SENI

[tel]

how many people are going to seni?. what part is your main reason for going?
I know there are seminars with royce graice,are workshop with pat o malley.plus loads more

[rigsville]

I'm going on the Saturday with my wife and eldest son.

The main reason were going is just to have a look around.

[old timer]

I shall definately be going, my daughter may go as well, I think I will probably go on the Sunday, my reasons to go on the Sunday 1) to see Pat O Malley in action 2) to buy some bits and pieces, hopefully some FMA training weapons.

[Pat OMalley]

I'm gonna be there:rolleyes: If you talk to my wife nicely and tell her your a MAPPER I am sure she will do you a deal, but don't tell her I told you so, she'll kill me (the female Mappers live in hope me thinks:eek: )

There will be a padded stick fighting tournament running on the Saturday, I will have a team (organising it too:bang: ), Krishna Godhania has a team and Martial Arts Illustrated's Editor Bob Sykes has a team, and at the end of it me, Krishna and Bob are having a round robin bout to finish it off for a laugh (for the veiwers that is)

So hopefully I will have a chat with many MAPPERS at Seni, if it is anything like last year it should be good, and I recommend you go watch the Gatka demonstration, awsome.

[Jang Bong]

I'd love to go - just for the experience of an expo like this. Unfortunately I cannot guarantee what I'm doing this week never mind in a couple of months.

For those that find this thread late (and might be interested) - any chance of a reminder of dates and venue?

Also (and I've thought of this elsewhere) we should have some sort of M.A.P badge - maybe a small enamel pin or something - so that we can recognise each other. Hey YODA.... Potential marketing venture here :D

Alternatively I can just approach anyone that looks like they have a wacky sense of humour and ask "Excuse me - are you Old Timer?" :D:D:D

EDIT: Realised after posting that I was thinking of Oldshadow, not Old Timer - sorry for any offence in either dirction :D

[Pat OMalley]

Alternatively I can just approach anyone that looks like they have a wacky sense of humour and ask "Excuse me - are you Old Timer?" :D:D:D

And you might get, Cheeky Sod who you calling old?, and if he has a beer in his hand. IT'S ME:D

[shipto]

I am hoping to go this year too. went last year but didnt enjoy it as much as I should have done. was short of money, friends backed out at last minute. I think I will mention it at class on tuesday.

[tel]

I'd love to go - just for the experience of an expo like this. Unfortunately I cannot guarantee what I'm doing this week never mind in a couple of months.

For those that find this thread late (and might be interested) - any chance of a reminder of dates and venue?

Also (and I've thought of this elsewhere) we should have some sort of M.A.P badge - maybe a small enamel pin or something - so that we can recognise each other. Hey YODA.... Potential marketing venture here :D

Alternatively I can just approach anyone that looks like they have a wacky sense of humour and ask "Excuse me - are you Old Timer?" :D:D:D
the dates are 23rd & 24th april at the nec in birmingham

[Jenny9973]

Im going with my husband and few of his mates. Should be interesting!

[Foresight]

Will be down there too!!!

Been going down for the last three years or so, always a great weekend!!!

Tom

[Pat OMalley]

I'm on stand 791 if anyone wants a chin wag:)


Regards

Pat

[jonmonk]

I'll be going up Sunday with a minibus load from our club. If you see a short, bald bloke with a slightly grubby looking 10yr old son, that'll be me :D

[Jang Bong]

jonmonk - you write so well for a 10-year-old, I don't care if you're slightly grubby :D

[JamieD]

Hi all,

after taking some time away form MAP and my training I will be there for the weekend to make the most of it. I have my name down for some seminars (I believe one of them is yours Pat) which I'm really looking forward to.
I'll be dropping by your stand Pat so look forward to hearing from you.

Does anyone have information on the stickfighting ?, is it open to anyone? and do you need a team to enter?. I'm sturggling to find out information from the Seni team as they are bogged down with only a few days to go.

Thanks all

J

[Jang Bong]

I think this MA thing is taking over - I've booked my ticket for the weekend, and just booked a room for the Saturday night, so I'm there for both days :eek:

I have my name down for some seminars (I believe one of them is yours Pat)

Do you need to book onto the seminars? [Worry mode] I didn't see that anywhere on the site [/Worry mode]...[Worry mode +1] Am I too late ??? [/Worry mode]

I've just realised that Jamie may have been talking about the events with an extra charge - but seriously, are the 'free with entry ticket' workshops on a pre-booked basis?

Any advice would be appreciate, including eating, clothing (for workshops), not getting ripped off, etc - I've never been to one of these before. {OK - stop picking on the new guy - I bet I'm not the only one, and I will happily ask the questions everyone else is hoping someone will ask ;) }

[Rob Lovett]

I am there on Sunday, helping with the BFHS stand. If you are interested the BFHS are holding a workshop on the Sunday, it should be fun. It is being run by Mark Hillyard one of the leading authorities on George Silver, an Englishman, who wrote about tradition English methods of combat at the end of the 16th Century.

I just hope that we can get out this year at the end of the day:)

See ya there Pat.

Regards
Rob

[jonmonk]

Do you need to book onto the seminars? [Worry mode] I didn't see that anywhere on the site [/Worry mode]...[Worry mode +1] Am I too late ??? [/Worry mode]

Didn't seem to last year. I was surprised at how few people had a go at the seminars actually. Myself and some friends did the Bob Breen one which was utterly fantastic. What a super bloke. There was a Gatkha (sp?) one too. I mean, who could resist that?

[JamieD]

I'm going to be there for the weekend, I've unfortunately torn some muscles on my forearm bit how can I turn down the opportunity to train with Krishna G and Pat O'malley.

It does advise to book for the seminars but you can usually just turn up. I hope to see alot of mappers over the weekend.

Thanks

J

[Rob Lovett]

I did the Bob Breen one last year as well. It was fantastic.

Regards
Rob

[tel]

Didn't seem to last year. I was surprised at how few people had a go at the seminars actually. Myself and some friends did the Bob Breen one which was utterly fantastic. What a super bloke. There was a Gatkha (sp?) one too. I mean, who could resist that?
yeah bob breen is superb.shame he is not teaching this year, did both years hw taugh at seni

[tel]

I did the Bob Breen one last year as well. It was fantastic.

Regards
Rob
yeah bob breen is exellent.shame he's not teaching this year

[Rob Lovett]

Bloody car, started over heating on the way up this morning and had to turn back - couldn't run the risk of being stranded in Birmingham - who would :)

Tell me all about it...... please !!!!

Regards
Rob

[Jang Bong]

Tell me all about it...... please !!!!

Wow!!

More articulate response when I have time :D

[Jang Bong]

I had a great weekend at the SENI show - it is the first time I've seen anything like it (wide-eyed country boy in the big city :D), and looking at the schedule there was usually 3 places I wanted to be at the same time.

Given the chance of 'trying' things in the workshops I concentrated on those while trying to run around like a lunatic and see all the stalls.

I learned a 9-strike 'template' from Krishna Godhania (the UK representative for Sayoc Kali) - a guy who has far more knives about his person than Jamie Oliver. Had a quite scarey experience with BFFA Street Self Defence with some escapes from chokes (the scarey part came in the 'unexpected attack' element). They said that in the street "things get messy, and don't go to plan". In a Karate mode (taking tiny elements from the kata) I spent an interesting hour with Iain Abernethy & Chris Rowen, where Mr A gave the interesting quote "in a real fight things get messy, and don't go to plan" :D:D:D [those that understand will understand ;)]

The next day seemed to be all about blades. Starting off with some basic attacks and defences with The British Federation of Historical Swordplay - it will be interesting to compare how the English and Italian styles look when I learn the Korean sword forms. I ran into a few well-known MAP members even before we ended up in Pat O'Malley's twin-knife training. (Nice one Pat ;)) Then onto the strangest one of all with the Russian based "Systema" - that guy Nick has the most flexible shoulders I've seen, and his knife disarms HURT!!! However the ideas on an opponents balance and direction of movement proved very impressive when he was demonstrating them on unsuspecting (and un-planted) members of the workshop.

My only sit-down in the two days was a talk from Andy Gibney about the mind and mentality of champions (and those that succeed in any way in life). Very interesting, but I wasn't able to re-visit him after the talk - another couple of hours seemed to 'vanish'.

One thing I did notice was how friendly the atmosphere was. Everyone was extremely polite - almost as though they wern't 100% sure of exactly who they were standing on the toes of. The stallholders were all friendly and informative, and not only did I replace my tatty tonfas, I got a sword as well under the '2 wooden weapons for £16' deal - good result :)

The Capoeira school had their own mat, and I'm sure they did not stop 'playing' for the full two days. Everytime I passed them they were in motion. A think of beauty to watch.

Very difficult within this to see the demonstration teams - but at ten-to-five on the Sunday I saw the XMA (Xtreme Martial Arts) Display Team. Someone should tell those kids that you can only do moves like that in the cartoons or on video games - it is not designed to work in real gravity. :eek: OK - they were excellent gymnasts as well as having MA knowledge, but impressive isn't the word for it... Wow!

The one part that really made me smile - and everyone else seemed to be oblivious to it - was at the close of the sessions where this 'superior' voice came over the tannoy system telling the 'general public' they must leave as the doors will be closing... As the time approaced 5pm the messages become more urgent and reproachfull, and I seemed to be the only person thinking:

"Where is the team they are going to send in to forcibly eject 200+ martial artists of all styles and abilities with a few hundredweight of weaponry lying around...."

Mushroom - where are you - I've just had a great idea for a 'big fight scene' :D


OK - that's the tip of the iceberg - I'm sure other members were looking at other things, so tell me what I missed.

[Pat OMalley]

It was the best Seni show ever, those Gatka guys were as impressive as ever. I have already talked to the organisers regarding next year.

It was also nice to put faces to some of the MAP members, all I can say is what a nice bunch of people here on MAP.

Sorry I missed you Old Timer, Lucy said you popped buy to the stand when I was off playing with a couple of daggers:D , maybe I will see you at another event.

The show has just got better and better each year.

It was also nice to catch up and joke around with some old FMA friends, Laughing and joking around with John Harvey, Krishna Godhania and Danny Guba raised an eyebrow or two from those who though we did not talk to each other. :D

Great show, great people, lots of sleep after I got home.

Still trying to catch up.

As the man said. Wow

[rigsville]

It was the best Seni show ever...

Got to agree, best ever Seni!

[freestyler]

someone tell me about The Gathering!! please please pleaseeeeeee

[Rob Lovett]

Damn it - missed it all, I think I will go outside and start kicking hell out of my car.........

Thanks for the run down of what was going on........

Pat, did they stop you going out this year?

Regards
ROb

[Pat OMalley]

Damn it - missed it all, I think I will go outside and start kicking hell out of my car.........

Thanks for the run down of what was going on........

Pat, did they stop you going out this year?

Regards
RObHehehehe, Naw I think they remembered my polite approach to them and then booting the door open the last time trying to get back in.;)

They could not understand that numerous guys, one extremely big, furnished with weapons and skills would have been more than just a handfull for one little security guard:D

Great show this year, much better organised. Easier to get the gear in and out too. They let us drive the vans right up to the stands.

Best regards

Pat

[Andy Gibney]

Have to agree with the thoughts about SENI. Saturday was a okay, but Sunday was awesome. Didn't stop talking to people the whole time. The weird thing was seeing old friends like Danny Guba and Mo Teague for literally a minute and not seeing them again. Either they were off or I was disappearing under another barrage of questions or doing my lectures.

Thank you Jang Bong for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed it and got the chance to sit down.

Agree with Pat about getting out of the place. Last year it was nothing but hassle. This year I was back in Kettering and unloaded the van by 6.45pm.

One other thing: never seen Pat as happy as was this weekend when he was sober :D

[tel]

good seminar pat,really enjoyed it

[Pat OMalley]

Gald you like it.

Did you like the bit at the end where I made Paul (the big man) bounce around like a drunk. He told me I took his bones to the breaking point. I said "I Know":D Made me smile anyway.

Bought him a few beers in the bar the night before to sort of numb the pain.

Regards

Pat