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Report on the Rocky Mountain
Kyokushin Kagami Biraki Training Camp
January 16, 17 & 18 , 2009
Yahk,
BC
On January 16, 2009
Sensei Dean Bawtinheimer, Sempai Matt
Hitchen and I set out to travel to Yahk
for the 3rd Rocky Mountain
Kyokushin Kagami Biraki Training Camp (gYahkh)
created by Shihan Donald Corrigal. For
those that have not had the Yahk
experience, the camp is designed such
that the first training session is on
Friday night, there are 4 scheduled on
Saturday and 2 on Sunday. The sessions
cover everything from fight training to
goshin jitsu to advanced kata to
Happo-No-Kawashi/Kuzushi to a multiple
core exercises, anaerobic training and
more. There were also drills to further
onefs knowledge of kata representation
and Happo. Having attended the
inaugural Yahk camp in 2006, we had an
idea as to what to expect and had been
looking forward to this for some time.
The day dawned
ominously foggy. There were a number of
flights out of Vancouver being delayed
and canceled that day, but our flight to
Cranbrook surprisingly left on time. It
is about a 90 minute flight, with no
stops. We touched down in Cranbrook
where we were met by Keith Klughart who
had very generously volunteered to drive
in from Nelson to pick us up and
transport us to Yahk. Keith was a member
of the Poco Dojo prior to moving to
Nelson and opening up a club there.
As soon as we
landed in Cranbrook, we were advised
that the luggage in our aircraft
actually belonged to the flight going to
Smithers. Ours, (fortunately) was
removed from the Smithers flight just
before that flight left. It wouldnft
otherwise be a big deal, except that all
the training gear (pads gis belt etc.)
and sleeping gear was sitting on the
ground in Vancouver. (For those that
arenft familiar with the camp we sleep
in the Dojo with sleeping bag foamy etc.
on the gym floor). The wonderfully
helpful, efficient, patient,
understanding, intelligent,
accommodating, Air Canada
Representatives who were also luggage
logistics specialists advised us that
our luggage would arrive on the next
available flight and we could either
pick it up or they would deliver it.
Only problem is that the next flight
didnft get in until 8 and the first
session was at 6:00. (more on this
later)
We wanted to make
the first session (fight training) so we
went to the local Walmart, bought some
shorts and T-shirts and lit out for Yahk.
The other camp members very kindly
loaned spare shin guards, gloves, and Gi
pants. (Thanks Shihan, Ifll get them
back to you in Feb!).
The first session
had a very effective warm-up utilizing a
technique call gshrimpsh. The only way I
can think of to describe it is to
imagine that if we had been videofd
doing these techniques and the video was
played back at high speed, we would have
looked like, well, gshrimps!g
Except me. Ifm
pretty sure I looked like gspastic
shrimph
The fight training
focused on counter drills emphasizing
speed, lateral movement, moving forward
and backward as well as drills where the
balance was challenged. Simplicity ruled
here, make it simple, keep it simple,
and it will be very effective. After
doing the drills, we had a number of
rounds of sparring. Great stuff, and the
two hours flew by.
As we were sitting
in seiza with eyes closed meditating on
the session that just was, the theme of
the camp came into play. Shihan Don gave
us all sake. I like this ritual not only
because it eases pain but there is a
very strong social aspect to this part.
We went back to
Cranbrook to get our gear and pick up
the luggage. The wonderfully helpful,
efficient, patient, understanding,
intelligent, accommodating, Air Canada
Representatives who were also luggage
logistics specialists advised us that
the luggage was, um, on its way to
Calgary where they would try to get it
in on a flight to be in first thing in
the morning. At the crack of 9:00 AM.
Sadly we missed the
first training on the Saturday as we
didnft get our gear until 9:30. THEN we
were Back to Yahk. We were concerned
about the training time Keith was losing
driving us all over the place but he was
OK with it. Thanks Keith!
We arrived part way
through the second session and got to
participate in some Happo drills and
some goshin jitsu. A significant moment
for me was the realization that the
journey through Kyokushin is not just
about learning from other peoplefs
experiences and efforts rather there is
a responsibility for independent
research as well. This was brought home
through the Happo drills, and when I got
home re-read the article written by
Shihan Don on Happo. Then a number of
the drills made a lot more sense. (I
encourage all to further their
understanding by reading the article,
the link is here http://www.kyokushin.ca/kyokushin/kawashi.html
Post training Sake
eases post training pain. And promotes
social bonding. Write that down folks.
The third session
of the day (second for our group) was
more fight training. Shihan continued
the emphasis on simplicity, speed and
power. Keep it simple, but do it very,
very well. This was followed by 6
volunteers who fought all the rounds
against a variety of opponents. Thank
you Shihan for the lesson on the
importance of starting a round with
sufficient distance between me and my
opponentc..
After the session
Sempai Magnus of Calgary led a very
evocative discussion regarding certain
medical aspects of Kyokushin that were
enlightening to say the least. Thanks
Magnus, the information was very
useful!
The last session
involved more goshin jitsu, more
shrimps, break-fall training, etc. As
with the fight training the techniques
put forth were highly effective because
of their simplicity.
The conclusion of
the last session (I am still amazed that
they flew by as fast as they did)
brought with it a real sense of
accomplishment. In previous years the
lack of shower facilities presented its
own challenges, Shihan fixed that by
renting a room at the motel across the
street so that we could take a shower
there.
A major highlight
of camp participation is getting to know
those with whom we train. After dinner
many lingered, enjoying great
conversation catching up with those we
knew before and getting to know those we
didnft. Shihan asked Sensei Dean to
present an award of a bottle of Sake to
the one who trained the hardest. With an
honorable mention to Tim from Calgary
and Matt S. the Sake was awarded to
Jeremiah who definitely deserved it.
When the wake up
sounded on Sunday morning, I thought
(after several attempts to find my feet)
that the first session would be a
killer. It would have been except that
the warm-up conducted by Shihan was
perfect for an old guy like me. In other
words, gentle, but effective. We focused
on more Taikyoku Kumite drills and
Sushiho for pretty much the whole time
and it was great. Another take-away that
was significant was Shihan recommending
–quite emphatically- that we all need to
know our kata to at least the next belt
requirement.
Camps like this
work as well as they do because everyone
who attends comes with an open mind, a
desire to train as hard as possible and
GREAT administration. The food was
purchased and transported and prepared
by Trudy and Charlene of the Cranbrook
dojo (they actually sacrificed training
time to cook) and Shihanfs wonderful
wife Mrs. Shihan Wendy. Thank you very
much for all your efforts- the food was
delicious, and it was very generous of
you to give your time and efforts for
the rest of us. Osu!
And finally a huge
thank you to Shihan Don Corrigal. The
amount of time that is invested in
developing the camp probably requires a
huge investment of time and what makes
the experience so humbling is knowing
that it is being done for our benefit-
Osu, Shihan, Thank you once again.
Eric Wilson
Poco Dojo
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Kyokushin Spirit
The weekend of Shihan Donfs
Kagami Biraki was as memorable as
expected. For me, it began with a very
long bus ride (I decided to economize
for this trip). Upon reaching my
destination a few hours in advance of
the first training session, I was met
with the familiar sights and sounds of a
Kootaney winter. Clear roads and clean
air. After meeting with my father and
step mother for a quick visit, I was
dropped off at Sempai Maxinefs to catch
our ride out to Yahk with Sempai Carla.
After booking a hotel room for showers (a very thoughtful
gesture that I wish I had used), we
began our wait for the equipment. Sempai
Rick from New Denver arrived first, and
the two of us made use of the basketball
nets. An out of the ordinary warm up
that was tone setting for the weekend.
As more of the traineefs arrived, and the van loaded with the
various food supplies and training
equipment was unloaded, I was eagerly
looking forward to the camp. As much as
we say gOh man, why did I sign up for
this camp?h and gWhat are we doing to
ourselves?h we chose to come, and we
wanted to be there.
Our first training began at I believe 6pm, which was fighting
training. It began with an unusual
warm-up routine with crash mats. Do you
know what gshrimpsh are? Well, I didnft
either, and until I figured them out,
they were not only testing my body
physically, they definitely tested my
ability in patience. The general idea of
the warm-up, Shihan explained, was to
warm-up the body with minimal risk of
injury. The mat exercise, followed by a
yoga-like stretch, was followed by pad
work, then kumite.
Following an intense two hour session was an amazing soup,
prepared by the Cranbrook volunteers.
That and an early trip to bed.
The next day began early. 6:00am, which meant waking up at
5:30. After a similar warm up routine,
we moved into kata. First taikyoku can
be hard, and if you donft believe me ask
Shihan Don how. Following was Sushiho.
Breakfast was a mountain of food, no exaggeration required.
Pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, toast,
cereal, yogurt, fruitc. It was too much
to eat.
The second and third training sessions included warm up, which
also included break-fall practice and
goshin jitsu. It was a good learning
experience because of the mats. We were
able to advance beyond simple wrist
reversals and into takedowns and
controlling a downed opponent.
The final session was again fighting based. We used kick
shields for interval training, both in
pairs and groups, and then we moved on
to kumite itself. Shihan was very kind
in volunteering me and five others for
pairing.
At the end of this class, Shihan Don asked Sempai Magnus to
speak in regards to a medical
perspective on karate. Sempai Magnus is
a surgeon, and provided thought
provoking insight into what the risks
and benefits are. As a group, we
conversed for upwards of an hour. I
especially enjoyed listening to the way
Shihan and Sempai worked off of what the
other was saying.
We ate another spectacular meal, and conversed well into the
night, though everyone was up at 5:30
for another session. We warmed up in the
same manner as before, taking care to
not incur further injury than we had
sustained from the previous five
sessions. We then reviewed the kata
exercises that Shihan had taught us, and
also learned the rest of Sushiho.
For many travelers, this was the time to say goodbye. Sempai
Jeremiah Breeze was awarded with the
spirit award for the weekend, and a few
left on their way back home. Those who
stayed had another round at goshin jitsu.
Now, as a senior student, I would like to make a few comments
on training camps like these. They are
vital for the further development and
refinement of your karate. Much of the
self defense that I have been taught
over the years sunk in, because when you
train with higher belts, you arenft
restricted to one instructor whose time
is divided among everyone. All karate-ka
have their own strengths and weaknesses,
and so, we all teach what we can and try
and learn what we canft.
I would like to say thank you to all who I trained with this
weekend, especially Sempai Lance for his
patience during goshin jitsu, and a very
big thank you to Shihan Don. I
appreciate the way dialogue was
maintained through the course of
training, and the thoroughness of the
instruction. Those who didnft go surely
lost a chance at such instruction.
Matt Stuckenberg
1st Kyu
Richmond Dojo
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