The New Zealand Eagle Spirit Jujitsu (NZESJJ) Summercamp 2012 was held at Scoutlands by Lake Wiritoa on the weekend of 21st and 22nd January.
This camp saw representation from all three current NZESJJ training groups : Wanganui, Dunedin, and Ratana. During the weekend there were team building exercises that tested the ability of students to work together and problem solve as a group. Students were treated to seminars from guest instructors in five different styles of martial arts who kindly offered their time for free.
On Saturday, the Summercamp started with a blaze with Sensei Mike Smith, 1st Dan, from Shotokan Karate, assisted by Sensei Ryan Curry, 1st Dan, and Sensei Alec Ewing, 1st Dan. Sensei Mike impressed with his amazing flexibility and power and students learnt a variety of blocks, kicks and strikes common to this style. Finally, the three instructors treated the group to a viewing of their gold medal winning kata to finish the session.
After lunch the students took part in some team building exercises followed by a session in Eskrima, learning some basic solo baston (single stick) co-ordination and weapons handling drills.
Saturday evening saw the traditional family BBQ bringing together the NZESJJ community, and a special surprise had been arranged by camp organiser, Rochelle Howard, in the form of a visit from a local Police Dog Handler, who kindly gave an introductory talk and demonstration to the attentive crowd.
Sunday morning started with an early rise and some gentle Qigong before breakfast. The attendees then split in to two smaller groups and seminars in Taekwondo and Judo were run concurrently.
Sensei Garry Davies, 3rd Dan, and Sensei Matt Gibson, 1st Dan, of Wanganui City College Judo held two sessions going through some ground work and submissions. There were many amazed, smiling faces, and gasps of awe, when they demonstrated some of the bigger throws to the smaller children present.
Teaching in a different area of the camp grounds was Sensei Vince Mansell, 1st Dan, giving instruction in the Korean art of Taekwondo. There were a number of drills on pads showing the diversity of the style, and then some of the older students were then given the opportunity to break special re-fixable boards.
After lunch, students started some Jujitsu empty hand material until the weather finally decided to break and refuge was sought in the larger A frame building that Scoutlands can provide to groups. Some games and team building exercises then finished off the camp whilst the rain fell outside.
The weekend was a great success as a community based camp with an emphasis on bringing new development to children and adults alike. Camp Organiser, Rochelle Howard, would like to thank all those involved in the weekend, in particular the guest martial arts instructors for their time and patience, to Scoutlands for once again providing a superb venue for the event, for Whanganui Community Foundation for kindly providing sponsorship, for Whanganui District Council for providing a fund-raising opportunity, and to those NZESJJ students and Instructors that took part and supported the event.
This camp saw representation from all three current NZESJJ training groups : Wanganui, Dunedin, and Ratana. During the weekend there were team building exercises that tested the ability of students to work together and problem solve as a group. Students were treated to seminars from guest instructors in five different styles of martial arts who kindly offered their time for free.
On Saturday, the Summercamp started with a blaze with Sensei Mike Smith, 1st Dan, from Shotokan Karate, assisted by Sensei Ryan Curry, 1st Dan, and Sensei Alec Ewing, 1st Dan. Sensei Mike impressed with his amazing flexibility and power and students learnt a variety of blocks, kicks and strikes common to this style. Finally, the three instructors treated the group to a viewing of their gold medal winning kata to finish the session.
After lunch the students took part in some team building exercises followed by a session in Eskrima, learning some basic solo baston (single stick) co-ordination and weapons handling drills.
Saturday evening saw the traditional family BBQ bringing together the NZESJJ community, and a special surprise had been arranged by camp organiser, Rochelle Howard, in the form of a visit from a local Police Dog Handler, who kindly gave an introductory talk and demonstration to the attentive crowd.
Sunday morning started with an early rise and some gentle Qigong before breakfast. The attendees then split in to two smaller groups and seminars in Taekwondo and Judo were run concurrently.
Sensei Garry Davies, 3rd Dan, and Sensei Matt Gibson, 1st Dan, of Wanganui City College Judo held two sessions going through some ground work and submissions. There were many amazed, smiling faces, and gasps of awe, when they demonstrated some of the bigger throws to the smaller children present.
Teaching in a different area of the camp grounds was Sensei Vince Mansell, 1st Dan, giving instruction in the Korean art of Taekwondo. There were a number of drills on pads showing the diversity of the style, and then some of the older students were then given the opportunity to break special re-fixable boards.
After lunch, students started some Jujitsu empty hand material until the weather finally decided to break and refuge was sought in the larger A frame building that Scoutlands can provide to groups. Some games and team building exercises then finished off the camp whilst the rain fell outside.
The weekend was a great success as a community based camp with an emphasis on bringing new development to children and adults alike. Camp Organiser, Rochelle Howard, would like to thank all those involved in the weekend, in particular the guest martial arts instructors for their time and patience, to Scoutlands for once again providing a superb venue for the event, for Whanganui Community Foundation for kindly providing sponsorship, for Whanganui District Council for providing a fund-raising opportunity, and to those NZESJJ students and Instructors that took part and supported the event.