National Training Camp 8-10 April 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 7:51PM The inaugural National Training Camp for the School of Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Australia, commenced on Friday the 8th April 2011 with a training session by our guest instructor Patrick McCarthy Sensei for our Brown and Black Belt members. The afternoon saw a range of historical topics covered and various self-defence scenarios all entwined around the main lesson of Katana basics.
Saturday kicked off with Sensei Tony Fletcher taking the early morning session of Naihanchin no sho kata before breakfast. Patrick Sensei was then introduced to the main group by Shihan Jim Griffin and we were all taken on a wonderful journey of Naihanchi bunkai / goshinjutsu. It was an enlightening and meaningful lesson that gave us that missing link to connect rhyme and reason to our kata.
Sat afternoon Shihan Jim re-introduced Gokyo no Kumite. We went through Dai Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo and Gokyo Te series before heading away to have our AGM at which the National Executive Committee was elected. The Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo Association Inc Executive Committee are:
President Renshi Des Paroz
Vice President Tasshi Tony Fletcher
Treasurer Shihan Jim Griffin
Secretary Renshi Lesley Griffin
Councilor Shihan Max Estens
After the Sat evening meal, Renshi Des took everyone through a very informative historical and philosophical lesson answering lots of questions along the way. Following this, the Yudansha testing took place commencing around 8:00pm. After a two and a half hour testing period the following Yudansha were advised of their results:
Tony Fletcher promoted to Yondan and awarded the Title of Tasshi
Leanne Sippel promoted to Nidan
Anne Kratzman achieved Shodan-ho
Joanna Choe achieved Shodan-ho
James Bowden achieved Shodan-ho
John McDonnell tested for stage one Nidan
A Sake ceremony finished off the night in more ways than one after an excellent evening of hard work, lots of sweat and joyous celebration for the excellent gradings.
Sunday morning another early session was taken by Renshi Des who went through Kadaka no Jo with the seniors and the juniors going through revision of the Gokyo’s. After breakfast Renshi Des took everyone through a bunkai / goshinjutsu session relating to Kata Happiken. Again, similar to what Patrick Sensei delivered; this was very informative, enlightening and meaningful lesson.
Shihan Jim and Shihan Max then took us all through the Ashi series of the Gokyo no Kumite. Like the Te series, it was great to revisit these Kumite and everyone has received the re-introduction of the whole Gokyo series with great enthusiasm.
After our formal bow out, photo’s taken by anyone and everyone, we all headed of to have lunch and then packed up for the long journey home. An excellent training camp for Shorinjiryu Koshinkai Karatedo and there will be many more to follow. See you all next year.
Domo Arigato
Reader Comments (2)
What a great camp. It was a pleasure to work with everyone, and congratulations to all who achieved so much in their promotions.
Looking forward to our black belt camp at Coona in August.
I couldn't be more proud of our Koshinkai students and Instructors and couldn't be more humbled by their total acceptance of our new direction in Shorinjiryu. Thank you all, great camp.