Darren has had the opportunity to practice other arts such as DaitoRyu AikiJujutsu, Kendo, Judo, Naginata, Jojutsu, Sojutsu & Jujutsu.
Apart from the Dai Nippon Butokukai events Darren has attended various Budo seminars within the UK as well as Belgium, France, Netherlands, Germany, USA and Greece.
ARUNDEL DOJO
Classes are held in a vibrant atmosphere where students benefit from some of the highest quality tuition available in the UK today.
Disciplines
KARATE - SHUKUKAI RYU
AIKIDO - TRADITIONAL
IAIDO - MUSOSHINDEN RYU
ZEN - SOTO
Chief Instructor
DAVID PASSMORE 7 DAN KYOSHI
Dojo Leaders
DARREN WAGHORNE 6 DAN
DAVID GOLDING 5 DAN
CONGRATULATIONS TO DARREN ON HIS 4TH DAN WITH THE BKA
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On Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd May the British Kendo Association held their annual West Midlands Iaido seminar with a grading upto Yondan on the last afternoon. Being the first West Midlands seminar after lockdown it was a full house of 60 students led by Fay Goodman Sensei, Nanadan Kyoshi.
Assisting her were 3 Rokudans all holding the Renshi title which included the current BKA Squad coach.
On the first day the seminar was split in to 4 grade groups with a Sensei working with each group for 3 techniques before moving on to another group. This allowed all of the 12 Seitei-gata, including the specific Chakugan-ten (grading points) for each kata, to be covered by the 4 teachers.
The second day the groups were the same but this time the teacher stayed with that group only.
I was fortunate to have Fay Goodman Sensei. This time the practice was concentrate on the reiho and our grading katas which were notified to us prior to the start of the day. For Yondan this was 1 free choice of Koryu which I chose Shohatto and 4 Shitei waza (complusary techniques) of Ushiro, Sanpogiri, Ganmenate and Sougiri. The shitei waza are chosen by the Sensei on the course and they are different for each grade and seminar though occassionally they overlap.
Anyone attempting Shodan and above much complete a written grading paper which consisting of 6 questions.
This paper needs to be submitted in advance of the seminar and passed before you can sit the "physical" shinza (grading). The "physical" shinza part is also known as Jitsugi or practical skill.
For an attemp of Yondan there needs to be 6 shinza-in (grading panelists) of Rokudan and above and you require least 4 votes from the panel to pass. The 4 teachers of the course and another Nanadan Kyoshi & Rokudan Renshi attended to make up the panelists.
The grading took place in grade order, from the lowest grade to the highest. This meant I was last on!
It not just the waiting for your grading it is also the wait after whilst the grading officer reviews the panelists notes to determine who has passed or failed. I hate waiting!
Subtle celebrations ensued after the posting of the results and a lot of handshakes and well dones. For me it didn't end there. I spoke to all the garding panelists to gain feedback on my grading to help me improve going orward.