Worksop Hi-Ryu-Kan

Here is a picture of Worksops' very own Famous Five.



Shaun Wagstaff, My Good Self, Arnie, Dave Slaney, Dean Thompson.

This is at Arnie's 60th birthday party in Chesterfield, A Great Mentor, Friend and a Character seldom found.
I have been training with and watching these people age "dramatically" since 1985.
I first came across Phil Milner at my first grading a few months later, there he was sat at the table next to Arnie and his driver, (Phil used to have a driver because of the amount of alcohol in his blood stream). There i was, people had warned me on what was going to happen, i don't know how because nobody knew what was going to happen, only that it would turn ugly.
I passed and put all my efforts in training four times a week to gain friendships only hard times can achieve.
Phil always did what he did for a reason and i learnt about myself on numerous occasions, one of them being on my Green belt grading when i had to fight everyone in the room one after each other continuously when you heard the "NEXXXXXXT" to change. I had my nose bust about the third fight and thought oh well at least it's over, how wrong i was "NEXXXXT" after "NEXXXXXT" they kept coming i remember looking at Arnie, he was sat there with a wry smile. We all went to the Greendale Pub after including Phil and he put his hand on my head and said "Well Done". I grew up that day and it was all down to Phil.
Throughout my training the respect and friendship between Phil and Arnie was immense, towards the end of phils life he used to come to our club regularly on Friday nights and take us Black Belts. (that is all you need Phil and Arnie egging each other on). During one of these truly "what's coming next we haven't got a clue", sessions he gave us all a chair and made us stand on them in a circle, we had to kick each other Jodan without falling other wise he said he would "eat us". I remember Mank having a wobble and it is as close i have seen to a human fly, from him being horizontal on one leg of the chair back to being upright.
So as The Great Phil Milner said "there is nothing you can't do".

Regards

Dave

At last Sensei Fletcher!!

Great picture there sir. It was a very special night that one, but then again all our time with Arnie was special. Friendships that will last forever with three very dear friends. Oooossaaa!

Cheers

Ninj

Thanks Ninj

Well heres another photo from one of our Christmas Doooz.
Looks like Sensei Wagstaff needs a helping hand keeping in the upright position.
Or are you practising your ventriliquism technique?



Ninj, Shaun wagstaff, Arnie, Me, Dean Thompson

I must get in the loft and try and find some older ones.
Regards
Dave