Gasshuku 2008 Report

The 2008 Gasshuku was a huge success and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who attended this year's annual event in March.

Sensei Pell provides the following report:

Friday 14th March
The 14th of March, the date of our 5th Gasshuku finally arrived. The horrendous weather and traffic only stopped a few from participating on the Friday night first session. It started with partnered kicking, punching and blocking drills to warm up and then progressed to Gohon Kumite and on to Sanbon Kumite. After a short stretch it was on to the timer trainer for 10 x 1 minute rounds at slow to medium speed with 15 seconds in between to change partners. This gave 10 of the group a chance to spar with Sensei Nursey 8th Dan. The next part of the session was take-downs using neck cranks, chokes, sweeps and throws; this took us to the cool-down where we eased some aching muscles in preparation for Saturday’s 5 hour training session. After showering we met in the Hotel bar before descending on the Ocean Palace Chinese Restaurant once again for some much needed food. Most people returned to the bar for a night cap or 6 before grabbing some sleep before breakfast.

Saturday 15th March
Breakfast is from 8 am so most people were there early to allow time to digest their food. Everyone was in the Dojo by 10.00 and some of the students seemed a little anxious about the forthcoming day’s training. Sensei Pell started the day off with some light sparring and stretching before handing over to Sempai Andy Skarpellis 1st Dan who split the class into groups of 5 with 1 in the middle. The first attack was Jodan followed by Chudan and finally Mae Geri at slow, medium and fast speeds. All the blocks and counters were with kaisho. This session put the class in the mood to train for the duration. Sensei Angus Pearson 3rd Dan took the next session with a practical application of Age Uke which was effective and fast which I’m sure gave the kyu grades an eye opener. The third session was taken by Sensei John Ayres 3rd Dan. He started of with jabbing the punch bag, then adding one by one the cross, upper cut and hook punch. Working the combination against different partners with the emphasis on correct hip movement and close distance. He moved on to front kick, roundhouse kick, and back kick and then elbows. To finish off, half the group (10) made a circle, holding the bags out. The other half then performed 10 techniques each side at full speed and power rotating around the 10 bags. The class then had a (rest) by holding the plank position and raising one limb off the ground at a time for 10 seconds at a time, working around the body twice. The fourth session was taken by Sensei Paul Grimsey 4th Dan, although being a Shotokan exponent; he had spent 6 months in China at a Kung Fu school. He had decided to teach Chi Kung a form of breathing to re-energize the group. Although their was little movement involved, it was quite demanding, even if Sensei Grimsey made it look easy. We took a 20 minute break to re-hydrate and to take on board some food as we still had 2 hours to go. The first session after the break was Sempai Boughey with one of his favourite sessions ‘a man walks into a bar’. The session was about controlling your adrenaline and pre-empting the attack, he also covered some ‘outside the bar’ techniques and a very effective arm-bar from a grab. The next session was Sensei Paul Raymond 5th Dan who chose the Kata Gojushiho-Sho. First he broke the Kata down into the individual moves before piecing it all together; this was an excellent way for the lower Kyu grades to learn the difficult Kata. Sensei John Gillespie took the next session with the correct and safe application of basic stances. This was an informative and important lesson for everyone who practices Karate, the front, back and straddle leg stances were covered. The last session was taken by Sensei Gavin Paul 5th Dan. Sensei Paul chose practical knife defenses against various attacks which were practiced in turn with a partner using training knives. This was the eighth and final session of the day and it was time for a comprehensive stretch and cool-down as after 5 hours training everyone deservedly was feeling a little jaded. The rest of the day was free time until meeting in the hotel bar at 8 o’clock for a pre dinner drink. Everyone stayed around the lounge in the evening just relaxing after the days training.

Sunday 16th March
As the inclement weather stopped us training on the beach we started in the Dojo at 10.00. The group started off with some slow Kumite to warm up the muscles before practicing Kaisho Kumite (reaction training). We then moved on to selected bunkai from various Kata in a freestyle format. The final part was creating an opening (suki) before we used our intended technique to score. We finished with some PNF stretching before our final Rei of the Gasshuku. Sunday lunch was at 1.00 so there was just time for a quick visit to the spa for most people. After lunch we gathered in the lounge to thank Sempai Skarpellis for all his hard work organizing and liaising with the hotel. The award for the Gasshuku 2008 went to Emma Handisyde from the English Shotokan Karate Association (Hatfield Club). There was a special presentation to Sensei John Ayres of his Yondan certificate after completing an excellent grading under Sensei Pell and Sensei Paul the previous month. Sensei Nursey thanked everyone on behalf of the ESKA for a great Gasshuku. With some new friendships formed and old friendships reinforced the time had come for everyone to head off for their long journeys home.

Sensei Pell, March 2008

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Gasshuku Spirit Cup Awards

Bournemouth 2008
Emma Handisyde

Bournemouth 2007
Mark Saw

Bournemouth 2006
Julie Saw

Bournemouth 2005
Lesley Mottram

Bournemouth 2004
Neil Paul

Junior Student Awards

2007

Student of the Year
Chaley Bennett

Most Improved Student Conor McNulty
(Goffs Oak Dojo)

Spirit Cup
Antony Theophani
(Goffs Oak Dojo)

Best New Student
Heather Collier

Student’s Student of the Year
Sam Bennett

2006

Student of the Year
Daniel Rowbury

Most Improved Student James Chapman

Spirit Cup
Troy Cook

Best New Student
Sher Anderton

Student’s Student of the Year
Sam Bennett

2005

Student of the Year
Shona Rowbury

Most Improved Student Charlie Salmon

Spirit Cup
Bradley Roberts

Best New Student
Jack Bridge

Student’s Student of the Year
Jack Bridge

2004

Student of the Year
Amy Ayres

Most Improved Student Daniel Rowbury

Spirit Cup
Adam Holt

Best New Student
Jack Salmon

Student’s Student of the Year
Sam Bennett

2003

Student of the Year
Sam Bennett

Most Improved Student Olivia Young

Spirit Cup
Sean Geraghty

Best New Student
Simon Holt

Student’s Student of the Year
Steve Saw

2002

Student of the Year
Callum Jones

Most Improved Student Steve Saw

Spirit Cup
Sam Bennett

Best New Student
Roxanne Skorochod

2001

Student of the Year
Neil Paul

Most Improved Student Sam Bennett

Spirit Cup
Mark Wanless

Best New Student
Karl Barnes

2000

Student of the Year
Martin Babington

Most Improved Student Laura Smith

Spirit Cup
Callum Jones

Best New Student Kimberley Davies

1999

Student of the Year
Emma Reaney

Most Improved Student Claire heard

Spirit Cup
Jamie Lyons

Congratulations to Andy Skarpellis & Neil Paul on their Shodans

On Sunday the 3rd of December two more students of the Cheshunt Karate Club passed their Shodan grading. Andy Skarpellis, a 3? year old production manager of a printing company had already passed his Shodan with another group in 1988 but had stopped training for a number of years until he joined the Cheshunt based club in 2002. Sensei Pell said "I think Andy got a bit of a Shock when he joined our group as our training can sometimes be full on, but he always trains hard and had prepared himself well for the test" 15 year-old Neil Paul started his training in Broxbourne in 1998 with the late Sensei Jones and joined the Cheshunt club at it's formation in January 1999. He is the longest serving junior student and is the first Cadet Black belt at the club. Sensei Pell commented "Neil has been training for over half his life now and has benefited since moving up to the senior class in 2003, I'm sure he will be an inspiration to the other juniors" he added "It was emotional for the senior instructors to return to their old Dojo where they had trained and graded together under Sensei Jones for so many years"

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Congratulations to Chris Pitt on his Shodan

Chris Pitt graded to Shodan on the 10th October 2006 under a panel of 5 senior Karate examiners headed by Chief Instructor Sensei Pell 5th Dan. The grading held at the Goffs Oak Dojo was the result of a karate career that started 20 years ago. With events to test him on his journey, like breaking his leg and being on the Fire service shifts, he still managed to train hard enough to pass this very difficult test.

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On the 02-10-2006 two of Cheshunt karate clubs senior instructors taught karate to two groups of year 6 students. The sessions were conducted in partnership with Sainsbury's Active Kids campaign. The two, one hour long sessions included basic Shotokan kicking, punching and blocking techniques as well as bag work. Trophies were awarded in both groups for the fastest puncher and the hardest kicker. The sessions concluded with questions and answers about karate and were enjoyed by both the students and Instructors.

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Following the success of last year, Sensei Dewson once again invited all members of Cheshunt Karate Club to ‘cut their own Christmas Tree’ at his sprawling Hertfordshire farm, two weeks before Christmas.

Tree cutting and consumption of mulled wine and mince pies commenced at 11.00am until around 13.00pm. We again arranged to have a meal on the way home at the White Hart in Puckeridge.

Please confirm your ideas for next Christmas to Sensei Pell. Check on the forum nearer the time for more information.

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Gasshuku 2006

The next Cheshunt Karate Club Gasshuku took place once again at The Durley Hall Hotel in Bournemouth, this time over the weekend of the 24th, 25th and 26th of March 2006. The hotel is situated within ideal jogging distance (!) from the beach and its leisure club facilities, restaurants and bars proved to be very popular with the club members and their guests.

More information about the hotel can be found at: www.durleyhall.co.uk

Friday 4th March
The Cheshunt karate club made its second pilgrimage to Bournemouth for its annual Gasshuku. 17 students and instructors faced the snowy conditions to drive down to the Durley Hall Hotel (www.durleyhall.co.uk) for 3 days training. The first session was on the Friday night and split into 2 parts; Sensei Pell took the class through Nijushiho Kata for the first part. It was the first time a few had practised this kata and although a high grade kata they coped well. The second part saw the class split into 2 groups for a numbered version of ring training, this took us to the end of the first session. A table was booked at a local Chinese restaurant for our first evening meal, which was enjoyed by all that went.

Saturday 5th March
The training began at 10am with Sempai Boughey’s lesson, which started with using the different striking areas of the hand that are not frequently used as some of the others. The lesson included attacks with Ox jaw, Bear hand, Tiger mouth, Eagle hand and Thumb hand. The lesson continued with pre-empting an attack from an aggressor by using a defensive posture and controlling your adrenaline rush.

The second session was taken by Sensei Edwards and he chose to take us through our 2^nd kyu grading kata Bassai Dai. The kata was broken down into a few moves at a time until the whole kata was able to practised to count. Sensei Edwards then paired us up to work on a selection of applications that he had devised for the kata, this took us up to a 15-minute break.

The third session was taken by Sensei Ayres, who took us through a physical lesson in one step sparring, in basic and free style stances. This included blocks and counters from kicks and punches in a street-style theme and controlling and restraining techniques including chokes, neck cranks, throws and foot sweeps.

This took us to Sensei Dewson’s lesson of our basic 1, 3 and 5 step sparring drills, those of us who thought our last session of the day of  ‘basic moves’ was going to be easy, were soon to realise they were wrong. Sensei Dewson demonstrated the importance of correct stances, distance, and technique before getting the group to practise, first at medium speed and then at full speed and power until he was satisfied with the results, this was repeated for the 3 drills with different training partners.

With the time now at 2pm, Sensei Pell took the class slowly through the Heian Kata’s to cool down, before stretching out their tired muscles. Some of the class were now longing to sink into the hot Jacuzzi and make the most of the hotels health Spa facilities; others wanted to walk by the sea, in the fresh air. Dinner was in the hotel this evening and most people had decided to stay in to relax after the day’s training sessions.

Sunday 6th March
The jog down to the beach was a little further than last year, but was mostly down hill and is a good pulse raiser. Sensei Pell took the class through combinations before splitting the class for a lineout of takedowns. The class then paired up for basic sparring, free style sparring and then split into groups for Kata. Although it was a little windy this year the beach training was a great way to end this years training sessions.

Sunday lunch was a buffet at the hotel. Sensei Pell awarded this years Gasshuku spirit cup to Lesley Mottram, before thanking the instructors and the participants for making this years Gasshuku another success.

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Gasshuku 2005

The venue for the Cheshunt Karate Club Gasshuku 2005 has already been booked and we will once again be descending on the coastal town of Bournemouth. The superb Durley Hall Hotel will be accommodating us in March 2005 and with its leisure club, health spa, restaurants and bars there will be plenty for the club members and their guests to do. You can check out the hotel on it’s website: www.durleyhall.co.uk

Come and cut your own
Christmas Tree!

On 12 December 2004, all members of Cheshunt Karate Club are invited to ‘cut their own Christmas Tree’ at Sensei Dewson’s sprawling Hertfordshire farm. He has a good variety of trees in different sizes (remember that you have to get them home!). Cutting will proceed from 11.00am until 13.00pm. We are arranging to have dinner on the way home at the White Hart in Puckeridge for those who are interested.

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On the 8th of May 2004, Cheshunt Karate Club held it's first black belt grading since forming in January 1999. The hopeful candidate was a guy called Les Boughey. Les has been a member of the club since 1999 and trains twice a week along with the rest of the club at the Cheshunt and Goffs Oak Dojo's.

The grading was held at the Goffs Oak Dojo under a panel of 5 of the clubs senior grades of 3rd Dan and above, with Les performing his Kata’s (formal exercise), Kata's of the panels choice and his oral examination. The 2-hour grading started with Les performing all the basic karate moves required for his grade at full speed and in various combinations. The next part of the grading consisted of blocking and counter attacks with a partner in basic form, semi free style and full free style fighting against black belt opponents. This concluded the grading.
Sensei Pell said afterwards “Shodan is a very physically demanding grading, Les performed exceptionally well. The test was of his stamina and fitness levels as well as his technical ability.” Les, an ex professional footballer who played for the brilliant Tottenham Hotspur, and who has been training regularly for almost 5 years, commented “it was the hardest physical activity I’ve ever had to, but I did enjoy it and I just want to carry on training and working towards Nidan”.

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Gasshuku 2004

The Cheshunt Karate club held it’s first Gasshuku (training camp) at the Bournemouth International Hotel in Bournemouth from Friday the 26^th of March to Sunday the 28^th. 15 men and women went there to train and a total of 29 people with the wives and children. The first training session was taken by Sensei Pell from 19.00 to 20.30 on the Friday night, after starting with the usual warm up the group proceeded with kicking and striking drills before partnering up for Sanbon kumite performed at medium and fast speeds and then repeating this with a new partner. We then split into 3 groups for kata (formal exercise) practise with Sensei Pell taking the yellow belts through Heian Yondan, Sensei Paul taking the purple belts through Tekki Shodan and Sensei Ayres taking the rest of the group through Jion. We bowed out to go and find something to eat in one of the many restaurants in the town, splitting up into smaller groups to cater for the varied tastes and with the intention of meeting back at the hotel bar afterwards.

Saturday; Breakfast is served from 08.00 until 09.30 in the hotel and as we were starting our training at 10.00, most people got down to breakfast early. The Saturday sessions were split into 4 50-minute sessions, after a thorough warm-up by Sensei Pell the first session was taken by Sensei Paul and consisted of circuit training with the bags. It was a variation of the kind of training the police do in the Public order squad. Needless to say it was physically demanding, interesting, and it was enjoyed by all and cleared away any remaining cobwebs that may have been lingering.

The next session was conducted by Sensei Edwards and with everybody warmed up began the practice of the kata Heian Godan. As this was the first time some of the students had practiced the kata, Sensei Edwards went through a few moves at a time until everybody had the basic structure of the kata. He continued with practical bunkai for the coloured belts and advanced bunkai including pressure points for the black and brown belts.

The next two sessions continued after a short break to take on some water and carbohydrates.

Sensei Ayres was first up and his session was an excellent practical street defence lesson. This included defence and counter measures to various street attacks and the use of eye jabs, neck cranks and takedowns. He also introduced a little known counter measure to the neck hold.

Sensei Dewson took the last session of the day and his session was a derivative of Okuri Jiyu Ippon kumite. The difference was to attack with anything and then to follow up with the pre-set technique. This was performed at slow, medium and fast speeds, both sides of the body for the pre-set attacks of Jodan, Chudan, Mae-Geri, Kekomi and Ushiro-Geri. This took us near to the end of the days training and it concluded with Sensei Pell taking everyone through the Heian kata’s and then a cool down to finish.

The group now had 4 hours to themselves before meeting up at 6 o’clock for dinner. Some of the group went swimming, others for a walk or to see the sights of Bournemouth. We had a night in the hotel lounge watching England & France in the 5 nations rugby (shame about the result), most of us went to bed around midnight, although some stayed up until 2am burning the midnight oil.

Sunday; We had a full attendance for early breakfast, although there were some quiet mumblings about Sensei’s idea of the traditional beach training when we had a nice warm dojo in the hotel to train in. We met in the hotel foyer at 10am, where Sensei led the jog down to the beach to start with a warm up on the sand before beginning a series of free-style combinations. We soon had a chance to put this to good use as we paired up for free style, changing partners every 2 or 3 minutes. This was the first time some of the students had trained on sand, in casual clothes and wearing trainers, so it was a new experience for some. After the usual kihon with eyes closed towards the sea (only a couple of people got wet) we split into 4 small groups to practise the new kata’s learnt. We finished of the session with some practical takedowns, using neck cranks or wristlocks. After a 10-minute stretch out on the sand we jogged back to the hotel for a nice warm shower. Sunday lunch was served at 13.00 and was well received by all.

After lunch Sensei Pell thanked everybody for participating with a special mention for the instructors for all their hard work.

For more picutres see Gallery

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Sensei Pell awarded 5th Dan

On behalf of all the Instructors and students of the club, we would like to congratulate Chief Instructor Sensei Steve Pell on being awarded his 5^th Dan.

We were all very proud to have such a special honour bestowed on the club in May 2004. This represents both a great personal achievement for Sensei Steve Pell and an honour for the club to have its chief instructor recognised at such a high level.

The award was presented by two of our junior students on behalf of the club. It had been kept a closely guarded secret from Sensei Pell, who was for once taken by surprise! The students from the junior and seniors had been asked to gather in the Dojo together thinking that they were just going to have a club group photo taken to add to the website which was about to be re designed. Then came the surprise announcement lead by Sensei Keith Dewson. Sensei Pell on receiving the award said that he was thrilled and honoured to receive it and somewhat surprised how he had not sensed something like this had been going on. The club photo (meant for the website) had in fact been attempted by Sensei Pell himself on a previous occasion, but technical difficulties with the digital camera had meant that (luckily for us) it had to be re arranged.

5^th Dan awards do not come easily! This award represents some 21 years of Karate, and follows a period of 5 years minimum since the last grading. Also, not to forget the commitment to instructing juniors and adults during the three lessons per week, and the setting up and running of the club. All the black belt instructors got together to apply to the governing body NAKMAS for Sensei Pell to be considered for the award. NAKMAS hold grading review meetings twice a year where they will check that applications meets the criteria for approval.

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