On the 27th of September 4 of our Senseis travelled out to Romania to attend the 15th Jubilee Asahi Dojo International Association (ADIA) seminar. Those Instructors were Renshi Scott, Sensei Feri, Sensei Rhys and Sensei Billy. Around 100 participants from 5 countries and various martial arts styles were present.
After a very delayed flight and a short stay in Hungary they arrived at the Bed & Breakfast just outside of Satu Mare where they would be staying for the duration of the trip. After a brief introduction to the present ADIA Directors, the Senseis immediately had to suit up in their Gis and travel to a gym where they would perform different Judo Katas in front of the ADIA National Directors and the ADIA Founder. This was a contribution towards their Dan Gradings as well as a presentation to ADIA to show the progress of our training. The Senseis had a Judo first for them and did their Kata inside a multi-use swimming pool! After the demonstration of their Katas as well as watching different Katas from other martial arts by Senseis grading for their 6th Dan Shihan and 4th Dan Reshi title, they went back to the Bed & Breakfast for dinner and some rest before the seminar the following day.
On the Saturday, the Senseis had to wake early for a quick breakfast before travelling into Satu Mare where the seminar was hosted. They spent the day learning from ADIA’s Lead Instructors: Shodai Soke Daniel Blanchet Tani Gawa Ha 10th Dan Japan Grandmaster, Hanshi Istvan Nagy-Hinst Hebi Gawa 9th Dan Grandmaster ADIA National Director for Hungary, Romania and the UK and Kyoshi Ami Eriksson 7th Dan ADIA National Director for Scandinavia.
They learned lots of new techniques and the different ways to apply them in both a martial arts setting as well as a real-world situation. At the end of the Seminar, our Sensei were presented with their certificates for their ADIA Dan Grade Recognition. Sensei Feri received his 5th Dan in International Bunbu Ichi Nihon Jiu-Jitsu and its ADIA JU Jutsu recognition certificate as well as the title Renshi and was also appointed the Branch National Chief Instructor ADIA UK Shibu-Cho JU JUTSU under the control of Istvan Nagy-Hinst Hebi Gawa Hanshi 9th Dan, the new National ADIA Director (Bucho) for the UK. Renshi Scott received his 2nd Dan in Jiu-Jitsu while Sensei Rhys and Sensei Billy both received their 1st Dan from the Founding Grandmaster of ADIA, Shodai Soke Daniel Blanchet. Further certificates were presented to Renshi Feri to hand out to the other Instructors who weren’t able to accompany us on this trip.
After the day of training, they travelled back to the Bed & Breakfast where they ate dinner and celebrated the day with all the ADIA members and instructors.
On the Sunday they travelled back to the UK ready for a rest and preparing for Judo on the following Monday.
