Ryukenkan Dojo - Tauranga New Zealand
"Karate in Paradise" - It's a rough task, but someone has to do it!
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Ryukenkan Dojo - Tauranga New Zealand "Karate in Paradise" - It's a rough task, but someone has to do it!
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Summer Camp 2007 Waiting, waiting, waiting... Some people have been waiting since the end of Summer Camp 2006 for the start of Summer Camp 2007. Unless you've been there you can't fully grasp the atmosphere and the family spirit that pervades the whole event. For most people who attend, the excitement and preparation might begin one or two months prior, for Renshi Rickard and Tania Rickard, the planning begins about 1 month after the previous trip has finished. Anyone who has had to arrange travel, accommodation and transport for a large group will understand what's involved. All the grunt and groan aside - the trip is always worth it. This year, the group met up at Auckland International Airport. The New Plymouth people flew up, while the Tauranga people chose this year to drive themselves. With our group reaching 9 in number, we were the second largest group to travel to Summer Camp, but, as usual, no one else can beat the distance we travel or the time we spend doing it. There's nothing quite like that Wednesday that lasts 40-something hours! From 1 minute past midnight on the Wednesday in New Zealand, till the end of Wednesday in Missouri is approximately 43 hours - not that we were counting. As usual Air New Zealand were up to their highest standards. The best aircraft, food, entertainment. If only they could fit a gym, bush-walk, spa pool or dojo into one of those planes - we'd be set!
Mmmm, Roast Lamb and Veg... Air New Zealand really do know how to feed a Kiwi! It's like starring in the movie Groundhog Day - no matter when you think it must be over, there's always still more. Until you arrive at Headquarters, see the dojo and slink into the hospitality that only Kaicho and Laura can provide.
That be snow down thar.... Snow on the Rockies as we fly into Denver, Colorado. As always Thursday morning starts a little slowly... jet lag, exhaustion, hunger... mmmm, Laura's food! Now there's a reason to fall out of bed! Thursday also sees people start arriving for Camp. We managed to get a bit of time in the Dojo, just to get things rolling. We also managed to venture out to the local Wal-Mart to stock up on supplies - the essentials, beer, potato chips, candy, soda pop, cakes and, oh yes... the teenagers hit the clothing aisles, the music aisles, the fashion aisles. Not quite as bad, but getting close were the men who stood drooling over the guns, knives and sporting goods.
All Hail Wal-Mart, collector of New Zealanders money. Renshi is considering share options to try to improve his return on investment... Camp kicks off on the Friday afternoon. With a number of specials guests this year, Summer Camp had the making of a fantastic historical event. Summer Camp is all about making new friends, learning new skills and for the Yudansha, the opportunity to share knowledge with people from around the globe. Shihan Richardson taught Bo Kihon, while Renshi Rickard taught Tanbo Kihon.
(Left) Shihan Richardson teaching Bo. (Right) Renshi Rickard teaching Tanbo Renshi Rickard had the opportunity to finally put a face to the name. Although he doesn't realise it, Mr Tim Scott was fundamental in the Alliance arriving in New Zealand. Tim's website provided a huge resource of information during the time when we were researching the Alliance and Taika Oyata's Ryukyu Kempo. Again, not everyone is aware, but the search for Oyata Ryukyu Kempo started in 2001 and took until 2004 to find a place we felt part of.
Renshi Rickard and Tim Scott from North Dakota
Honestly, you try to get a serious photo and there's always a couple of clowns who can't keep it together... Ironic that it often seems to involve Courtney Kruse...
That's Better! Renshi Rickard, Sensei Standish, Sensei Kruse and Shihan Richardson
Renshi Rickard, Victor Kinsella Jnr and Shihan Victor Kinsella Snr. from St Thomas, Ontario, Canada The Sunday of Camp saw an opportunity to kill 2 birds with 1 stone and celebrate Kaicho Amor's birthday as a part of the closing ceremony and picnic. The afternoon was full of surprises including Kaichos Promotion issued by Hanshi Geraldi and a fantastic birthday BBQ lunch. Included in the festivities was the chance to celebrate Tim Rumsey's birthday too.
Summer Camp Picnic Lunch - nothing better! Cake... mmmm... good cake.... Enough Said!
(Left) Kaicho's Cake... mmmm.... (Right) Tim Rumsey's cake... mmmm.... Is it any wonder no-one lost weight on this trip? Following the festivities, Mr and Mrs Todd took us on a surprise visit to a Hunting and Fishing Store. Not just any Hunting and Fishing store - this was the Mecca of guns and fishing rods. I've never seen Sensei Standish weep, but it may have actually occurred this afternoon. First thing that caught everyone's eye was the sign... you don't see signs like this in New Zealand...
Cabela's store was the largest collection of outdoor equipment any of us had ever imagined in one building. Mr Standish thought he had died, and was often seen pinching himself. One of the highlights of the store was the display of trophy animals - not something you'd normally see, and a lot of the animals, you may not necessarily want to get that close to either.
Er... nice kitty playing with the bunny?
Takes the image of "Bull in a China Store" to a whole new level...
Don't move Jess - they haven't noticed you... yet! Someone dial 911... Shidosha in distress...
Noah's Ark? - I don't think so... Noah's Hunting and Fishing perhaps...Guns and Bait on a biblical scale!
Nothing like a feed of Men's Foot... OK - enough of the Hunting and Fishing store already... we need to get back to Kaicho's. The rest of the Sunday night was pretty laid back. With most of the visiting guests leaving on the Monday, we had the usual round of farewells. The Kinsella's left for Canada as did Mr Avery. Mr Moller tried to leave, but was forced to stay (we couldn't live without him!)
Our Camp Travel T-Shirts have become famous. Victor Kinsella Jnr struts his stuff in the 2007 Freddy Nightmare Kiwi Travel Shirt. We spent much of Monday in the Dojo, oh yes, there was more shopping at Wal-Mart too - never take teenage girls on a serious Karate trip... The Tuesday found us at World's of Fun. This has become a highlight of our trips to Summer Camp. This year, we asked Trever and Jennifer if they'd be our chauffeurs in return for a blast of a good time. Being that there are no theme parks in New Zealand that even come close to this place, it's something that just has to be done. Check out their website for more details of the rides... well worth a look!
The spectators were quietly expecting a "Liquid Yawn" or two out of this ride - we were so disappointed...
Who is their right mind designs these things? And, where do I sign up! We spent the Wednesday in the Dojo training hard to make up for all the shopping and messing around of the previous days. We learn so much from the private time we get with Kaicho after camp.
Shihan Richardson got time to learn the Eiku kata The Thursday morning saw us leaving Missouri - Camp was all over for another year. It doesn't matter how many times you go there, it's still hard to leave. In addition to leaving Kaicho, Laura and the Dojo, we also left a kiwi behind. Lisa Russell, who had been training with us for nearly a year, was leaving us to go on to London. She promised us she'll be back at camp in 2008 - we'll see if she keeps her promises! Seeing as though she'll be missing so much class time, and that she'd done so well both in class and at camp, Renshi sprung a surprise grading on her. Lisa was awarded her Shichikyu (Orange belt) by Kaicho during a surprise promotion on the Wednesday evening.
A little informal, but important just the same. Lisa Russel receiving her Shichikyu promotion. This year, we arranged a 24 hour stopover in San Francisco as a part of the Camp Trip. This is something that we intend to continue doing each year. The destination may change, but the stopover makes a huge difference to the long trip home. We saw some interesting things...
Anything which is anti-pub can't be a good thing... The Kiwi's were clearly shocked and needed liquid therapy - STAT!
Jessica felt all famous-like.... What she didn't understand was that near the corner of Ellis and Powell St's were some fantastic Jazz Bars and restaurants. Oh, yes more shopping too...
Look closely at these photos... this is what happens when Kiwi's get loose in a hotel!
Funky Fire Engine!
The Basic Brown Bear Factory - way cool shop. They supply Gi for Teddy bears (in case you're looking...)
More Teddy Bears than you can point a stick at... The Karate bears are near the lower right hand corner... All too soon, it was all too over... the trip was done and we were back on the plane for the long trip home. Arriving in Auckland on a not-too cold day was slightly better than last year when we arrived back to the worst weather that winter. Planning has already begun for next years trip. If you're interested, you need to tell us about it so we can be sure that you're taken care of.
Summer Camp 2007
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