OTGKA Northern Course
Sheffield
21st/22nd March 2009
My initial comment is that
“this was one of the best and most
beneficial courses I have attended in my many years in karate.”
What made this course so special and beneficial?
The fact it was held 15mins away from my home?
The fact that there were over a hundred people
there over the 2 days?
The fact that the venue was very large?
Obviously these all helped. But the main
benefit for me and I know many other students was the class splits.
Similar grades, grouped together to concentrate and work to their
own levels. Four groups, four Instructors and an hour with each.
Surprising how quick time goes that way too, but in
Sheffield that weekend we had the most successful mini
Gasshuku.
To have so much time with Sensei
George concentrating on Sesan and Suparinpei was the greatest
benefit of the weekend for me and I’m sure the rest of the 3rd Dan
and over group and many of my students and others commented the same
with their respective groups.
The time spent with Sensei Linda was
inspirational and for all the women out there, take note, I was not
the only 15 stone bloke picked up and then held upside down during
her demonstrations that weekend!!
Sensei Andy, my Sensei, always
manages to come up with something different and had lots of minds
spinning with his alternative applications and it was good to go
through the Sesan applications in detail.
Sensei Simon, well, slight language
barrier there and I guess he’s really funny if you can understand
what he’s saying!! But his different interpretation on things was
really beneficial and challenged the mind. He often referred to
giving us something different to put in our picnic basket, which
made me think about how to round up the weekend.
What we had this weekend wasn’t
just a sweet treat, but a whole selection box. I left that day
feeling I’d not just had a Mars bar, but a Bounty, Twix and a
Caramac!!
A big thank you to all Instructors
and Maroulla for the arrangements and weekend programme.
A big thank you also to my students who
attended this event.
Till next time
Sensei Terry
