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As most of you know we hosted the Kokusai Butokukai annual summer martial arts training camp here last week. Students from Europe, Canada and across the U.S. came together to enjoy five days of great martial arts training and friendship building. This year’s camp was hosted by our North American organization, Zen Bei Butoku-Kai (ZBBK). Kyoshi Lou Jemison, ZBBK secretary/treasurer, spent months of planning and coordinating for the event. His hard work paid off! We owe him a debt of gratitude for what many called a, “Life changing experience.” We also want to thank Antonio Castro of our dojo and Tony Pompeo from the Aionagi Dojo for assisting Kyoshi Jemison with logistics during the camp.

 Instructors at the camp included: Hanshi Jean Chalamon, technical director of Kokusai Butokukai and Butokukai Europe teaching Shorinji-Ryu Karate, Kobudo and a very special kata; Hanshi Rod Sanford, technical director of Kokusai Butokukai and president of Zen Bei Butoku-Kai teaching Aikijujutsu, Kobudo and principles of close combat; Hanshi Robert Leong, honorary president of Kokusai Butokukai teaching Kiba Dachi and sharing his wisdom; Kyoshi Lou Jemison, president of Kokusai Butokukai and secretary/treasurer of Zen Bei Butoku-Kai teaching T’ai Chi Chuan, Chi Quong and a brief history on O’Sensei Richard Kim; Kyoshi Doan Nguyen of Paris teaching T’ai Chi sword; Kyoshi Dominique Germon of Paris teaching Chanbara; Kyoshi Joe Fournier, National Director for Kokusai Butokukai of Canada teaching Jujitsu and physical fitness training; and Renshi Paul Billimoria of Aoinagi Karate teaching Iaido. Special guests included Renshi Max Bouton, branch chief of Kokusai Butokukai France; Sensei Pawel Czargasty, branch chief of Kokusai Butokukai Poland; and Renshi Pete McHenry, member of the Zen Bei Butoku-Kai board of directors.

The camp definitely featured intensive martial arts training. At 6:00 am students met outside for an hour of T’ai Chi training. After breakfast training began with break out sessions. Students could choose to train in Jujitsu with Kyoshi Fournier, Iaido with Renshi Billimoria, Eaku (Oar) with Hanshi Sanford or T’ai Chi sword with Kyoshi Nguyen. During the next session students rotated through three stations to study Kobudo with Hanshi Chalamon, Aikijujutsu with Hanshi Sanford and Chanbara with Kyoshi Germon. After lunch training began with a session on Kiba Dachi with Hanshi Leong followed by more station training. The physical workout ended each day with a session of Shorinji-Ryu Karate taught by Hanshi Chalamon. Three evenings we had academic lectures. The subjects included

Principles of Close Combat, History of O’Sensei Richard Kim and Physical Fitness Training. The lectures were followed by a social hour. Saturday night was time off for friendship building and entertainment.

 

Sunday morning began with a Friendly Inter-Skills Tournament that was organized by the French instructors. Camp participants were broken up into teams with team members from all the various countries and dojos. Each team chose a team name and then selected a team member to represent them in each event of the competition. The events included two empty-hand Karate kata matches, Kobudo kata, T’ai Chi form, pushing hands and a Chanbara match. With the large participation at the camp the competition had to be continued after lunch at New Brighton State Beach. As the camp closed at UCSC at noon on Sunday all the participants headed to New Brighton Beach. Lunch was delivered and after lunch on the beach the competition resumed. We had planned to have Hanshi Chalamon finish off the camp with training on the beach but the competition lasted through most of the afternoon so it was decided that training would resume next summer in Europe. After cleaning up we had a great catered barbecue at the New Brighton Beach Ramada.

 

Following the camp many of our out-of-town guests headed to Ano Nuevo State Reserve, San Francisco and the Napa Valley for a tour of Northern California. Hosts for the tour were Kyoshi Jemison and Joe Trent. During Camp, Kyoshi Jemison’s wife, Mrs. Manabe, was gracious enough to show participant’s family members who were not training, the wonderful sights of the Monterey Bay. Our guests from Europe, Canada and various parts of the U.S. all remarked how much they appreciated the warmth, friendship and camaraderie that our students showed them. We greatly appreciate the courtesy and friendship that all of you showed our guests. You have definitely built a bond with our fellow members of the Kokusai Butokukai.

 

Members from our dojo that attended the training camp were: Hanshi Rod Sanford, Kyoshi Lou Jemison, Dan Wakefield, Sean Sanford, Rick Elliott, Joe Tront, Claire Elliott, Diego Simkin, Al Morgan, Jennifer Farley, Kendall Schroepfer, Aron Hughes, Chip Sauls, Adam Markowitz, Jim Maughn, Antonio Castro, Michele Young, Rick Stoker, Wyatt Stoker, Joe Salvia, Anthony Salvia, Sonora Sanford, Chris Goldstein, Samantha Crain, Valerie Hart, Corrinne Hughes, Landin Nolan, Kory Christoffersen, Warren Tamashiro, Ben Williams, Mark O’Dell, Jessica Dixon, Dick Dixon, Mary Lou Jaquith, Intica Jaquith, Richard Ely, Lucie Davis, Joe Shannon, Leah Flagg-Wilson, Vickie Assunto, Elizabeth Dickerson, Matt Beccaria, Maggie Maize, Judy Radcliff, Pat True, Bonnie Schraeder, Duncan Wilmot, Laurel Schonfield and Michael Logue.

 

Next year the Kokusai Butokukai will hold the annual summer martial arts camp in Europe. The location has not been set but most likely it will be in France or Germany. It is our hope that many of our students will join Sensei Sanford and Mr. Jemison to attend this camp. The camp is typically held in the later part of July or early August. It is an incredible experience, one you will never forget. We suggest that you talk to one of our students that attended this year’s camp to find out what a great experience attending an international camp can be. And then make a commitment to attend next year’s camp and start saving your money now. If you wait, and do not start saving now, it may be hard to come up with the money for camp next summer. Saving a little each week is so much easier than trying to come up with the cost of camp and travel all at once. If you start putting away a little each week, right now, it will be painless. Plus, saving a little each week is a great habit to begin. Save $25, $35 or what ever amount of money you can afford each week.  By next summer you will be well on your way to having the money you need to go to Europe for the camp. Besides building the habit of saving money and building a savings account is good for everyone. Plus, you will build the habit of living within your means, and develop the great feeling that you are making more money than you spend! And if something comes up and you cannot attend the summer camp, just think, you will have a substantial amount of money in your savings account! Just as a thought, we know one of our Dojo members who has a small amount transferred automatically from his checking account to his savings account every month. He says he never misses the money. And the bank gives him a free savings account because of this transfer. Where there is a will, there is a way. Whatever it takes, we hope you will come with us to the next International Camp.

 In conclusion, camp was a fantastic experience for all, a life changing experience for many and an experience that those that attended will never forget. The skills of our students that attended have truly reached an all-new level. They may not see how much of an improvement they have made, but we guarantee you, Sensei Sanford and Sensei Jemison certainly see the difference. You represented our dojo with distinction. We are very proud of each and every one of you. We look forward to you joining us in Europe for next year’s Kokusai Butokukai summer training camp.

 

 Photos will be posted here soon.