Group Photo

Shihan Helen Beattie with instructors and students at the Dingwall Academy Kempo dojo this evening. It was nice to see Sempai Stephen Campbell (right) from the Tain dojo come along! One of our latest teen Black Belts: Tara, is also pictured (left).

Appreciation Trophy

Shihan Helen Beattie, Sempai John Sutherland (new Dingwall Academy dojo instructor), and Mark Duffy (rear left) pictured with Sensei Cameron and Sensei Kenmuir with their appreciation trophy this evening.

Dingwall Dojo

It was nice to see everyone at Sensei Ali Cameron and Sensei Carol-Anne Kenmuir's last dojo at Dingwall Academy this evening. Here's a photo of me presenting the Senseis with an appreciation trophy on behalf of the Scottish Kempo Academy.

Teen Black Belts!

Shihan Helen Beattie with Tara and Neil, the teen Black Belts
pictured with their NBA and SKA certificates!

Black Belts!

Tara and Neil - The latest Scottish Kempo Academy Black Belts!

Congratulations to everyone who passed Yoshin Kempo exams at Balintore today, especially Neil Fleming (Tain dojo) and Tara McClelland (Dingwall Academy dojo) who passed 1st Degree Black Belt under Kyoshi Neil Hourston, Shihan Helen Beattie and Shihan Darren Gandy!

Leaving Meal

After the grading exams at Balintore tomorrow afternoon, Shihan Helen Beattie and I are treating Sensei Ali Cameron and his partner: Sensei Carol-Anne Kenmuir, to a 'leaving meal' at the Shandwick Inn, Kildary, as Sensei Cameron is moving to Hamilton to study for a University degree. We appreciate both Senseis doing a great job running the Dingwall Academy dojo over the past three years and wish them all the best for the future! If you'd like to join us for the meal, please contact me asap.

Sempai John Sutherland, 1st Dan, will take over at the Dingwall Academy dojo from Tuesday 5th July and will be assisted by Sempai Alice MacLennan. Shihan and I will be along to the dojo on Tuesday for the Senseis last class in charge.

Kempo Exams

Good luck to the Kempoka who are grading at Inverness and Balintore this weekend!

Come & Try

I'm teaching a Kempo Come & Try session at Alness tomorrow as part of a 12hr Pianothon to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.

Grading Exams

The Scottish Kempo Academy Summer grading exams will be held at Inverness on Saturday 25th June and at Balintore on Sunday 26th June. Exams start at 11am each day and further details can be found in the latest Kempo News (newsletter).

Candidates

All the best to teenagers Neil Fleming (Tain dojo) and Tara MacLennan (Dingwall Academy dojo) who are grading for 1st Degree Black Belt in the Yoshin Kempo system at Balintore on Sunday 26th June!

Isle of Skye

The Northern Budo Alliance will be co-hosting the Skye Budo Seminar with Club Karate at the National Gaelic College on the Isle of Skye on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd October 2011. The guest Instructor will be 76 year-old Hanshi Jean Chalamon, 9th Dan Black Belt Shorinji-Ryu (France) of the International Martial Arts Federation.