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Switzerland May
2007
Once
again, on the first May Bank Holiday weekend, a small rabble
of students from the Eltham and
Barking & Dagenham Dojo, and guest clubs, embarked on a journey
to Switzerland, for the annual Swiss Karate Training
and Aerobics Fitness Weekend as organised by
Sensei Phil Francis (5th
Dan).
Joining
Eltham and Barking & Dagenham students this year were guest
clubs; Woodlane Ishinryu, Upminster Ishinryu and New Zealand
Shotokan, all a welcome addition to the Swiss students
awaiting our arrival in Biel.
Leaving
the hostile and inept environment of Luton Airport, England,
in the early hours of Friday 4th May 2007, the
small cadre of students were whisked to the gentile charms
of Basel Airport, Switzerland for the start of
a momentous weekend. Though mildly cold, overcast and a bit
wet, spirits remained high as everyone boarded the luxury
coach (two available this year due to Swiss booking
efficiency) for the hour long journey to the upmarket
Intercontinental Hotel, Biel; our accommodation for
this year.
For all
those frequent
flyers, Lago Lodge (a short walk away) has
always been home away for home for
Karate-ka and non-participant alike, but due to Swiss
booking efficiency once again, the Lodge was unavailable
this year. However the Intercontinental Hotel offered more
sumptuous comforts with luxury bathing facilities, daily
made beds, TV and continental breakfast till eleven in the
morning, this was accommodation to please all. Such was the
happiness with the hotel, Sensei Phil will be offering
both Lago Lodge and Intercontinental Hotel as
accommodation for 2008 trip (Contact him for prices).
Training
commenced at six o’clock that Friday night with new guest
instructor Diane Riley and the Diane
Riley Body Pump Class in Biel’s humongous indoor
sports gymnasium. A high intensity workout mixing high and
low impact moves and finishing with pseudo-yoga cool down.
For those who thought the class was
hard, take heart. Diane was five months pregnant and still
had energy to go when the class was over. Go figure?!
Seven
o’clock and Sensei Phil Francis taught his now
annual Fighting Technique Class. A year has
yet to past that sempai and non-karate students have not
been impressed by Sensei Phil’s expert skill and teaching
methods, reinforcing the belief that a formidable champion
he was and a master teacher he is.
Saturday
morning classes began at nine o’clock, with Karate
Kehion Class taught once again this year by Swiss
Champion Sensei Bellinda Sigillo (4th Dan
Shotokan). Like previous years the contingent of
Swiss and British students marched to the tempo of Sensei
Bellinda as she conducted a masterful demonstration of both
basic and complex Karate, expertly.
Eleven
o’clock and Sensei Phil Francis commenced his
Kick-Boxing class (Sensei Phil is now rated GOLD
under the World Kick-Boxing Association).
Using focus pads and kick bags, a heavy duty lesson was in
order with emphasis on punching and kicking drills, and
various other body conditioning exercises.
The last
class of the morning was once again conducted by Diane Riley
who saved all the poor souls who lasted the previous classes
with a body stretching, cooling down, Yoga
class. Many a tired muscles was duly soothed that morning.
After
lunch at three o’clock, classes resumed with Sensei
Bellinda’s Kata Classes.
The class was divided into two, with 3rd Kyu and
above studying Bassai-dai and 4th Kyu and below
studying Pinan-Ni. After two hours of vigorous training on
these Katas many a student was ready to lie down and die
with sore and aching bodies, but thankfully Diane Riley was
on hand to return, and mend some muscles, fix some joints
and save everyone’s soul with another session of body
stretching yoga.
Saturday
night an extremely exhausted group of Brits swamped a local
Pizzeria adjacent to the hotel. What was supposed to be an
hour long meal became an evening event with the host of the
Pizzeria wining and dining all, virtually the whole night.
Sunday
morning at nine o’clock, Sensei Phil Francis conducted
another Kick-Boxing Class. With more emphasis
on body conditioning, speed and coordinated strikes,
students were tested to the limits of there endurance. Ten
o’clock saw the return of Sensei Bellinda who conducted the
final Karate Class of the
weekend and in a change from timetabled Kata class,
practical application of karate in street fighting
conditions was taught. A few light hearted games of relay
racing, tug of war and Sensei Phil Francis’ favourite,
“One last hundred gyaku-zuki’s!” rounded of the lesson.
This was followed by a quick presentation and the final bow.
All in all another excellent weekend of martial arts
training was agreed by everyone taking part.
After
lunch, the British contingent divided into two again, with
one party clamouring to the roof of Biel’s mountains and the
sight of the awesome Swiss National Training facilities,
whilst the other party boarded trains for a short journey to
the picture postcard cobblestone Swiss town of Neuchateu.
The evening followed a similar pattern with two groups
forming. One group headed back to the local Pizzeria for
supper, whilst the more adventurous visited a local
Mongolian Barbecue. And for those with more energy than
sense, a late night pool and social club was available until
the early hours.
The
following Monday morning, after saying farewell to Belinda
Sensei and her students, everyone boarded the coach for an
expedition to the picturesque town of Lucerne.
But no journey to Switzerland is ever complete without the
“Dave Bryant Quiz!” So, on route to Lucerne,
Dave astounded one and all with his feats of knowledge and
trivia. Boarding the coach again at about four o’clock after
spending the bulk of the afternoon in Lucerne we finally
journeyed back to Basel Airport. Departing Basel in the
early evening, the Brits finally arrived back in Blighty
approximately eleven o’clock, extremely tired, but
pleasantly happy.
Many
thanks to Sensei Phil Francis for his organisational skills
and here’s looking forward to the 2008 course.
Check out
the
gallery
for stills of weekend.
IF YOU
DO ONLY ONE COURSE IN A YEAR, MAKE SURE IT’S THE PARKVIEW
FITNESS SWISS COURSE!!!
TO
AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT, BOOK EARLY FOR NEXT YEAR!!
COURSE DATES: 2nd May to 5th May
2008
For
details of next year’s course, contact Parkview Fitness on
02084915219 or email
parkvfit@aol.com.
NB:
Look out for Danny Rice-Wilson write up in Traditional
Karate in the coming months. |