A Gasshuku in Paradise 2014

This was the 8th Annual Gasshuku I have conducted in Koh Samui, Thailand and each year there are more people attending however, I have now limited the amount of participants to 30 and by invitation only.

Because this is a Gasshuku for the support of Sensei Geoff’s family and not for profit, it is a Gasshuku that people can come and train hard and interact with each other, the general feedback I receive is to keep it like it is.

The training is for 7 day’s @ 5 hours each day, 2.5 hours morning and 2.5 hours evening because midday temperatures can reach 37 - 40°C, so morning training is physical endurance and evening is educational, the class is spilt into groups so as to benefit all in attendance.

After a short run, impact work methodologies dominate the morning session plus prearranged sparring with endurance, lunch time would see a variety of fresh Tropical Fruits like Sweet Pineapple, Yellow and Green Watermelon, Papaya, Dragon Fruit and Mango and ice cool water to replenish lost vitamins and minerals, plus readings on a diverse of subjects, Physiology, Anatomy, Nutrition, Prevention and history.

Every day a group went to the beach for a one hour massage to relieve the tension in the muscles, the favourite choice was Coconut oil which is good for the skin.

Again after a short run, the evening session is dominated by Prearranged Sparring, Kata and Bunkai which is done in groups, and so after a cool shower we all gathered together and made our way to one of the many Fish and Sea Food restaurants, on the menu are Tiger Prawns as big as Lobsters, Squid, Mussel’s Clams and Fish and of course Meats.

Because the Island is small there are about 10 things of interest to a tourist, and the Beaches are some of the best in the world, and the night life is out of this world with Full Moon Parties for those who are interested.

But it was not all about Karate – Do, I managed to go Fishing, eat your heart out Nakamura San, we caught 6 Red tail and Mekong Catfish the biggest 65lb, I lost one where the line broke it was about 75lb, the one that got away.

At the Sayonara Party, people were amazed how much food there was and such a variety there was different Curries, Meats and Fish, Tiger Prawns and even Shark on the menu.

Successful Candidates that were graded, Louise Stockley 3rd Dan, Radhika Pandya 2nd Dan, Ian Darrell 1st Dan 

My special thanks to Ale Pickup, Tony, Angus and Hom, Anechlee and Pen for taking care of our group, and look forward to seeing you all again in 2015.

George Andrews