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Switzerland May
2005
Quote:
In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had
warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced
Michaelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In
Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred
years of democracy and peace, and what did they produce? The
cuckoo clock. And the Parkview Fitness Swiss Course!?
On the last May Bank Holiday,
a group of 30 students from Eltham and Barking Ishinryu
Clubs joined forces for a training trip to Switzerland,
organized by their Sensei, Phil Francis (5th dan).
With temperatures going above 88, it was to be a challenging
weekend with classes in karate, kickboxing, aerobics and
bhangra dancing! Stunned by the heat and beautiful setting
of the Lago Lodge,
Biel the
students began their first session on Friday 6pm-8pm Karate
with Phil Francis Sensei and Jonathan Mottram (3rd
Dan Ishinryu, 10 times English Kata Champion). This
consisted of combinations followed by Kata, Pinans Ichi and
Ni for lower grades and Jion for the 1st kyu and
dan grades.
As expected, Jonathan Mottram
gave a brilliant performance of Jion. Everybody showed
improvement, in movement into stances, turns and locking the
hips. The day ended with a relaxed meal, some excellent
local brew and collective picking the brains of Senseis.
 On Saturday, training began at
10am, with Kick Boxing - Phil Francis Gold Bar. (NB.
Phil not content with his success as a Karate-ka, joined the
World Kick-Boxing Association, and was graded to “Gold” in
October 2004, since then he has taught lessons at his studio
in Barking Essex.) Training consisted of warm up,
stretching followed by pad work, punching combinations, then
adding knees, and finally working up to 2-minute sessions.
The heat contributed to making it an exhausting work out.
Students had learned from the previous day to take on extra
fluids. The karate session with Phil Sensei followed
straight on, similar work out on pads adding more kicks to
the combinations.
For those still standing there
was an aerobics class by Kam Francis (Sensei’s wife) After a
light lunch, the students looked forward to the afternoon
karate session with Swiss Champion Bellinda Sigillo (4th
Dan Shotokan) .
Bellinda
coached the students through a five step Shotokan form
breaking it down into partner work and self-defence
application. The lower grades were really tested and were
pleased when Bellinda sensei explained that she was teaching
a 1st kyu form. Feedback from the students
confirmed that this was a valuable and enjoyable class. An
evening meal overlooking the beautiful lake with
temperatures more associated with the Med rounded off the
hard days work.
Sunday morning. 9.30am, Kam
Francis took a Bhangra dance class, with movements not
dissimilar to those found in karate. Not only was this great
fun, attracting a gallery of spectators, it provided a
challenging warm up for some stiff limbs. Then into the last
session, Kata, culminating in a team competition that was
won by the juniors (they had more energy!). An
“enthusiastic” warm down proved Phil Sensei could not count
or was just plain evil, as the last ten of every thing was
actually 20, 30, 40…..etc!
The tour was far from over,
after lunch the group took a trip in a funicular (buzz word
for the weekend) to see the views from the mountain. From
4000 feet up the exceptional scenery matched by the national
sports facilities at the top, gave the group great vistas of
Biel and an enjoyable nice relaxing walk around Swiss
countryside. An invitation to watch advanced Judoka training
with their Japanese sensei was too good to miss and rounded
off the stroll.
Everyone returned to Lago
Lodge to meet with Bellinda sensei, thanking her for her
tuition and then retiring to the bar, after the evening
meal, to demonstrate their new exercise skills with an
impromptu bhangra class, much to the amusement of the
locals. A spectacular storm came down from the mountains and
the party continued with dancing in the rain.
A leisurely start to Monday
led to some of the seniors taking a walk into the old town
of
Biel, shopping for chocolate, whilst back at the lodge some
of the juniors used up more energy and hired bikes, scooters
or played boule. The trip was a resounding success, a
tribute to Phil sensei’s organisation. Those that travelled
passed on their gratitude and look forward to next year’s
trip.
This was truly an inclusive
course all the family were encouraged to take part, even if
they had never practiced karate before, there was something
for everyone.
IF YOU DO ONLY ONE COURSE
IN A YEAR, MAKE SURE IT’S THE PARKVIEW FITNESS SWISS
COURSE!!!
To see more fun pictures
from our trip please visit the
Gallery!
For details of next year’s
course, contact Parkview Fitness on 020 8491 5219 or email
parkvfit@aol.com. |