Sundays memorial seminar to Honour Roger Barnes  went really well. . It was mothers day so we were really pleased with the turnout. Teaching was done by Grand Master John Harvey who turned up to support plus David Onuma and myself. John is an old academy member and trained with me for about twenty years so we had a great time talking about old times. David is a master communicator so all the training was fun and easy to follow with everyone learning something.

Susan Barnes came with all the family so that made it an even better day. John started of with a warm up and then simple box pattern defence. I took over and followed the same theme just working principles and how to disarm or follow up. Then john showed some fancy and fun follow ups where you tied your opponent up totally. David O then taught timing principles and how to intercept as an intro to the box or any situation. We had a short break with john starting after lunch with variations on the vine disarm and I covered what happens when your opponent punches to a couple of compression throws and follow ups on the ground. We finished up with David O showing knife defence scissors or gunting defence against attack numbers one through five.

It was a really easy and fun day with lots of humour, and lots of photos. The lasting thing the day taught me is that life is short and you have to fill it with good times, great experiences, good fun and  friends old and new, all of which we did yesterday. We spoke of Rogers great achievements and his unrelenting good humour and gentleness. All in all  a great example by which to lead our own lives. Thanks to everyone who came and made it so much fun. Special thanks to Sandra Heaney who came and gave her own time to collect money and do the door.