KEN SHIN KAI - TRIP TO POLAND
ANDO SENSEI SEMINAR IN ZABRZE, POLAND (APRIL 2008)
On 3rd April 2008 14 Members of Ken Shin Kai travelled to Zabrze in Southern Poland to train with Ando Sensei. The 3 day seminar taught by Ando Sensei was hosted by Sensei Grzegorza Krzywickiego.
Sensei Garry Masters 6th Dan Yoshinkan was accompanied by the following Ken Shin Kai members: Sensei Roger Bish 5th Dan, Sensei Dee Masters 2nd Dan, Sensei Richard Lewis 2nd Dan, Sensei Mark Coldbreath 2nd Dan, Jon Gillain 2nd Kyu, Irene Horsted 2nd Kyu, Lucy Fryer 2nd Kyu, Daniel Burton 2nd Kyu, Jenny Rice 7th Kyu, Christopher Davies 7th Kyu, Aaron Davies 7th Kyu, Maz Coldbreath 8th Kyu all from the Ken Shin Kai Hampshire, Wiltshire and Wales branch. Francoise Niglaut 5th Kyu, member of Ken Shin Kai London & Herts. branch also met up with the group at Gatwick airport for the trip to Poland.
This was Sensei Garry's first trip to Poland, however other members of the group had visited twice previously to train at seminars taught by Terada Sensei and Chida Sensei.
Ando Sensei was accompanied by his Uchi Deshi Jim Dawes Sensei 3rd Dan. Ando Sensei covered a wide range of techniques from the Yoshinkan syllabus up to and including techniques from the Yudan syllabus. Members of Ken Shin Kai were pleased to see that all techniques were taught as practised by Ken Shin Kai.
In addition Ando Sensei covered the 31 Jo Kata and some paired Ken exercises.
Due to a tight schedule most of the three days were filled with training and eating, with some drinking time each evening. Thanks to Grzegorza Sensei's organisation members of Ken Shin Kai were able to attend meals with Ando Sensei and most had the opportunity to chat with Ando Sensei or Dawes Sensei.
Everyone agreed that they felt most welcome in Poland and that Ando Sensei was an excellent Yoshinkan Aikido Instructor and the trip was one of the best club trips so far.
Three galleries of pictures are available for viewing split into the categories of Ando Sensei, Training and Social.