Post by fujicolt on May 12, 2011 23:21:20 GMT
SHOTOKAN KARATE FRIENDSHIP COURSE MAY 2011
I, when writing this short report, am sorely tempted to linger on the fact that treacherous and cowardly efforts were made to try and derail this course. These foul actions were sadly, in part successful – in that they made it impossible for Shihan Yokota to attend and also 'warned off' some students from attending with the threat of repercussions for them if they did.
However, I think that instead I shall linger on the fact that the course was a great success and the fact that interest in Shihan Yokota and a desire to train with him or read his book (ISBN: 978-1-4568-0708-5), articles and interviews appears to have risen considerably as open minded and independently thinking Karateka, whom are aware of what occurred, tell me that they have come to the conclusion that:-
and
So to the Friendship Course -
Now in our 3rd successful year of hosting these unique courses - that are designed to facilitate an opportunity for Karate to come together for three days of intense training (14 hrs. of classes), irrelevant of their organisational membership, in order to make new friends and networks in a friendly and welcoming environment – myself and the two other permanent Friendship Course Instructors (Rod Desilva Sensei and Terry Oliver Sensei) unanimously agreed that, despite the attempts to de-rail this course and the sad late withdrawal of Guest Instructor Yokota Shihan, the Friendship Course must go on and we would do all possible to make sure that participants were well looked after and would receive the best Instruction we could offer them.
Well, if the response from the students attending – male and female, ranging in age from 13 yrs old to 60+ and ranked from 3rd kyu to 4th Dan – are indication we achieved our aim (and some). I shall let them speak for themselves:-
I would like to thank Rod De Silva and Terry Oliver for their professionalism and kindness and support they offered to all Karateka attending. They are such fine and knowledgeable Karateka that I am proud and honoured to have had them at the Friendship Course again.
As for the Students attending I would simply say – WELL DONE EVERYBODY! You should feel justifiably proud of your achievement of completing 14 hours of Instruction in 3 days. Myself, Rod and Terry are honoured to have you give us the opportunity to try and assist you with your Karate development. I also cannot thank you all enough for your generosity in helping us raise money for the Charities responsible for financing research into Myaloma and Amyloidosis the terrible diseases that Sadly took Carol Pearce (Ra's Wonderful Mum, my Fantastic Mum-in-law and Nan to our children) just before Christmas.
To those whom tried to de-rail this event - you failed and I think your actions will actually come back to haunt you. This is not 1611 Feudal Japan - it is 2011 Great Britain and some of us will not be told who we can train with, who we can associate with and where we can or cannot go to indulge our love for Shotokan Karate!
Special thanks to Ra, Codes, Celt and Steph who made the whole event such a wonderful 'Home from Home' X X X X
I would also like to thank Yokota Shihan whom sent best wishes to all attending - his book was to be seen throughout the whole weekend being read and discussed by all attending!
I have asked several Karateka whom attended to write an independent personal report on the course and they will be published on the OSS: Our Shotokan Karate Forum soon.
I, when writing this short report, am sorely tempted to linger on the fact that treacherous and cowardly efforts were made to try and derail this course. These foul actions were sadly, in part successful – in that they made it impossible for Shihan Yokota to attend and also 'warned off' some students from attending with the threat of repercussions for them if they did.
However, I think that instead I shall linger on the fact that the course was a great success and the fact that interest in Shihan Yokota and a desire to train with him or read his book (ISBN: 978-1-4568-0708-5), articles and interviews appears to have risen considerably as open minded and independently thinking Karateka, whom are aware of what occurred, tell me that they have come to the conclusion that:-
'As such actions to stop Shihan Yokota from teaching in the UK have so sadly occurred it simply makes me want to train with and learn about this Instructor to find out what it is that they so feared he may reveal or teach us!'
and
'They can quite simply *%$£ off! if they think for a moment that they are going to stop me training where I want to and with whomever I want to!'
So to the Friendship Course -
Now in our 3rd successful year of hosting these unique courses - that are designed to facilitate an opportunity for Karate to come together for three days of intense training (14 hrs. of classes), irrelevant of their organisational membership, in order to make new friends and networks in a friendly and welcoming environment – myself and the two other permanent Friendship Course Instructors (Rod Desilva Sensei and Terry Oliver Sensei) unanimously agreed that, despite the attempts to de-rail this course and the sad late withdrawal of Guest Instructor Yokota Shihan, the Friendship Course must go on and we would do all possible to make sure that participants were well looked after and would receive the best Instruction we could offer them.
Well, if the response from the students attending – male and female, ranging in age from 13 yrs old to 60+ and ranked from 3rd kyu to 4th Dan – are indication we achieved our aim (and some). I shall let them speak for themselves:-
'It was the best Karate Course I have ever attended – totally unique! I have learnt so much and have had such a fantastic time. Each class was filled with so much information I have pages and pages of course notes'
'It is my first time at this course and I have never been to such a welcoming and friendly course. The Instruction was amazing. I have never had so much useful information and attention to detail on any other course I have attended and I go to a lot of courses'
'I have been to several Friendship Course and driving here was like driving to my 'other' Club the atmosphere is so welcoming and friendly. The Instruction is mind-blowing and by the end of the Course your head is spinning with the vast amount of new information and technical detail the Instructors provide. The hospitality is brilliant, Steve's Wife; Rachel Mothers us all. The food is fantastic, the venue is stunning and the open sided Wooden Dojo on the side of the hill overlooking such a beautiful valley feels like you are in an old Dojo in Japan or Okinawa!'
'As a first timer at the friendship Course it has really took me out of my training 'comfort zone'. The amount of personal attention you receive from the Instructors is fantastic but also quite an eye-opener. It has made me realise just how little personal attention I, as a 3rd Dan Club Instructor, actually receive at Courses. It has been awesome and despite being in Karate for many years, at this course I learnt concepts, strategies and even techniques that I didn't even know were in the Shotokan Arsenal! The wealth of knowledge Sensei Hyland and his assistants; Sensei Desilva and Oliver have is astonishing. The training has a unique blend of being very intense and tiring, both mentally and physically, but it is also really enjoyable and even entertaining. I will definitely be back for the next one later in the year!''
I would like to thank Rod De Silva and Terry Oliver for their professionalism and kindness and support they offered to all Karateka attending. They are such fine and knowledgeable Karateka that I am proud and honoured to have had them at the Friendship Course again.
As for the Students attending I would simply say – WELL DONE EVERYBODY! You should feel justifiably proud of your achievement of completing 14 hours of Instruction in 3 days. Myself, Rod and Terry are honoured to have you give us the opportunity to try and assist you with your Karate development. I also cannot thank you all enough for your generosity in helping us raise money for the Charities responsible for financing research into Myaloma and Amyloidosis the terrible diseases that Sadly took Carol Pearce (Ra's Wonderful Mum, my Fantastic Mum-in-law and Nan to our children) just before Christmas.
To those whom tried to de-rail this event - you failed and I think your actions will actually come back to haunt you. This is not 1611 Feudal Japan - it is 2011 Great Britain and some of us will not be told who we can train with, who we can associate with and where we can or cannot go to indulge our love for Shotokan Karate!
Special thanks to Ra, Codes, Celt and Steph who made the whole event such a wonderful 'Home from Home' X X X X
I would also like to thank Yokota Shihan whom sent best wishes to all attending - his book was to be seen throughout the whole weekend being read and discussed by all attending!
I have asked several Karateka whom attended to write an independent personal report on the course and they will be published on the OSS: Our Shotokan Karate Forum soon.
Hold the course & damn the torpedos! 