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This year's camp was slightly different from other years, as there were not as many students attending due to sickness and other holiday's already booked and the dreaded G.C.S.E. and A level exams.
As every year, the start to the lesson was the sea
front run or jog in most cases, (after the effects from the night before).
Unfortunately
Sempai Gary couldn't make it most
mornings due to illness ( no it wasn't due to the beer the night before), so it
was left to Sensei Richard and
Sempai Jodie, unfortunately as the week went on the students were
dropping like flies but those who did turn up for the sessions were the ones who
earned themselves extra points which all
added up at the end of the week for the best student.
After returning from the run and getting changed into Gi's the lessons started with the black belts teaming up against the lower grades, for a team warm up. The teams played a variety of different warm up games it was the first team to 5 to win, the black belts took the lead and stayed there but the coloured belts did catch up at one point but it finished with the black belt team winning 5 - 3.
After a quick change and straighten up, the students lined up and bowed in ready for line work, (this was done every day showing respect to their chosen sport), this was followed by their individual blocks, kata's, combinations and intense fitness.
The next event that took the students away from traditional karate was the ground wrestling with Rhyse Floyde and Ali Ayerman taking centre stage, well done to both boy's they both showed great sportsmanship and respect to each other and the rest of the club.
The dreaded theory paper caught most students out this year as this is usually done on a Wednesday, but this year Sensei Richard decided to do it a day early, each student had 5 minutes to complete their theory paper, these were then marked and handed back to Sensei Richard, where he went through the questions that the students had got wrong. most of the students coped quite well achieving a very respectable score for their grade.
Sensei was asked by a number of students if they could have a go at some weapons. Sensei Richard and Sempai Gary showed the students some weapon kata's which the students then attempted. The weapons being taught to different students were, Nunchakus, Samurai sword, Wakizashi, Staff, Tonfa, Bokkens, Jo and Bo. After the weapon lesson the students packed the weapons away safely, and put them into their correct places. Sensei Richard and Sempai Gary then showed the student some attack and defence techniques which could be used against someone with a knife, the students were very vigilant in watching the attacks and defences as they all managed to do the attacks and defences on one another without too many mishaps.
The kata competition commenced. The students were all told what kata they had to perform, then Sensei Richard, and Sempai's Jodie, Amir and Andrew scored each student on their efforts. The scores were not going to be revealed until the last day of camp when all the medals and trophies would be awarded.
Back to basics, Sensei Richard lined the students up and they were all put through their paces working on stances and combination techniques, for their basics and kata's, The medicine ball was next that caught a lot of students out, as it was adults and children together, all the students done really well managing to stay in right to the end, well done to Billie Lowry who was the youngest student left at the end.
It was time to get back into their teams for the sword and shield (foam ones were used, just in case) kumite event, each team went up against all the other teams, the students had great fun in this event, and were very controlled with their movements. Well done to Andrew Ayerman's team who came first in this event.
Sparing techniques were next on the gender, with gentle sparing each student took it in turns to spar with another student, both pointing out and displaying different techniques to each other.
Sensei Richard then gave some students the opportunity to try for their next grade. There were only a few students who wanted to try for their grade so they were taken aside, unfortunately some of the students didn't quite make the mark this time but were shown and told what they had to improve on and they all agreed that they did not shine this time and all agreed that they would try again in a couple of months.
It was now time for the black belt grading, there was only 1 student going for this, but Dawn Lowry stepped in and done her basic techniques alongside Amir who was attempting his 2nd Dan. After going through his basic techniques, blocks, kata's and kumite, Congratulations to Amir Ayerman who was awarded his 2nd Dan by Sensei Richard Burridge.
Sensei Richard congratulated all the students for attending and for their effort that they all put into their training. He then went on and thanked the Sempai's for all their help during the weeks training, then he thanked the parents for all their support and for supplying the tea and coffee for all students and spectator's during the week.
After each long day of training the students were dismissed from the dojo to enjoy the rest of the day in the sunshine then onto the night club in the evening, where a good time was had by all.
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