NORFOLK AND NORWICH SHIN-GI-TAI YODOKAN DOJO

Aikido and Budo club in Norwich + Cane throughout UK

Image: Sensei Steve Fyffe with Sykes

A warm welcome from Steve Fyffe Sensei, 4th Dan (Yondan) M.G.R.Y.

Steve's Telephone Number if you wish to contact him is: (01603) 401846
To email him please use the Email link below or see the Contact Details page

Steve Fyffe was born 24 July 1951, he was registered Blind from birth. Steve has a Guide Dog named Sykes who drags him all over the place. Steve has studied martial arts his whole life and has many qualifications.

He took up Judo from 1957 until retiring in the early eighties, gaining grate of 4th Dan. Steve started Aikido in September 1987 and was awarded (Shodan) 1st Dan Black Belt 1992 from the National Aikido Federation. He was awarded (Nidan) 2nd Dan Black Belt in 1999. Steve joined Shin-Gi-tai Aikido Society 2000 and was awarded (Sandan) 3rd Dan Black Belt in 2002. In September 2004 he was awarded (Yondan) 4th Dan.

The Aikido style that Steve teaches is: a mixture of Traditional, Ki-Aikido and Aikido Toho Iai. This style though based on the traditional way of the founder is based on Tamura Sensei Principles and Kochi Tohai Sensei Ki-Aikido and Aikido based on the Sword. The style is both flowing and practical in nature yet sticks to the founder's principles that were based on traditional weapons of the Samurai, which includes the Japanese Sword.

Steve is a member of the Guild of Renmei Yudansha (M.G.R.Y.) He is a registered Coach for the BAB British Aikido Board and is also an Associate member of the CUA Aikido Union in Tyneside. He holds Certificates in NVQ level 3 Teaching/instructor (Aikido).

From the 1st March 2007 he has been certified by The Cane Masters International Association (C.M.I.A.) as a Cane Master, Instructor, Instructor for the Disabled in Cane and C.M.I.A. Director (Responsable for all issue regarding people with disabilities in the UK).

Steve is a registered Instructor for the Ishin Ryu Honbu Dojo (Aikido). On 17th June 2011 was awarded Shodan (Honorary) Tenshin Ryu Iaido, Tsunami Yodokan by Mike Selvey (Shihan)

Other interests include: Iaido, golf, football, music, reading and listening to the radio. He enjoys doing voluntary work and helping others. When he has time, Steve also likes to play games such as chess and cribbage.

To Email Steve Sensei, click here

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IMPORTANT DOJO INFORMATION:

Friday Practice at Norwich - 7.30pm - 9.30pm

PLEASE NOTE: The Dojo is also available from 6.30pm for additional training for those who would like to use that time: Iaido, Aiki-weapons, Aiki-Cane (Self-Defence using a walking stick), Kiatsu (Shiatsu) Massage etc AT NO EXTRA CHARGE!

Norwich Dojo Address:

Sewell Park College Sports Centre
Constitution Hill
Norwich
Norfolk
NR3 4BX

The Dojo can be found in the school gym, at the end of the corridor opposite the reception desk. If in any doubt, please ask at the reception desk, where I am sure that one of the staff will help you.

Changing rooms with showers are available. It is advisable to arrive early to help put mats out and deal with registration before class start time.

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PLEASE NOTE:

There may be other Aikido Classes held on other nights at the above address. These classes have nothing to do with this website. Please check carefuly so that no misunderstandings happen and you attend the classes you wish to.

The mats that are stored in the cupboard area in the Gym are the property of the Dojo named on this website and were bought and donated by the Sensei for above dojo use only. The larger set of mats stored are the property of the East Anglia Shotokan Karate Association run by Jason Hitchin (Sensei) We have permission from him to use these mats. Anyone using these mats without permission from the Dojo heads could face legal action.

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Tuesday Practices at Wymondham - 8pm to 10pm

Wymondham Dojo Address:

Wymondham Martial Arts Centre
Unit 4, Philip Ford Way
Silfield Road
Wymondham
NR18 9AQ

The Wymondham Martial Arts Centre is 5 minutes from Wymondham rail station in a converted industrial unit. It has a large matted area that is split in two sections, we train on the mats closest to the entrance.

The Wymondham Martial Arts Centre is a charity run organisation and had its grand opening on 15th January 2012. For the moment there are no changing rooms only toilets so it is advisable for you to change at home if possible. Changing rooms will be created in the future.

Click here for link to Wymondham Martial Arts Centre website

Image: Sensei Steve training aikido students

Cost of Training and Attendance

£7.00 for 2 hours (for 1 session Fri or Tues)
Regular Attendees of both Fri and Tues sessions will pay discounted price of £10 for 2 sessions

Prices cover the hire of the halls and general running of the Dojo. Prices may be revised later in the year once regular numbers for Wymondham dojo are determined.

We train every Friday all of the year round, including school holidays (both summer and half terms). The fridays we do NOT train are Good Friday and during the christmas holidays.

Please let the person taking the register or myself know in advance when you do not plan to attend training. Please either phone or email me before the session if you are ill or cannot make a session so I know who to expect. Failure to do this would mean you would be marked in the register as absent from training without explanation.

If you no longer wish to train at the Dojo could you also please phone or email to let me know. Thank you.

Image: Couple of aikido students in our dojo

Insurance and Membership

After you have trained once or twice, you will be given membership and insurance paperwork to fill in. Insurance is for your safety and the safety of those people you train with.

Insurance is now £20 a year

** Insurance is now due for 2012, please pay as soon as possible **

We try our very best to keep the costs as low as possible. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that their membership and insurance are kept up to date.

What to expect in our Aikido Dojo

We usually start with a warm up session: this is so that the body can be gently stretched and that all muscles can be warmed up. The warm up will also consist of Aikido body movements and some Ukemi (taking falls and techniques)

The training follows with a particular theme for all students to study. Later in the training the class is usually split in to 2 or 3 groups to study items related to the differing levels.

Just before the warm down period students who are ready and feel confident enough take a Randori session (free style against multiple attacks). This tests the students courage, body movements, distance, balance and timing etc.

Lastly we warm down gently and if time permits we have a time of meditation.

As well as empty hand techniques (Tai Jitsu) weapons are used as tools to help show Aikido principles and for showing attack and defensive tactics. The weapon tools of Aikido are: the jo (4 foot staff), the bokken (wooden sword) and the tanto (wooden or rubber knife). The more advance students sometimes use a Cane (walking stick) for defence and to illustrate Aikido Principles.

Care and respect must always be taken when training. Please refer to the Behaviour in the Dojo page for more information about how to behave in the Dojo. The purpose of Dojo behaviour and manners is not just for manners alone but for your own safety and the safety of all other students.

Image: Student training in aikido and with Jo in our dojo

We are also a Yodokan Budo Dojo

Aikido is the main art that is studied. We do however study other related arts: including Ten Shin Ryu Iaido: under the direction of Mike Selvey (Shihan). Cane (walking stick) techniques are taught under the Dojo Cane Master Steve Fyffe Sensei as well as all other Arts covered under the term Budo. We regularly invite other senior Sensei and guest teachers throughout the year to enhance the knowledge of the Dojo.

The Tsunami Yodokan Website link to Tenshin Ryu Iaido and Budo Mike Selvey (Shihan)

Image: Mike Selvey (Shihan) and Steve Fyffe Sensei

Please see the Kobudo page for information on the japanese weapons system taught at the Norwich and Norfolk Shin Gi Tai Yodokan dojo.

All the Yodokan Dojos thrives on their openness and honesty and offers all its students a highly experienced teaching and a friendly environment in which to train. For more information on Yodokan Kyushindo philosophy and teachings see the relevent pages.

Details can be obtained from the sensei, either by email or phone,.

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