Like most towns in England, Basingstoke has a twin town. Basinstoke's is Alencon, France, located in the south of Normandy.
Each year one town or the other will play host to teams from across the channel who come to compete in different sporting events. This year it was Alencon's turn to host. The Ellis style of Aikido isn't really a sport, but rather a Martial Art, we went to have the experience of training with the Alencon club.
So six of us, five of us male and one brave female made the trip over to France with the help of a a lot of beer on the way! Over the weekend we had two training sessions, each lasting 1 hour 30 minutes. Alencon's Rousseau Sensei taught on Saturday and Basingstoke's Eastman Sensei taught on the Sunday.
We were also generously entertained by the Alencon Aikido club with activites, a barbecue on Saturday featuring homemade Calvados, and a pool party on Sunday.

This is a group picture taken on Sunday, You may notice that most people are wearing white belts. Although many Aikido schools in England use the Judo system of coloured belts, in much of Europe they use white until they are Shodan. Some of the Alencon students have been practicing Aikido for nearly 20 years.

Derek Eastman Sensei, demonstrating a simple throw from a punch with Alencon student, Patric.

Andy Lyon Sensei from Basingstoke, demonstrating Shihonage on Patric

Derek Eastman Sensei demonstrating a variation of Tenchinage on Mark Eastman Sensei (with knife).

In the ferry's bar during the trip over. The man in glasses next to the window is Derek Eastman Sensei. Sitting next to him is Andy Sensei. Across the table is Mark Eastman Sensei. The one in profile is Brad.
The whole point of the weekend was to have a good time, and we did! We can't wait to next year when the Alencon group comes to Basingstoke to practice with us, and sample wonderful English delicacies like Curry and Donor Kebab's and plenty of British lager!