How Roger brought calm into thousands of lives with help from an ancient source

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	*How Roger brought calm into thousands of lives*
	*with help from an ancient source*

			By Caroline Hardy
			This feature first appeared in
			Go! SEVENOAKS CHRONICLE
			August 2, 2001

			Shinseido:
			The thinking person’s holistic life-skill


	PRACTISING Shinseido can reduce stress, promote a more tranquil lifestyle and improve self-defence skills in threatening situations. So says expert Roger Sheldon, who has shown thousands of people how to change their lives for the better.

			Stress is one of the main curses suffered by people trying to keep up with the demands of today’s hectic lifestyle. It can manifest itself in many ways, including raising tension, lowering self-esteem and confidence and promoting a general feeling of not experiencing life to the full. There are different ways to help eliminate stress and one of the most effective is to study the art of *Shinseido*. That’s the view of Roger Sheldon, who has been running a martial arts group in Riverhead for more than 30 years.

	He runs a continual beginners course in *Shinseido* at the Riverhead Village Hall, where he hopes people over 14 years of age will take up the chance to learn the life-enhancing skills. Roger, who lives in Sevenoaks town centre and went to school in Sevenoaks, has been training for more than 30 years and holds the seventh degree black belt teaching rank.

		Recognised by the world’s highest authorities as being a capable and responsible teacher in his chosen field, he has provided training in a wide range of related skills including martial arts, self defence, stress management, team building and the management of violence. To date, he has taught more than 40,000 people in the public sector and thousands more privately. Professionally he specialises in teaching a peaceful physical response programme to staff working with people with learning difficulties. Roger is in no doubt that *Shinseido* could be the answer to many people’s problems. “Correctly practised, *Shinseido* is therapeutic and will reduce stress, promote physical, mental and spiritual well being and will increase longevity,” he said. “It represents a way of life and the practitioner who seriously penetrates its teachings will never be the same again. It is an intricate subject and one that could easily take a lifetime to fully explore. “The more one learns about *Shinseido, the more there is to learn, not only about Shinseido*, but about oneself.”

	Roger says anyone can learn the skills. “You may be someone who is afraid of violence and want to know what options exist. Sometimes people want to use *Shinseido* to keep fit, or as a therapy or they want to learn because of some physical disability. “Sometimes, a student wants to come to terms with his or her own aggression and levels of stress and wants to learn how to live in a state of calm peacefulness.” “*Shinseido* was created for people, not supermen or automatons! Anyone with patience, consistency and the ability to follow instructions can learn it.

			“Every member of my club wants to help the newcomer feel comfortable and at home. “You will be encouraged to take part in all activities; you will not be pushed into anything you cannot do.” Roger and his senior instructor Tony Asquith hold training at Riverhead Village Hall for adult members on Sundays 10.00am to 12.00 midday, Tuesdays and Fridays 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Riverhead Village Hall, Amherst Hill, Riverhead, Sevenoaks, Kent. TN13 2EL UK. (opposite Barclays Bank) You are welcome to visit and watch the training or join in. Contact Roger Sheldon at Shinseido, 27, Northfield, Hartley, Longfield, Kent. DA3 7EW UK. Telephone: 01474 700 390. E-mail	.........
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Roger Sheldon's World: Roger Sheldon, Tony Asquith, James Whitley, Mike Flanagan, Ian Stewart, John Clark, Jackie Whitley, Gavin Northcroft, James Neeter, Shurite Karate Do Kobudo, Shuri te, Matsumura Seito, Matsumura Shorin Ryu, Sevenoaks Karate Club, Riverhead, Sevenoaks, Kent. UK. Hohan Soken, Kosei Nishirira, Old style karate, Classical kata.