Over the weekend of 18-19 March, over 50 members of the Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo Association travelled to Brisbane to participate in the annual National Training Camp.
This year's camp was attended by instructors and members of all 9 dojos - Kensuukan (Coonabarabran), Seiryukan (Brisbane), Torakai/Torakan (Logan City), Kensuikai (Innisfail), Yagizakai (Rockhampton), Shishikai (Brisbane), Seiryukai (Brisbane) and Kengokai (Sydney).
The Saturday kickedoff with a welcome from our Chief Instructors, Shihan Jim Griffin, 5th Dan and Renshi Max Estens, 5th Dan, followed by a warm up. Then Tashi Anne Aylward (Torakai/Torakan) covered grappling with 2 opponents, based on the Sannin Kumite exercises. In the following session, Tashi Graeme Bowden (Kensuukan) covered fighting strategy, a rewarding experience based on Tashi Bowdo's extensive national and international competition success.
Following lunch, Shihan Jim and Tashi Lesley Griffin (Seiryukan) taught Naihanchin Waza, a 2 person yakusoku kumite drill based on the Naihanchin kata. A complex drill, Naihanchin Waza consists of a variety of punching, kicking and striking techniques, along with grappling and throwing. The day was rounded out with an informative lesson on ground fighting and self defences from Tashi Peter Deasy (Kensuikai). Tashi Peter really imparted the lesson that successful defence in a ground fighting scenario (as with any scenario) is based not upon passive defence, but on taking the initiative.
On Sunday, Tashi Des Paroz (Kengokai) taught an early morning session on Bojutsu, including preparatory exercises (junbi undo) and the first segment of the Gorin no Kumibo drill. Simultaneously with this, Shihan Jim Griffin and Renshi Max Estens conducted a kyu-grading test for a number of members.
After breakfast and warm up, we were joined by the Patron of Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo, Shihan Phil Hooper, 7th Dan.
The first session was a run through by Tashi Des Paroz and Sensei Mark Zaglas (Kengokai) on Kata Bunkai Drills, utilising the Tsuki Waza drill as a foundation, before working some self defence segments directly from 3 of the kata - Ananku, Naihanchin and Nijushiho. These drills were designed to remind members that our kata have almost all of the key elements of defensive strategy and fighting tactics built into them - you just have to look. To continue the grappling theme of the weekend, the final training session, conducted by Renshi Max Estens (Kensuukan) taught the A, B, C, D & E's of joint locking - a comprehensive drill regarding various locks and holds. Many of these are found in many of the kata, and all participants enjoyed the opportunity to study these, as well as to hear the cries of pain from some of the senior instructors......
After lunch we moved onto a yudansha grading for 9 candidates attempting to progress to various black belt levels. The grading was a comprehensive test that actually started at the beginning of the Camp, with all candidates being constantly and repetitively tested on various aspects of the syllabus and the material being taught at the camp. The 9 people listed in the news item below were successful in their endeavours.
The 2006 National Training Camp was a great success, being an opportunity for all members of our family to chip in and work together and learn a range of new material. I am sure all present will have fond memories of the camp, and will look forward to next March for the next annual camp.
