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Winter Camp 

By Joedy Williams, Campbell River dojo 

I was very excited when the announcement for winter camp came over the internet and I wanted to make sure I got my registration in as soon as possible because I know there is limited space.  Last summer, I attended my first summer camp and I surmised that winter camp would probably be more intense.  I was right!   

Training on Friday was very inspiring.  When we started kihon the sound of our kiai was almost deafening and it echoed in the hall loudly. I got chills down my spine as I concentrated on my own kihon and kiai.  I was proud to be part of a group of highly dedicated and skilled Kyokukinshka.  Ido geko is an area of particular weakness for me and I tried hard to keep up.  Again, it was inspiring to see other Kyokushinka who are very skilled at this area.  First night in the cabin was a sleepless one and 5:30 AM came slowly.   

Kihon on the lake was a little tricky because of the uneven surface, but it was good experience nonetheless.  Even though it was quite cold, I was quite comfortable.   After breakfast Shihan Don walked us through Tekki sono ichi.  I always learn so much when I watch Shihan Don teach kata. We broke into groups and I went downstairs and worked with Sensei Larry on Tekki sono ni and Saifa.  I�fll need to know these for my 1^st kyu testing and it was good to have Sensei Larry show me the way.  After lunch Shihan Don showed us some very effective ways to stretch using our own body weight.  The �gshrimp�h exercise was an exercise I�fve never seen before, but was very effective in working my core.  Shihan Don explained that one of his judo masters instructed him to start your training on the ground.  When I first heard this, I didn�ft understand.  It didn�ft take me long to figure it out though!  Now that we were warmed up, Shihan Don started us off on Taikyoku sono ichi and then added some variations that were very interesting that were meant to improve our footwork and quickness on our feet.  He explained how the lack of effective footwork hampers effective fighting.  We then learned some fighting techniques on blocking gedan and jodan mawashi geri.   Dinner was exceptional as always and I forced myself to not take a snooze so I could have a good sleep tonight.  It worked. 

I woke feeling rested and ready to go.  Training on the lake was kind of eerie.  Our kiai really echoed off the trees and sounded quite spooky.  I felt sorry for the campers.  I�fll bet it took them a while to figure out what that noise was coming from the lake.   When the tameshiwari came around I was surprised to see the number of karateka whom had difficulty breaking.  It was actually quite confusing for me because many times, it appeared that the technique looked excellent, yet the boards didn�ft break.  Was it that they lined up incorrectly, was it a lack of power, or was it a lack of velocity or technique?  It was especially impressive to see many students break three and four boards using chudan mawashi geri with sune!  When it came to be my turn to break, I used jodan hiji ate.  I had always envisioned breaking using seiken chudan tsuki, but due to tendonitis in my arm and injured rotator cuff, I thought it would not be wise to chance it.  

After breakfast it was more fighting training.  I found it to be especially grueling due to my lack of conditioning and sparring partners.  It was a pleasure to spar with so many talented fighters and I appreciated the way they showed me where I was open.   Shihan Stuart came by a few times to �gfire me up�h again and tell my partner to stop taking it easy on me.  I had to draw on my �gultimate truth�h to pull me through once again.  I was on the verge of throwing up and I heard �gYame�h.  My dogi was ringing with sweat and I was spent.  I loved every minute of it!   

This weekend, I was humbled.   Humility and patience have always been difficult lessons for me.  I will continue to learn, work hard and improve my own �gultimate reality�h.  

Osu

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As I drove the final leg to Silver Lake Forestry Camp I was reminded of my very first Winter Camp at the same location in 2001.  It was my very first camp of any sort as a member of the IKOK-C.  I had no idea what was in store for me but, given the location and the frequency of the training sessions of the two  day camp I knew it was going to be intense.  I was not disappointed then and I certainly wasn�ft this year either. 

There were 6 training sessions offered over the weekend each encompassing something basic while also focusing on a key aspect of Kyokushin training at the same time.  Kihon, goshinjitsu, kata and fighter training were all covered over the weekend.  I also had the opportunity to catch up with old acquaintances and get to make new ones.  For a small group of us, this camp was especially important because it was an mandatory component for dan grading.   

In addition to the intense training over the weekend the three components of the dan grading consumed even more of my attention and focus.  The board breaking,  exam and interview, were challenging and brought an authenticity to the grading that I find difficult to describe.   

In a day and age where people have an attitude that the world should owe them something I find the difficulty in our organization refreshing.  I truly believe that the harder, or longer something is to attain the more rewarding it is and the pursuit of my shodan has been such a journey.   

The additional component for shodan testing this year added a dimension that was very intense and a part, which I entered into a little too nonchalantly.  The rules are very clear.  Break the required boards, pass and move on to the next stage of testing.  Or don�ft, fail and try one last time at summer camp.  Fail there, and wait another year to test. Shodan breaking requirements demand 7 boards be broken with choice of 3 of 4 techniques (seiken, mai geri, mawashi geri, ushiro mawashi geri).  There is only 1 chance per technique. I did not want the additional stress of board breaking on my mind during grading at summer camp. 

Having broken 5 boards with my fist before I thought to tackle 4 boards with seiken, 2 with mai geri and 1 with mawashi geri.  I entered into the board breaking a little too relaxed.  Not only did I duff my first punch but I didn�ft even dent the boards.  Now I was left with 7 boards and only kicks to choose from, none of which I had ever done board breaking with before.  The thought of breaking at summer camp loomed over me more than ever.  With a brief pause and a moment to collect my thoughts I decided to tackle 3 boards with mawashi geri.  I gave no thought to the next step, only the three boards.  Lining up and building tension in my body I struck out with everything I had and felt a rush of satisfaction and as the boards shattered from my kick.  That brief moment of relief was broken by the daunting task that I had just realized.  Breaking 4 boards with mawashi  geri, a kick I had never done any breaking with in the past.  A thousand thoughts raced through my mind: 

4 boards with a kick I�fve never broken with before (Mawashi geri).

If I miss this it�fs going to hurt a lot

If I get injured it�fs going to screw up the tournament next week in Montreal

I don�ft want to do this again at summer camp

Everyone is watching me

What if I slip

And so on�c.

�c..

Then the noise stopped and clarity happened.  Only1 thought filled my mind. 

�gI will break these boards�h 

At that moment I launched my kick and the crack of the boards breaking from my strike sent a surge of relief and happiness through me.  One more step was now completed on my road to achieving my shodan.  One more step that I will be able to hold onto and say to others that I did it, and I earned it and it did not come easy.  Many of my good friends do not understand why I do karate, why I accept that injuries are part of the journey, why I sacrafice my time again and again, why I commit my finances and vacation time to travel for karate events and many other things that take away from what they consider normal.  I don�ft expect them to understand the why.  But they do understand that what I do is not easy, hard, sometimes painful and demanding in too many more ways to describe.  If they can see that then they may understand part of the reason why I choose this path.  Because the journey that is that much more difficult, is that much more rewarding.  `

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The deconstruction of ego

 

This weekend I had to privilege of attending my fourth Kyokushin Winter Camp�cbut my first as a shodan candidate. For the first time I headed into a camp with a little more than my usual flicker of apprehension. Despite having witnessed the shodan interviews and exams at winter camps several times in the past, I felt that I really did not have a clear appreciation of what lay ahead for me.  

The weekend began with a good hard class of kihon, for which I was grateful – a chance to polish and sharpen the basics before diving into the weekend – and an opportunity to lose myself in my training for a while and forget about my anxiety about the events to come.  

We had found out a few days before Winter Camp that we would be doing our board breaking that weekend, rather than in August. I think I wasn�ft alone in my mixed feelings about this. On one hand I was grateful to be able to get this part of my grading over with, but also significantly anxious that I had not been preparing for this. 

The next day, after two more rigorous training sessions, we were told that the board-breaking be taking place on Saturday rather than Sunday morning, as had been planned. With no real time to think (or obsess) about this, the candidates lined up and prepared to give their boards their best shot. Some of us made it, some didn�ft.  I didn�ft. But with the assurance that there would be another opportunity at Summer Camp, I at least did not have to face the end of my grading yet. What I did have to face were my own feelings of embarrassment and humiliation, which in retrospect was the most challenging and important training of the whole weekend for me.  

On Saturday night the dan candidates wrote their written exams and participated in interviews. This was also an interesting exercise for me and once again reinforced for me some of the more profound aspects of my own training that I have internalized over the years. I went to bed that night with many important things to think about. I didn�ft get much sleep. 

Sunday morning was a new day and in many ways a new beginning for me. I woke up with a sense of renewed determination and energy and a fresh attitude towards my training. The final class of the camp was a gritty fight training session and I threw myself into it completely. It was my best class of the weekend. 

Coming out of the weekend, I felt that I�fd figured at least some of it out. On the way back to Calgary that day, I spent most of the drive inside of my own head, examining and reviewing the events of the weekend, and developing strategies for overcoming my own obstacles. Oh – and sleeping�c�c.a LOT. 

Thank you to all who were there to train and pontificate with me�c 

Osu,

Michelle Gillespie

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International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan – Canada

Winter Camp March 20, 21, 22, 2009 – Silver Lake Camp, Peachland, BC

Once again we, along with others who travelled from all over BC and AB, journeyed to the Okanagan to attend another Kyokushin Karate Training Camp; and for 2009 it marked the 21^st year for  winter camps, the 8^th year at Silver Lake Forestry Camp  (4^th year in the new lodge).  For the most part the weather cooperated for all our travellers and activities during the weekend. We checked in and then found our bunks in the rustic log cabins, scrounged for fire starters and wood to build up some heat in the wood stoves. We quickly acquainted ourselves with one another and as time permitted throughout the weekend we were able to enjoy some good interchanges. Later we returned to the Lodge to meet new people and renew friendships and warm up for what was to come.  Of the approximately 59 people in attendance, there were 12 who were grading for Shodan and Nidan.

The 1^st training session began with Shihans Stuart & Don Corrigal and other Sensei�fs leading us through some long and fast sets of Kihon, and a number of involved Ido Geiko combinations. �gOsu no seichin�h prevailed as we pushed ourselves to near exhaustion (my count totalled 2882).  Five Kyokushin baseball caps were placed on the mantle and were awarded after each training session to an individual who exhibited extra ordinary performance.  During the dinner that followed, Shihan Stuart set the deportment for the weekend.  He also suggested we think about something personal about ourselves outside Karate and be prepared to share at Saturday night�fs dinner.

Some free time to relax and exchange small talk, study for some, and then off to bed.  Judging from some of the feedback the following day, sleep was a mixed event.

The 2nd training session began early and outdoors under a clear sky, only on the frozen lake this year. To say the least it was refreshing. Again our leaders led us through basic Kihon, followed by Ido Geiko combinations with partners. Back into the lodge groups were split up to perform Kata. Reviewing the Tekki Katas and their bunkai with Shihan Don was again enlightening and truly helped to embed key points into memory and for practical applications. A brief Q & A followed which helped to reinforce learnings or expand our knowledge. During the breakfast that followed we were once again introduced to our caterers who have continued to provide excellent meals for our weekend retreat.

The 3^rd training session began with what I would call �epassive warmup and stretching techniques�f that are less invasive on one�fs body, however combine to accomplish a similar result in preparing oneself for whatever is to follow.  We were also introduced to three �gShrimp techniques�h on mats by Shihan Don which quickly produced �esweat�f.  So we thought we knew Taikyoku Katas until Shihan Don taught us a neat foot shuffle exercise utilizing Seiken Chudan Tsuki -Staski-Mae Geri  while staying in one spot, and rotating through each of the four quadrants of a compass in terms of direction that this kata would normally follow. One can expand this exercise to include any block, strike or kick technique in terms of strengthening the relationship between basic Kihon, Kata  and Kumite.  Bottom line – everything interprets into fighting, and it needs to involve more fluid motion  and more mobility. We then partnered off and practiced kicking techniques into pads, and finished off with some light sparring. Shihan Stuart informed everyone that Dan candidates would have two opportunities to break the required number of boards by attending winter and/or summer camps in the same year. We then encouraged the Dan candidates when they were breaking the number of boards newly required for Shodan and Nidan levels. It was an interesting dynamic to say the least in terms of  �ekime�f and �etameshiwari�f execution. A brief Q & A followed.  Group photo outside and then lunch at last.

The 4^th training session led off with a brief warm-up . Then anyone who was interested in breaking single boards was able to perform same, utilizing a variety of techniques. Then onto Goshin Jitsu training with partners.  As always this is an enjoyable and interesting dynamic to expand Kawashi, Kuzushi and Kosaho  and Tai-sabaki within our discipline. Both Shihan�fs Stuart & Don stressed  basics, balance, stances, nerve and muscle points, push – pull direction; and always have a Plan B for backup.  Learning how to defend oneself on the ground from attack emphasized crossing our legs to protect vital parts, while executing leg lock and kick strikes to opponent�fs knees; and alternately leg locks and kick strikes to opponent�fs knees/legs  to direct them off balance. 

During dinner Shihan Don toasted Shihan Bobby Lowe in recognition of what his support has meant to our Canadian Kyokushin Karate. Following dinner each person shared something enlightening and often amusing about themselves.  For the majority of us we had the evening to relax in camaraderie and connect with others to discuss our challenges, successes, as well as learning and sharing solutions, which is invaluable. There was Dan Grade/Club Instructors meeting and Dan Grading Candidate written exam and interviews, all concluding just before midnight. Sleep would be short for some.

The 5th training session began early and outdoors under a clear sky, and again on the frozen lake. And  again it was refreshing.   Again our leaders led us through basic Kihon, followed by Taikyoku Kata in sagari and kaiten from hidari and migi. Back into the lodge we performed the 3 Bo katas. Shihan Stuart advised a 4^th Bo Kata (Tonfu) would be introduced at the next training camp. A brief Q & A followed.  Breakfast was fulfilling.

The last training session was just as spirited as the first, and was meant to be.  Shihan Stuart concentrated on fight training combinations, again stressing protection of one�fs head. We paired off in order to execute a variety of sequential and simultaneous strikes and leg kick combinations and we could stop after we reached 100 reps. Then we practiced some light contact sparring in offensive and defensive sequences with a variety of partners, and then regular light contact sparring with a variety of partners. Just to find out how much gas we had left in our tanks we embarked on some more physical conditioning – pushups and sit-ups - and then shared our accomplishments. After all was said and done and listening to some feedback it was a tossup whether this last session was more or less exhausting than the first session. For me the first session was more exhausting. Regardless, everyone worked very hard to complete the final class with intensity to bring our event to a positive conclusion.

We then broke camp, cleaned up, said our farewells, wished Dan candidates continued success towards their goals, and hit the road for our journey back home.

Training camps are an invaluable experience to continue one�fs personal quests, to expand one�fs mental and physical capabilities (often outside one�fs comfort zone), while sharing with their Kyokushin family. This one did not disappoint. Thanks are extended to the organizers, instructors for imparting their expertise, and participants for another memorable training camp.

Osu, Bruce Laffling

 

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Osu everyone 

Winter camp this year was a very important event for me, as it is with anyone who grades for a black belt. It was nerve racking, it was hard, but it was an experience that I will not soon forget. 

Most of the time, when I train karate, it is a time where I can let the outside world go, and find sanctuary within the sweat. This time, I was forced to look at how much this sanctuary actually meant to me. During ordinary times, class can become routine, but when I started to look a little deeper, I was intimidated by the wealth of knowledge that has been created by our predecessors. It was a very humbling experience. 

My advice to you is this: trust yourself. When you grade, you will probably have been training for five years, give or take. Within that time, you will have developed some degree of unconscious understanding. Just because you now have to put words to the motions does not mean you don�ft know it, you just didn�ft know the words. 

Believe it or not, the interview portion of the exam was a pleasant experience. There were no tricks, it was more like a meet and greet. Questions were asked on both sides, discussion happened, and I left feeling as if the people inside knew me a little better. I would just like to say thank you for that opportunity, for me, it was a pleasure.  

The training was intensive and varied. Thank you to the Shihan�fs Don and Stuart for all of their hard work that they put into us. The food was amazing and plentiful. Thank you to the cooks at the camp for providing for us. And the camaraderie was as it always is. I regard many of you as close as family, and events such as these only deepen that sentiment.

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Matt Stuckenberg

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