Poland Gasshuku November 2005
Thankfully Ryan Air fly direct to Wroclaw which is much quicker, only one hour and forty five minutes to be precise, instead of waiting in Warsaw for a connection. After a bumpy landing, the plane taxied to a standstill, where I was met by two representatives of the Dojo, after settling in my room it was off to the Dojo where a group of people where waiting to train.
On the way I noticed a flock of crows that must have been a thousand strong fly in and out of each other. It amazes me how they miss each other, I ask my colleague where do they come from to which he answers, Norway and Finland to escape the harsh winter. The last time I saw such a flock of birds like that was when I was a child visiting Trafalgar Square in London. The cobbled streets that we pass down and the Tran via, remind me of a book I once read called the Odessa File, but we pass a Mc Donald’s and I realise it’s 2005.
Some of the people have driven for five hours just to train, now that’s what I call dedication, the training lasted for two hours and I managed to cover some of the basic curriculum of the IOGKF.
Saturday more and more people from all over Poland were arriving to participate in the Gasshuku. With temperatures low enough to trigger a flurry of snow, it reminds me that Christmas is just around the corner as I look at the flakes through the window..
After four hours of methodology into the IOGKF core curriculum and Kata, people were ready to fill their appetites and discuss the days training.
Sunday would see, sport and traditional training which was well received although hard work and looking at their faces they were happy when the final Yame was called. That evening I was invited to dinner by the host of the Gasshuku which I enjoyed in the traditional polish way.
My special thanks to the people that supported me from all over Poland and I look forward to meeting you again in 2006.
George Andrews
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