ESC Forum 2010

The ESC Forum 2010, The Hidden World of Hikari

When we begin to dedicate ourselves to Shintaido we have a notion that there is something exceptional about this practice. Slowly and surely, our bodies and minds are softened and opened through the exploration and repetition of the forms. We are encouraged to express our true nature; tenshingoso, eiko & wakame are well formed foundations of this growth taking us through a profound exploration of the elements which connect all things in the universe: earth, water, wind, fire and space and light.

It is the light of the sun which connects all beings on Earth to the elements. It is hikari which explores the light of being. Through hikari, the elusive and mysterious heart of Shintaido, we may explore the light of our own being and the vitality of our connection with all of life. How to express it, how to teach and pass on what we experience? This is the Hidden world of hikari

Introduction to the Forum

The annual European Shintaido College Forum is a unique opportunity for Shintaido Instructors, assistants (and people actively teaching Shintaido) to get together and learn from each other. If you have not attended such an event before, the structure is quite unlike any other Shintaido gasshuku you may have attended.

As we are all instructors there, there are no formal gasshuku leaders. Anybody is welcome to teach a keiko, or to attend keiko led by any other instructor of whatever rank. Proposals for keiko are welcome, either on a theme of your choice, or a theme which reflects the theme of the gasshuku (The Hidden World of Hikari).

In past years there have been a multitude of keikos to choose from, allowing each participant to tailor their own gasshuku experience, attending as much or as little of the gasshuku as they wish.

Dates, Times & Location

This years ESC Forum will begin with lunch at noon on Friday 23rd July, with registration in the morning, and will end on Sunday 25th July, after lunch. We would ask you to arrive before noon on Friday for registration. Exams will take place on Saturday 24th July.

The Venue is The Frenchay campus of the University of the West of England (UWE), which includes a wonderful olympic size sports hall which is the main dojo. The address is:

UWE, Frenchay Campus
Coldharbour Lane
BRISTOL
BS16 1QY

The ETC event.

The ETC (European Technical Committee) meeting will start on Thursday 22nd July, after lunch, and will finish on Friday morning. If you are eligible to attend this event please arrive on Thursday morning. This event is free if you are a member of the ETC (your accommodation costs will paid for from ESC funds). For other people who wish to arrive a day early there is a charge of Ł85 to cover accommodation costs and extra meals.

Registration

Registration is now open and will close at the end of June 2010, since this is the date by which the venue have asked us to confirm numbers and pay for the booking. You can register online now and pay a deposit to secure your place. Please note it will not be possible to return your deposit after 30th June.

To date there are 41 registrations, so places are filling fast.

Financial Information

As there are no gasshuku leaders the fees for the event do not include instruction. The cost of the event only includes the cost of board and lodging, and the provision of other essential services, such as an indoor dojo and conference facilities. Each instructor who offers to teach a keiko at the event will also ask a small fee for the keiko. These fees vary quite a lot, so be prepared for this!

Note that we can only accept payment for the Forum and exams in GB Pounds.

For individual keikos we will leave it up the instructors whether they wish to accept payment in €uros, GB£, or a combination of both. For this reason those attending the event from the UK are asked to bring some €uros with them as well.

Practitioners rate for the 2010 Forum: £275.00
(less a Ł30 early-bird discount if you register before the end of February)
Estimate for keiko: allow an extra £60 - £100 or so if you wish to attend lots of keiko.
If you can offer to teach a keiko there is an opportunity to earn some income.

If you arrive at the event will inadequate funds in GB£s there are banks with ATM facilities within the venue.

Offers and Demands

This is the system by which you can request a certain kind of keiko to be made available at the Forum, and also offer to teach a subject which somebody else may have requested, or which you particularly want to share at the event. Offers and demands sometimes relate to exams people are studying for but can equally be for any kind of subject related to Shintaido which interests you. You can make an offer or demand on-line anytime from now until the opening of the event, or at the event itself using the offers and demands notice board.

Offers and demands for keiko are being organised through the 2010 Forum Resource Centre

(If you have attended a Forum before you will already have login details. You should bookmark this site and get to know it, since it will enable you to plan your own schedule for this Forum, and so get the most out of your time there. If you don't have (or have forgotten) your login details please get in touch with Pierre Quettier.)

Examinations

Attendees can take examinations at Graduate (Jun-shidoin) and Instructor (Sei-shidoin) levels in Shintaido, and also at Shodan and Nidan levels in bojutsu and karate. If you are practicing in a country that does not run it's own exam system, and therefore do not have the opportunity to take lower level exams, you can also take the Shintaido assistant exam at this event.

Note that exam and registration fees will also be payable in GB£s, since we do not have a Euro bank account in the UK, so please be prepared for this. The rates will be as follows:

Jun-shidoin / shodan exam fee: £35.00
Sei-shidoin / nidan exam fee: £45.00

If you are successful in passing your exam you will also be asked to pay a diploma fee, which is to cover your registration as an ESC examiner and the cost of your certificate. The rates will be as follows:

Jun-shidoin / shodan diploma fee: £25.00
Sei-shidoin / nidan diploma fee: £50.00

Gasshuku Organisation

Gassuku Management team:
- Charles Burns
- Pam Minagawa
- & Ruth Trevenna
Registration:
Event Treasurer: Charles Burns
Keiko Offers and Demands:
Venue Liason: Ruth Trevenna
ESC Exam Coordination: Ula Chambers
ESC AGM Chair:
BS Equipment Sales:

Please let us know if you would be willing to take a role in the running of this event.

Staying on

Those of you visiting from overseas may be tempted to stay on and explore the west of England, an area rich in natural beauty but not so often visited by tourists from overseas. You can find more information about where to stay and what to do from visitbristol.co.uk

Travel

By Air. If you are coming from overseas try and book your flight into Bristol Airport if possible. From there is relatively easy to get to the venue (more information to follow)

By road. Take the M4 to Bristol and exit at J19 onto the M32. Almost immediately exit at J1 and turn right onto the A4174 (Avon ring road). UWE is on the left.

View Larger Map

By helicpoter (or walking): OS grid reference: ST6211078070

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