Gasshuku in Lebork, Poland

This was a special event due to it being the 10th anniversary of my visit to Poland; I was met by Sensei Mariana Czlkowskiego and Anrzej Markowfke who drove me to Lebork from Gdansk, as I left the airport I was welcomed by the presents of snow and temperatures to match.

After a 90 minute drive we arrived in Labork and the home of Anrzej which is very comfortable and all the amenities like a Sauna and Jacuzzi of which helped make this trip a complete pleasure.

After a sort rest I offered my hosts the opportunity to do some private training of which they jumped at, so after 2 hours of training it was time for dinner and a chance to catch up on the latest news.

Saturday morning after breakfast it was time to head for the Dojo and after a 45 minute drive we arrived at the Dojo, to my surprise there were 100 people lined up ready to receive instructions.

My interpreter said that Sensei Mariana Czlkowskiego invited Mayor of Wicko MA Dariusz Waleskiewicz who helped and supported very much the Children and the Club to develop, also invited was the Mayor of Lebork Witold Namyslak who showed me around the City Hall of Lebork which had a very interesting history, also in a attendance was the Director Ryszard Rozwadowski of the School of Mechanical Information in Lębork.

The television and news paper reported on the event and would be shown throughout the week which was good prestige for the club, Saturday evening I was invited to dinner with all the 3 distinguished gentlemen, and after all appetites were replenished I announce the grading results, of which each candidate received a loud ovation, particularly Sensei Mariana Czlkowskiego who achieved 3rd Dan IOGKF congratulations to all candidates and keep up the hard work.

But it was not all about Karate I was treated to a trip to a wonderful place where the Crusaders of the German Order made in Poland the biggest Castle in Europe; Malbork, it is built completely of bricks, on entering this place one could fill a sense of Escapade, Worship and Conflict, much renovation’s have been done looking around the sentiment is all about defence strategy.

I would like to take this opportunity to particularly thank Sensei Tomasz Siewkowski for his dedication to the development of IOGKF Goju – Ryu Poland.

George Andrews