Friday was sunny, a welcome change from the previous few days, and we were lucky enough to have this good weather once again for the entire weekend. The afternoon and evening saw the usual stream of arrivals from across the country and beyond (including Nick travelling over from Norway). Bags were unloaded, bunks grabbed and because of this year’s high attendance, floor mattresses and camp beds set up for the latecomers.
Winter school has always been billed as the more relaxed of our DKK weekends, and this year was no exception - except for the exceptions...
Winter school has always been billed as the more relaxed of our DKK weekends, and this year was no exception - except for the exceptions...
At eight o’clock two sessions of somewhat different character started: for the main part of the group a pad work session run by Sempai Goran, and for Darren his long-awaited and oft-delayed 30-man kumite. As expected, Darren did not disappoint - the pad session managed to stay mostly-focussed on their targets during the first 20 fights but beyond that Senseis Dan and Gavin conceded to our desire to spectate and support the Nidan candidate. 10 more fights and the grade of Nidan and the coveted black gi were in his hands - congratulations to Darren for his well-deserved triumph over several setbacks in the past couple of years (as well as 30 assailants).
With the scale of the task front-and-centre in their minds after witnessing the gruelling fight to Nidan, and according to newly-instituted tradition (which I suspect is an oxymoron), it was then time for the new Nidan candidates to officially announce their intention to face the line-up in 2015. Seven of us stood up, committed to the fight, and downed the obligatory whiskey shot. I look forward to taking the field next year alongside Phlips, Nick, Jake, Richard, Bondi and Mike!
With the scale of the task front-and-centre in their minds after witnessing the gruelling fight to Nidan, and according to newly-instituted tradition (which I suspect is an oxymoron), it was then time for the new Nidan candidates to officially announce their intention to face the line-up in 2015. Seven of us stood up, committed to the fight, and downed the obligatory whiskey shot. I look forward to taking the field next year alongside Phlips, Nick, Jake, Richard, Bondi and Mike!
It is possible that the combination of triumph and expectation were responsible for the celebratory mood that evening, and so it was that the following morning there were many groggy faces gathering in the hall for our “gentle stroll” assignments. Several teams were dispatched on a new theme - a combination of a treasure hunt and capture-the-flag. Whilst that was going on, the Nidan candidates were separated from the group, divested of phones, watches and money, blindfolded and driven to an undisclosed location. Of their whereabouts from that point until their muddy and confused arrival back at Gilwell Park little is known, as the first rule of Nidan Hike Club is… well you know the drill.
After lunch we kicked off the afternoon sessions with a take from Sensei Lewis on the application of Sanchin to our earlier kata (primarily Gekisai and Saifa) and their applications. Interrupted only by the late arrival of a couple of the hiking groups (minus several points for being tardy there), we worked on a Gekisai bunkai combination viewed through the lens of Sanchin to deliver power and aggression. As with many of the technical Summer/Winter School classes, this was one with a big central concept which will come out time and time again for consideration, honing and application over time.
For the final teaching session of the day, Sensei Mulholland gave us an introduction to a sai kata by the name of Nicho Sai. I’ve always found the sai to be a difficult weapon to get to grips with, having an unfamiliar weight distribution and moderately complex handling requirements (at least compared to our usual stick-based weaponry), however having access to a dedicated kata has helped my feel for the weapon enormously. This is another reminder that our holistic approach to training including kihon, bunkai and kata gives us multiple paths to understanding.
For the final teaching session of the day, Sensei Mulholland gave us an introduction to a sai kata by the name of Nicho Sai. I’ve always found the sai to be a difficult weapon to get to grips with, having an unfamiliar weight distribution and moderately complex handling requirements (at least compared to our usual stick-based weaponry), however having access to a dedicated kata has helped my feel for the weapon enormously. This is another reminder that our holistic approach to training including kihon, bunkai and kata gives us multiple paths to understanding.
Sempai James closed the formal section of the day with his Sandan talk on the gi, covering its history and significance to both him and the organisation. During the talk and subsequent question-and-answer session James covered such diverse angles as the evolution of the gi from a simple jacket (including the addition of surprising trousers!), the effect of a uniform and uniformity on the psychology of training and the use of the gi as psychological preparation or mental armour.
The evening saw a return to the bar to Announce the results of the morning’s activities and deliver prizes of sake for the winners (“Team Diversity”) and the Wooden Spoon of Humiliation and Toilet-Cleaning Duties for the slow-moving losers (the subtly-renamed “Team Crotch”). We then took time to reflect on the day, to discuss Nidan kumite strategies, and to raise a glass to John Sowersby of the Portishead club, who we lost earlier this year to Pneumonia brought on by his fight with Leukemia. After that came the traditional migration to the fore for banter, songs and more sake.
The evening saw a return to the bar to Announce the results of the morning’s activities and deliver prizes of sake for the winners (“Team Diversity”) and the Wooden Spoon of Humiliation and Toilet-Cleaning Duties for the slow-moving losers (the subtly-renamed “Team Crotch”). We then took time to reflect on the day, to discuss Nidan kumite strategies, and to raise a glass to John Sowersby of the Portishead club, who we lost earlier this year to Pneumonia brought on by his fight with Leukemia. After that came the traditional migration to the fore for banter, songs and more sake.
Sunday started with a look at the bo courtesy of Sensei Lewis. Despite the popularity of the 6-foot staff amongst a huge range of martial arts, not just those embracing Okinawan kubodo but those worldwide from China to Northern Europe, it is rarely seen in DKK. We covered a brief rundown of the weapon and its close siblings (the yari and naginata) before discussing and working on basic handling and strikes.
After the success of the etiquette and discipline class last year, Sensei Mulholland followed up with more on this subject, both the hows and the whys. In addition to management of the dojo line-up as people join or leave the class, he also explained how to deal with late arrival, turns and the formalities around partner drills and sparring as well as answering a range of questions on the day-to-day of training in the dojo environment.
After the usual whirlwind of clearing, tidying and cleaning our weekend’s accommodation we moved back out to the field for the final session of Winter School: stick fighting. Sensei Lewis continued the “fundamentals” theme present throughout the preceding days and had us working on engagement with multiple opponents and various disarms.
With that it was time for the traditional close of thanks, handshakes and farewells until the organisation next comes together. I’d like to finish with my thanks for the organisation, assistance and imparted wisdom of our Senseis as they once again laid on an excellent and enjoyable retreat, and with a more personal note of gratitude for the advice I received - and hopefully will continue to receive - as I make my way towards the 30-man kumite in June.
Train hard!
Mat Savigear
DKK Shodan & 2015 Nidan Candidate
After the success of the etiquette and discipline class last year, Sensei Mulholland followed up with more on this subject, both the hows and the whys. In addition to management of the dojo line-up as people join or leave the class, he also explained how to deal with late arrival, turns and the formalities around partner drills and sparring as well as answering a range of questions on the day-to-day of training in the dojo environment.
After the usual whirlwind of clearing, tidying and cleaning our weekend’s accommodation we moved back out to the field for the final session of Winter School: stick fighting. Sensei Lewis continued the “fundamentals” theme present throughout the preceding days and had us working on engagement with multiple opponents and various disarms.
With that it was time for the traditional close of thanks, handshakes and farewells until the organisation next comes together. I’d like to finish with my thanks for the organisation, assistance and imparted wisdom of our Senseis as they once again laid on an excellent and enjoyable retreat, and with a more personal note of gratitude for the advice I received - and hopefully will continue to receive - as I make my way towards the 30-man kumite in June.
Train hard!
Mat Savigear
DKK Shodan & 2015 Nidan Candidate
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