Monday 25th October 'Autumn Devon Course Writeup (page one)'
The weekend of 15th to 18th October, saw the 20th year of yet another training weekend for Zen-Shin Martial Arts Academy. The venue was again Sandy Bay in Exmouth, known as Devon Cliffs. Just to remind you that the association has a full weekend of training, twice a year, usually in May and October. All students from all clubs are welcome, to come along to train and learn new techniques, kata, etc; as well as to meet and make new friends and reacquaint with old friends. This weekend was under the careful eye of Chief Instructor Shihan John Richards, along with other instructors being Sensei Linval Graham, Sensei Colin Abbott and Sensei Damian Bowen.
The clubs in attendance included Shenley, Tunbridge Wells, Mere Green, Hockley, Digbeth, Pastoral, Bloxwich and Stockland Green and a club all the way from Derby as guests - a special welcome to you.
The weekend began with that long trip on the Friday down the M5 motorway for the majority and upon arriving we checked into our accommodation. The first training session on the Friday night, at 7pm, was that gentle stretch and cardio karate, under the instruction of Sensei Pansy Wright. Well, a gentle stretch is what Sensei Pansy calls it, but it was a great way to stretch all those aching muscles, after that long drive and to find muscles that you didn't know that you had. All this to music too!! Then after this, it was time to freshen up and time to relax, with some refreshments of mineral waters (not!!) for the adults and some entertainment, in the club rooms at the complex.
The seagulls were up at first light and so were we, with our first session of the day at 8am, for that first warm up and stretch for the day, with a few basics. Only one or two were late for this, which could mean a dip in the sea for them, plus Mitchell Davies even injured himself, before the first session. It was then time for our short jog down to the beach, but unfortunately as the tide was in we had more stretching and basics, with the jog back to the start and then some conditioning.
Before the next session at 12 noon, Scott Harding decided to head-butt a car and knocked himself out for a while. They're all dropping like flies will anyone last?? But the rest of us managed to make it to the next session, in gi, where we were split into two groups being the Black and Brown Belts and Purple and White to White Belts, where a new kata for most was learnt, for each group. The Black and Brown belts started to learn Nijisho-Sho, including the bonki for the kata and the Purple and White to White Belts group started to learn Bassai Dai and Heian Yondan, including the bonki also. Now if you are unfamiliar with what the bonki is, then let me explain. 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 final session of the day at 4pm was continuing with the kata's in the previous groups and the bonki associated with the kata's and also s few kumite combination techniques, just to finish off the day.
It was time to put on your pretty frocks and yes, you've guessed it, time for a few beverages (non alcoholic of course!!), in the various clubrooms, which included some dancing until the early hours. Where did we find the energy for this, I do not know?
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