IKOKC Black Belt Camp

IKOKC Black Belt Camp

Armstrong, BC

June 12, 13, 14, 2015

            I just returned home from my first Black Belt Camp in Armstrong. My whole body aches. It's a good kind of ache. The kind of ache you get from 5 well tempo’d training sessions.

• My brain aches from processing a wealth of information gleaned from Shihan's, Sensei's and Sempai's alike.
• My hand aches from furiously writing notes to better remember them for the future.

This Black Belt Camp set a solid foundation for training our Kyokushin Karate-ka to be successful in the future. I truly enjoyed and appreciated this camp, and look forward to next year.

OSU!

Jason Shaw

My First Armstrong Black Belt Camp

I have only good things to say about it.  The facility gives the camp a homey closeness.  The Armstrong Club go all out to make everyone feel welcome and taken care of.

The instruction and training were first class.  Osu and thanks again to Shihan Stuart, Shihan Terry, Sensei Brad, and Sensei Dean.

Having the leaders of our organization take the time to come and trainwith us is very special.  Having them give you personal instruction and help is amazing, from my point of view.

I personally learned a lot about body awareness and body movement and how important the small details are in doing things correctly.  If I hadn’t gone to the camp I wouldn’t have learned that.

I would recommend this camp to everyone.  I will make the trip again.

Osu.

Allan Watson

IKOC - Black Belt Camp Armstrong B.C. June 12 - 14th 2015.

"BACK TO THE FUTURE"

June 12th - 14th IKO-C Black Belt Camp was hosted at the Armstrong Dojo by

Sensei Larry Robinson 4th Dan and his students. Training was conducted by Branch Chief and Head instructor 6th Dan Shihan Stuart Corrigal along with instructors Shihan Terry Price 5th Dan and Sensei Brad Gillespie 4th Dan & Sensei Dean Bawtinheimer 4th Dan.

The Hospitality as always was excellent including Sensei Larry's Cordon Blue BBQ dinner on the Saturday Evening thanks to the support and hard work of Sempai Kathy and the Armstrong Dojo. Thank You to each and everyone.

The Training, as you would expect was well organized with a clear set agenda over the 3 days and 5 Very Hard Working Sessions -

" KIHON" Strong Basics and the fundamentals / foundation of your technique

through transition of stance and movement in demonstration and instruction.

"That Again,.. Boring Kihon" you may say !  Not so much.

The training was very interesting and extremely demanding both physically and mentally as anyone at the camp will attest.

Shihan Stuart stressed and re stressed the critical importance of 'Correct' kihon which is the foundation of our karate, without which as students or the ability to perform correctly and demonstrate as instructors we cannot move forward.

Over the duration of the camp the instruction covered initial Kihon, Kihon Combinations, then Ido Geiko covering Kaitan, Segari with intense focus on correct kihon application on every single technique through transition in stance. Ippon then Sanbon Kumite up to Kihon Kumite, in step by step advancement covering balance and movement.

In each step Shihan Stuart re iterated the critical importance of correct Kihon fundamentals as the foundation on which any combination of techniques or movement can be effectively executed. Without the first step performed correctly the second is not correct and so the collective result is ineffective karate.

As instructors if we do not practice or demonstrate correct kihon then we do not teach correct kihon thus do not teach effective karate.

Shihan Terry instructed a class and gave valuable insight as well as lessons on his recent experience 5th Dan grading in Japan.

This instruction focused to the smallest detail on correct kihon in every movement.

Shihan Terry then covered the importance of correct technique through transition of stance, further detailing posture, balance and the critical focus on ' full range of motion' in application of technique in circle and point principle.

Demonstrating such the Ido Geiko training picked up tempo with point of power and stress with intent.

Swiftly on to '  Taikyoku ichi '  - in slow motion "Walking" kata - 20 Count -

10 seconds count to every single (1 count) movement - demonstrating Posture - correct Kihon, movement, transition of stance and execution of technique.

Over and Over again with ever critique in the ear from Sensei Brad and corrective demonstrations from Sensei Dean.

Without a level of fitness and strength to attempt to perform such exercises

would make this impossible.

It seems that Honbu in Japan in understanding its obligation to have consistency Globally in correct kihon/ fundamentals and foundation of Kyokushin karate in all their instructors World Wide, focus critically in fine detail to correct technique in their new grading courses.

This of course has to cascade down to the level on which we would be graded.

An excellent camp with clear indication on direction.

So, for me, Lots of work to do -

Back to Kihon or should I say `Forward to Kihon` and the fitness level to perform it correctly.

OSU

Neil Rowley