Ryukenkan Dojo - Tauranga New Zealand
"Karate in Paradise" - It's a rough task, but someone has to do it!
|
Ryukenkan Dojo - Tauranga New Zealand "Karate in Paradise" - It's a rough task, but someone has to do it!
|
|
|
Autumn Camp - Raging Success Autumn Camp kicked off in Tauranga on Friday the 4th of May. With 40 people attending, it was undisputable proof that the United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance is growing in New Zealand. For many of the people coming in from out of town, this was their first visit to Tauranga. The event was held at the Mount Maunganui Sports Centre and we couldn't have asked for better weather. Friday night started with everyone taking the time to catch up with old friends and making the effort to meet new friends. We got things started with an Opening Ceremony which gave students the chance to get to know the Yudansha and our Special Guest, Mr Adam Lang from Shaolin Ryukyu Kempo in Wellington.
Mr. Adam Lang - Chief Instructor, Shaolin Ryukyu Kempo - Wellington, New Zealand Mr Lang was invited to attend camp as he was unable to attend our seminar in Wellington back in February. Mr. Lang has been a close friend of Renshi Rickard, Shihan Richardson and Sensei hart for many years and it was good to get the old gang back together again. Following the introductions, we got on with the job. Shihan Richardson got the blood flowing with an interesting and very humorous warm-up exercise called "Bob the Button Pusher". Anyone who has the opportunity to take part in this exercise will find it a hilarious way to break the ice and get things going. From there, we moved on to the Naihanchi kata and Exercises 1-3. Visiting parents commented that the group was so well in tune that to an outsiders eyes, they would appear to be all from the same class. Similar comments were made many times throughout the weekend. Friday night wrapped up around 8:30pm with the visitors being taken back to their accommodation and everyone had a good feeling about the weekend ahead. Saturday was welcomed in with warm-ups taken by Sensei Warren Hart from Wellington. Most people met Sensei Hart for the first time over the weekend and having Sensei work with the group gave people a chance to experience his teaching style. Mr Hart comes from a military background which, when mixed with his hilarious sense of humour makes training hard but fun. Unknown to most people is the extensive background and experience which Mr Hart brings to our group. A Shodan for many years, Mr Hart has studied intensively and brings an understanding of Karate which far outweighs his rank. We look forward to more interaction and learning with Sensei Warren.
Sensei Warren Hart warms the group up prior to Kata study on Saturday morning. Following Mr Hart's warm-up, everyone split into groups for Kata study. Going on the focus and effort being put in, everyone came away with new information and new skills. Unknown to most students, many passers-by came into the venue to see what was happening, and from the comments made, people saw a well organised, focused, family oriented group of people having a fantastic time. As mid-day approached, the groups were split to allow coloured belts to study Tuite with Shihan Richardson, while the Yudansha studied Kuzushi kata with Renshi Rickard. Shihan took the group through basic tuite techniques with the focus being on correctly applying the principles taught through our study of kata and footwork.
Students working together on Tuite techniques.
Shihan Richardson offers assistance to Kate Baguley and Nathan McShane while Gavin Collinson and Lisa Russel look on.
Wellington students Duanne Hazlewood and Erin Scott working on technique Meanwhile, outside in the sunshine, many Yudansha were experiencing their first tastes of the Kuzushi kata. With the goal being to have all Yudansha knowing all three Naihanchi Kuzushi kata prior to Kaicho's visit in October, the Yudansha climbed into the kata and found it easy to pick up. We broke for lunch at mid-day with a huge pile of platters from Subway being delivered. Following lunch, everyone was given a few hours break from training with a well earned splash at the Baywave Aquatic Centre. The hydroslide and wave pool saw plenty of action with smiles and laughs being shared by all. Classes resumed at 3pm with Kobudo clinics till dinner. Each group studied hard and the effort has been seen in regular classes following camp. At 6pm a dump-truck full of pizza and fries arrived - just what the doctor ordered! Students had the chance to bring in other family members to share the camp experience and enjoy the fun. After dinner, we had to burn the energy off the kids somehow, so Shihan Richardson came up with another hilarious way of getting them to slow down. Meanwhile, the adults got back into training and made good use of the evening to practice what they had learnt during the day or to share other skills. Following the efforts of the day, everyone retired to some well earned sleep, or in the case of many of a adults, they retired to Renshi's house and partied it up for a few hours. Renshi was quoted several times that evening as saying "Hmmm... I need a bigger house..." Sunday morning brought with it the last day of camp. On the agenda was Tuite and Bunkai clinics and some free time to give students the chance to re-cover anything that may have been missed or left unfinished. Renshi taught the 3 core Tuite techniques of Te Hiri Getami, Ude Getami and Hiji Getami before showing some Bunkai from various kata which tied in nicely with the Tuite techniques. Included in Renshi's Tuite class were some Tuite inspired dance-moves which brought about the query "Where the heck did THAT come from?"
Renshi teaching Tuite assisted by Shidosha Standish
Mr Lang shares his knowledge with Sean Richardson and Talia O'Neill
Gabriel Mike watches on as Mark Vincent politely asks Scott Daniels to "Kneel Please!" Sensei Hart offers his experience to the other Yudansha When the Tuite and study time was over, we joined up as a group and held our closing ceremony which gave each Kobudo group a chance to "strut their stuff" and show what they had achieved in such a short time. As Renshi rightly pointed out, less than 48 hours ago, many of these people knew nothing of the weapons they were demonstrating that day.
Renshi's Tanbo group: Gabriel Mike, Duanne Hazlewood, Les Irvine, Sam Elliott and Teresa Harrington. Not present: Daniel Rickard, Michael Rickard, Shidosha Craig Martin-Smith
Shidosha Ellis' Sai group: Adam Reid, Renee Hodges-Ginns, Sean Richardson, Nathan McShane, Robin McKillen, Nicole Rickard, Shidosha Meg Bartle, Adam Deery and Mr Lang
Shidosha Standish and Gavin Collinson demonstrate Sakugawa Jo
Shidosha Irvine's Chizikunbo group: Erin Scott, Mark Vincent, Shidosha Jessica Ellis and Jan Vincent
Shihan Richardson's Bo group: Kate Baguley, Martin Simpson, Scott Daniels, Rue Clarkson, Talia O'Neill and Shidosha Sarah Ohlson After the demonstration, speeches were made and the formal part of the Closing Ceremony was completed. High praise was given to all the students who came together and worked so hard over the weekend. The last important thing remaining was to draw the winners of the camp raffles. To raise funds towards Kaicho Amor's visit later this year, it was decided that a selection of raffles would be run. For those with a sweet-tooth, there were the "Guess the Jelly-beans" and "Guess the Jelly-beans and Wine Gums" raffles. Ronin Custom Kobudo New Zealand donated a hand-crafted weapon to be raffled - the winner either choosing a weapon that was for sale at camp, or having the choice to have something special made. There was also a training T-Shirt up for grabs, and finally to keep Mum happy on Mothers Day there was a gift basket of goodies. The raffle winners were:
Last but by no means least, a big round of thanks had to go to Tania Rickard for her efforts in organising such a fantastic event. Behind the scenes, there is a lot of work in making an event run smoothly and Tania did the work for this camp. Running the store, organising the meals, arranging the raffles and keeping Renshi in line is a big ask for anyone - a job well done. Camp was wrapped up with a shared lunch and the long stream of good byes and travel home. For those who came in from out of town, the trip home was long and tiring. For the locals, most of them were asleep before 5pm! Those people who were experiencing their first camp have been left anxiously awaiting October like those who know what is in store. We are all very excited by the prospect of more time with Kaicho and keen to see who makes the big trip to stay with us, to train with us and to experience New Zealand life for a few days.
United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance (New Zealand) Autumn Camp 2007 Attendees
And, the obligatory "Not-so-serious" photo... |
|
Send mail to
webmaster@ryukenkan.org.nz with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
