Tuesday 21st October 'report from the autumn Devon Course'
During the weekend of 10th to 13th October 2003, Zen-Shin Martial Arts Academy went to Sandy Bay in Exmouth, for our Devon Cliffs Autumn Course. Zen-Shin have two of these courses each year, around May and October, where all students from all clubs, are welcome to come along for a weekend away of karate training. This is all under the instruction of Sensei John Richards as chief instructor, with Sensei Colin Abbott and Sensei Damian Bowen as instructors.
The weekend started on the Friday night, where the first training session is at 7pm. This was generally a stretching session, after that long drive down the M5 motorway, where Sensei Pansy Wright did some cardio karate, just to loosen us all up. And with music too!! After this it was time to relax, with some entertainment and refreshments, where we went for a few coca-cola's (as if!) and some dancing, in the club rooms at the complex.
First light came and it was an early start for all, at 7:30am for a warm up and a few basics. Now the idea is not to be late for the first session of the day, as if you are then it's in the sea for you. After the warm up and karate basics, it was a short jog down to the beach, where we carried on with more basics, etc. The next session from 12:30pm to 2pm was in gi, where in various groups we started to learn a kata to perfection, which included the bonki. The bonki of a kata is the application of the movements in the kata, as to how they work in an attack and defence situation.
The kata's for each group varied from Heian Shodan for the white belts, through to Heian Godan and finally to Kanka Dai for the brown and black belts. Then the final session of the day was continuing with the kata's and a few combinations and basics, just to finish off the day. And yet again, in the evening, it was time for a few beverages (non alcoholic of course!!), starting off in the Tiger Clubroom for the kids and then onto Cappones Nightclub for the adults, which included some dancing until the early hours.
The next day again started at 7:30am, with a warm-up and basics and then the jog to the beach. This was the morning where the late-comers will go in the sea. On the beach it was to continue with the kata's from yesterday and then some basics, towards the sea. It wasn't only the late-comers that got wet and most of those training also did. Then it was a last jog back to where we started, with "ishaw" and "nishaw" all the way.
The last session for the course at 12:30pm was in gi, where it was putting the final touches to the kata's in our groups, including the bonki. It was then time to put what we have learnt into practice, where each group had to perform to the instructors what we have learnt. This was all marked by Sensei John Richards, where the teams performed the kata and the bonki to the best of there abilities, which had to flow.
The winning team was the mens senior team, lead by Peter Histed of Tunbridge Wells Karate Club, with the girls senior team, lead by Pansy Wright in second place and the Green belt team, lead by Lynne Gameson in third place. Then to finish off the session we had some kumite, junior and seniors and then team kumite, ready for the inter club competition in November.
The course then finished with some presentations by the instructors, for those students that have worked above the norm over the weekend. These included Matthew Murphy, under 8 years junior karate; Mitchell Davies, junior karate and finally for their gallant effects the Gameson family. Thanks was then passed to all the students for coming on the weekend and to all the instructors. Everyone then said their goodbyes, until the next time.
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