It was during winter of 06/07 that I started thinking of getting my students out in the Summer to train outside and get some fresh air. The more I looked into this task, the more I realised that this was not going to be easy.

Anyone who has tried will tell you, its an almost impossible task getting students to go outside let alone on the same weekend and further more, brave the elements of camping.

I searched the Internet for days thinking how, if and when. I finally found a club in Watford ran by Kevin Leigh 5th dan SKIF (Shotokan Karate International Federation). Kevin runs the club under SKIF called the Kodokai.

When I approached Kevin about my problems, he was already over the first few hurdles with that task. Kevin had ran a Summer Gashaku at Hemsby Norfolk for several years now.

Looking at the photos I thought that this would be the one. SKIF Instructors, Close to home... Just in case.

Fees were very reasonable and Kevin was very welcoming and approachable. Kevin even met me weeks before to discuss this and showed me round the campsite. Kevin also came over to me Club in Dereham Norfolk to teach and put some of my students at ease. As many had only trained under my Instruction. I think we have all been there at one point.

I arrived at the Campsite in Hemsby, Norfolk.on the afternoon of Friday 7th Sept and I was the first there, Well I do live on the doorstep.

Throughout the afternoon and evening many started to arrive. By late evening everyone was set up and down to the Dolphin bar for the rest of the night.

I met up with Stephen Marriott 3rd Dan SKIF whom I had not seen for many years since leaving TASK. Stephen had represented the UK SKIF last year in the SKI World Championships in Tokyo. The Czechs were there too Karate Hosovice from Czech Republic.

This was a particularly pleasant evening as everyone was warm and welcoming whatever the grade you were.

Kevin said to me earlier in the afternoon, he always advises Instructors to take it easy on the first night as it is a long day…. Yes ok Kev Whatever!!!! My first mistake…

Saturday morning, the mist was hovering and the sun was rising. All that was missing was the dawn chorus of the birds. Well! all I could here was the Air Horn from Kevin Leigh driving round the campsite, that’s why he said take it easy on the first night…

We hardly had time to shower before the Morning training began in the field adjacent to the site.

7am we were lined up seated for Mokuso (Seated meditation). This was a serial experience as we could feel the sun on our faces, our senses had definitely opened up to the elements. The damp grass, the cool breeze. Still I thought how cool this is…. What else would I prefer doing this weekend.

Sensei Kevin took the dan grades(Black Belts) through part of Gankaku Sho, something I had never done before. Then Ann Hastings 6th Dan took over and went through Heian Yondan in great detail. Brilliant! I could remember this one. Myself and Ivor Garner 5th dan from East Coast Shotokan Karate, Norwich were happy to be training for a change.

Brown belts and the lower kyu grades were split into groups Sensei Colin Needham, 4th Dan took a group along with Sensei Ann Hastings 6th Dan and Sensei Kevin Liegh 5th Dan. They did Bassai and Kankudai, which must have been pleasant facing the sun.

After an hours training we all headed back to campsite for breakfast. Well if you had time. It wasn’t long before the convoy of cars headed to Great Yarmouth High School for the next session, at least this was in the Dojo.

Again we all did the warm up with Sensei Anne and then split into groups with different Instructors swapping every 20mins. Training with Ann was inspiring she is technically unfaultable.

It was after the training that we had team games. Everyone was split into two groups. I was thrown on the spot. Terry! your captain. WHAT!!!! Me.

Damn I was not prepared and was quite happy sitting in the background. What are you going to call your team Terry… mmmmmmm oh whatever I`m not bothered. … Yes whatever. Ok kev announced our team as The Whatevers. The others were called The Smilers….

First task that was thrown upon me, was to design a Kata (form) with 20 moves and two kia(Shout)…. Oh my … This was my second mistake of the weekend… being there….

I tried to get everyone to understand that we were going to pull of a Bo Kata( Stick Form) without using the Bo.

Uuuuhhhh! If there ever was a word for an expressional look…. That was it.

We called our kata Whatever and did our best…. I have to say well done to all of the team that had a go. Even to the point of announcing the kata “whatever”

Still we lost that one…. Damn I thought. I hate losing. Maybe I should have remembered the basics of Shotokan, Oh yes its all coming back to me, block punch kick jump… would have been simpler and I am sure my team would of got the hang of that.

On hand at the side of the Dojo and throughout the weekend was Mark Handler a Sports Injury Specialist. Students could drop out of class to go and have a session with him. A very popular part of the course.

Anyway. After that we had team basket ball, this seemed to be very energetic. Turned out to be more of a scrum for that ball.

Moving on we headed for the swimming pool. I Hate Pools…. Yuk! Hence I avoided the water like the plague… Team races were well participated and our team thrashed the not so Smilers now. Anne Hastings & Ivor Garner were the judges sitting on the side having a good laugh at the diving Competition.

By this lunchtime we headed back to camp to load up with food… Not having time to eat at breakfast and working out started to take its toll… Don’t talk to me! I said to my fiancé who was also training. I have to eat or fall out with someone…

After lunch my stomach was full, my anger had calmed and we headed of for a walk to the beach. We loaded up our bags with water crisps and chocky bars. Only to be met by Sensei Kevin,,, all of you can leave you stuff here, you only need your Gi`s. WHAT”!”!

Anyway we strolled through the village to the beach like an army of white ants. Carrying our team flags, on a mast.

Something I haven’t seen before, but I think the locals were used to Sensei Kevin every year.

We lined up on the sand dunes, not even seen the sea yet…. A warm up followed by free sparring in the Bracken, bear footed and full on for some…

Ouch! my foot trod on a stick and another. Wait a minute! Whack! I got a punch in the mouth. After that I forgot about the sticks and being bear footed. Thanks for that lesson Bob!

After that we got into our teams again for the King of the Hill competition which each team has to defend there flag, this was absolutely exhausting. Running up and down hill in the sand is not easy. With sweat pouring of my brow, my head was buried into the sand by some energetic dan grade. Great, I’ll stay here and have a rest.

After a few games of that we then played beach volley ball.

Eventually we get to see the sea after a brief stroll through the dunes.

The groups were divided up again and each had an Instructor going through some combinations and throwing techniques. I took the Brown belts and took them through a Bo kata called Sueyoshi no kon. The brown belts were very good at learning this, as we were only given 20 mins to teach it before joining the main group.

We all lined up on the beach in front of the North Sea…… Oh here goes again.. Sensei Kevin got everyone stepping forward punching, Ichi! Ni!.... San…. We eventually ended up to out chests in the sea which I might add was 22 degrees. So not so bad… but there was a few high stances the further we went in.

We did some kicking practice, Heian Shodan, before sit ups and press ups…. Yuk!!!! Its not that tasteful.

We ended the sea training with a few minutes seated Mokusu, before heading back to camp for a nice warm shower before the BBQ.

The BBQ was a nice chance to rest and get some warm food and get to chat. After that we headed to the Dolphin Bar for a well deserved Party. This was a well provided BBQ with Beer. Well Done Kevin. Have you noticed I like my food.

Sunday morning was no let up again… Up you get… its time for Tug Of war… what at 7am….. You are having a laugh Kev, No he wasn’t. I was begging for my home comforts by this time.

We headed of to Winterton on Sea for a 12 mile Hike shortly after breakfast. On the walk we visited places of interest like the ruins of a Nunnery, Windmill Café then the Saxon Church where we stopped to play rounder’s. We continued on our walk as the Czechs had to be at the airport in the evening so we were pressed for time. We got to the beach and this is where the seal sanctuary is. Students were able to look from afar to take pics. It is important not to interfere with these mammals and they are a treasure to the Norfolk Coast.

Teams had to build a sandcastle each and the winners received more points.

On the walk back we stopped of in the dunes again, this time it was for Team Sumo and Team Hakka. This was fun to do let alone watch… I think the photos speak for themselves.

The weekend came to a close as we entered the Tin Ho Shack next to the Pub. Time for a well deserved drink and the Awards Ceremony.

Awards were handed out for the winning team. Chocolate Muffins!!!. The losers were given Cream Crackers. By this time I am sure no one cared much for winning or losing, they were there, still alive and enjoyed a very eventful weekend.

In drawing to a close, I would like to point out that I offered to write this report for the weekend. I am not a member of SKIF and see myself as an outsider looking in.

This weekend has given me so much, far more than I could of given back. There has been the warm and friendly welcome from everyone, no matter the grade.

The spirit, determination and courage to carry on training, regardless of our environment.

I eventually arrived back home around 6pm Sunday and I sat back and thought WOW! Did we really do all that in a couple of days. Yes we did..

Was there any regrets over the weekend.. Maybe a couple. Try not to get picked as a captain and my rendition of the team kata. Saying that I learned a lot about myself and what I needed to do to improve my karate. I also found that Karate students are made up of some of the best people in the world. Fun friendly and passionate about their art. I cannot wait until next Summer.

The Gashaku is were friendships are born, spirits are tested.

Doors have been opened for a new way of thinking.

Next year cannot come too soon.

Oss!