Visiting Australia, Melbourne Training Trip 2010
Hanshi Lance, Kyoshi Ava, and Thames student Julie Hulena recently visited Melbourne, where Hanshi took some advanced martial arts training for Australian Chief Instructor Shihan Mark Baxendine, Senior Instructor Sensei Mike Thompson, and a group of their senior Black Belt students.
The trip began with an early morning arrival in Melbourne on Friday 7th May. Sensei Mike picked us up at the Airport and we drove to Shihan Mark’s home for a catch up and to plan the next few days training.
Shihan Mark also has a hidden talent as a chef so we had an awesome brunch on arrival, had a good catch up planning session, and then back to Sensei Mike’s for some “chill out” time. Chill out is the right words as it was a little colder than Kyoshi Ava thought and who didn't take enough coats? Then it was back to Shihan’s for a banquet.
After a good nights sleep we were up at 6.30am to head to Shihan Mark’s for an early morning run, thats's quite a big hill I may add. This was followed by a very informative Meditation class with Shihan and the senior Black Belts.
Another hearty breakfast which was prepared on the BBQ and with a great view out over the countyside. Hanshi took everyone through a Kata Application class, covering the first four levels of Kata self defence.
After this session Hanshi took Sensei’s Mike and Rick through the Katana and Jo Kata while the rest of the team had a Sparring session, did some stand-up applications into chokes, and then covered groundfighting principles with Shihan. Kyoshi Ava and Julie thoroughly enjoyed the sparring and Shihan Mark gave Julie some more skills to add to her repertoire.
After another scrumptious meal (Seems like we were always eating) at Shihan’s on Saturday Night everyone had a great nights sleep.
Sunday morning saw our group all meet in a local park where Hanshi took everyone through the Five Element Qigong including sound harmonics. This session was again followed by another hearty breakfast at a nearby restaurant, Yes we all ate very well on this trip!
During the day Hanshi went through some advanced Kata and Weapons Kata for the senior Instructors to continue with their training. Sensei Mike had taped the UFC so a group come round to watch that with a few nibbles and dinner.
On Monday our group moved into the City for a sightseeing, movies and dinner at the casino. Tuesday was a night out to the “Jersey Boys” musical, and of course an after show dinner in Chinatown for more eating.
On Wednesday Julie flew back to NZ and Hanshi and Kyoshi headed for Brisbane for a few days to catch up with Hanshi’s daughter and new granddaughter.
What a great trip it was and we’d like to once again thank Shihan Mark, Sensei Mike, Rick, Mickey, Brent, Shane, Janan, Dean, team for your awesome hospitality and another fantastic few days. You guys train with a real warrior attitude. A great bunch of martial artists with a great respect and sense of humor too. KRMA is in good hands in Australia. We’re really looking forward to our next get together.
Congratulations to:
Sensei Warren Gabb, Sempai Chaynne & Ryvaz Mikaere who have has just returned from competing in the Kyokushinkai Youth and Seniors World Tournament in Chiba Japan. Sensei competed against 3 fighters from Japan & 1 from the Ukraine. It was a massive effort by Sensei Warren came 3rd after drawing in his semi final where his opponent got through to the final on weight differential. Ryvaz was also the first ever Kiwi female to make it to the 3rd round in this world tournament. Awesome effort from all. Just being selected to compete in this international Tournament is a huge honour.
Below are updated details of 2010 Gradings in March and Aprils Black & Brown Belt Warrior Challenge Weekend
March Gradings 2010
What a fantastic start to 2010 with 95 students grading, Kiaido Ryu is exploding through out the country. Students from throughout New Zealand along with family and friends were in Thames for this event.
Saturday started with 31 Yellow Belts performing their grading requirements in front of the grading panel. All worked well to attain their next colour belt of Orange.
Successful students for Yellow to Orange are:
Kaitaia -Joseph Ryan, Paul Barr-Mitcalfe, Raglan -Aram Higgins, Casey Cockram,Hemi Ormsby,Hannah Mays,John Hartman,Liddya Geros,Michael Anderson,Maureen Stockman,Nathan Ellis,Richard Mays,Samuel Lowe,Shahn Ellis,Zion Brunton, TeWaotu- Tama Matthews,Zach Marks, Thames- Vic Nikitin,Tara Nikitin,Heather Moore, Hamilton-Logan Trigg, Cambridge- Lucas Cronin,Michael Shrubshall,Troy Constable,Daniel Fuller, Remuera- Tui Makave,Dave Acraman,Taylor Acraman,Skye,Sean Fisher,Dervia Braem
Next up were the 26 Orange Belts going for Blue, what a fantastic performance from the routines to the Arnis Stick Strikes and Defences all made a great display for the onlookers.
Successful students for Orange to Blue Belt were:
Kerikeri- Romeo Luck, TeWaotu-Gisele Proud,Joshua Lee,Cody Gilbert,Reece Gilbert,Briar Townsend,Hannah Teklenburg, Jennifer Thornton, Marie Everth, Rueben Heke,Mitch Davies-Savage,Tamsyn Nevin, Tyran Bevan Waimarre Nicholls,Nikau Nicholls, Thames-Hayden Taipari, John Fallentine, Hamilton-Becky Gray,Sigourney Drewery, Cambridge-Kylie Fletcher,Jenni Steadman,Marie Fullerton,Meghan Pinfold, Laura Young, Remuera-Keir Robinson,Benjamin Watkin
Bring on the 19 Blue to Purple Belts, they had a huge amount to show to family and friends who had taken time out to see what they have been doing every night they went to classess. Grading panel found them all worthy of moving onto the Purple Belt.
Successful students for Blue to Purple Belt were:
Kaitaia-Ngahine Lum,Kerikeri-Sean Gahegan,Angela Gahegan, TeWaotu-Gabrielle Matthews,Kyia Proud, Thames-Jane Olsen,Julie Hulena,Abby Rohrlach,Matthew Dunlop,Esther Israel,Henry Garfitt,Lucy Kini-Connor,Hamilton-Jonathan Eaton,Amy Buckley-Smith,Nick Edmunds, Bob Simmons, Remuera-John Benson,Sarah Rathburn,Joseph Kelly.
Last up for the day is the 19 Purple to Green Belts and they had had a little while to sit and watch the others grading and now it was their turn. They gave us all a performance to remember with fast moving Kata applications, serious Double Arnis Stick strikes & defences and Bo's moving pretty quick around the place. The entertainment value was once again worth the trip to see. With sweat dripping from their uniforms they could all sit back at the end and be proud of their performance and effort.
Successful students for Purple to Green Belt were:
Kaitaia-Durham Maving, Kerikeri-Rusty Luck,Eli Smith,Jonathon Smith,Lakshmi Gosyne, Thames-Will Smith,Christine Wells,Jason Sutton,John Poulgrain,Jack O'Grady,Seth Way,Max Wass,Tim Israel,Honour Israel, Orewa-Jennifer Zinsneitster, Katikati-Shayni Green, Remuera-Louis Lambert,Kris Yovich,Taylor Williams
Thats as high as these early in the year gradings go so look out for the Mid Year July gradings for all the higher ranks to show off their stuff.
Cheers Kyoshi Ava
Warrior Challenge Weekend
Awesome effort made by all that attended! Getting to camp alone was a feat for the strong hearted as the road was a little rough but worth the trip. Luckily all the cars handled it and they were able to go home in them as well.
Friday saw all getting a run down on the mind aspects of Martial Arts through Warrior Wisdom lessons. How to develop and increase your inner strength through Warrior Insights. How to set goals and take action on steps to achieve them through affirmations, visualisation and meditation. Kyoshi Lance said it was a quick readers digest version (ps: if you want to know more about it come along to the Warrior Wisdom Weekend planned for end of May).
Saturday up at 6.45am (that was me) to get ready for the 10km run at 7am. Some were so keen they were up way earlier and making far too much noise haha. All put in a great effort we had some race horses amongst us and some turtles but all made it back. Some had a light stretch others just sat in disbelief that they made it. Anyway these finely tuned higher ranks were all ready to eat now.
Kyoshi Paul and I were the breakfast duty people and I can tell you everyone ate well, there was not alot left over from that meal. You work hard you eat well nice philosophy!
The rest of the day was full of Kata applications/breakdown and lots and lots ofwork on the Black Belt Flow Drills. These are a must in any high level martial arts tool box as they are great to increase reactive hand speed, being to able to move/transition from one move to the next strike or joint lock is valuable lessons. Also a left and right brain exercise so by the time they had them down the mental and physical body had had a big work out. Lunch once again was a feast of good brain food and yes some scrummy muffins and scones added in. We did have some fruit for the even healthier people amongst the group. Then back to complexes flow drills.
Dinner time came pretty quick when your head is spinning with all that information so a bite to eat again is a welcome break.
Evening and time to introduce the Pressure Point Application side of our Martial Art. Once again a fairly basic understand of these were taught with a little extra knowledge let out here and there as students asked very interesting questions. Hanshi Lance answered all questions with ease and also went into Sound Harmonics and Quadrant Theory.
All were ready for a quick snack and hot drink a little light chatter and a well deserved sleep.
Sunday up at 7.45am (yep me again) ready for the 8am 3km run which turns out to be about 10minutes out and back. Once all returned it was leg swings and sparring gear, grab a partner and into it. Higher ranks don't often get the opportunity to be a part sparring and make the most of getting into it with other high ranks. Great respect and good attitudes was shown while this was going on and many trying out there favourite skills. Lots of fun had by all I think.
Breakfast time again, so showers and a well earned rest.
Back to recheck the memories on the flow drills and finish the last one off. Now time for Kata work checked over by Hanshi and Kyoshi's.
Last on the menu was weaponry time, all students were asked what they would like to learn. Some chose the Tonfa others the Nunchaku's, Hanshi Lance took the Katana Kata. I must say it was fantastic to look around the field and see so much activity and everyone soaked up in the learning.
I think all had a fabulous time and as tired as we all were alot of the students said can we do it again next week. Thanks to all those who attended and all went home with a certificate of achievment for attending.
Some even ordered the I SURVIVED THE BLACK & BROWN BELT WARRIOR CHALLENGE 2010 tee shirt available.
If enough students wanted another WWChallenge Hanshi would consider fitting another one in later in the year, so let us know.
Cheers Kyoshi Ava
