OTGKA Summer Gasshuku 2016

This Summer the OTGKA held a residential training course at Ardingly College in Sussex. Training together, eating together and sleeping under one roof, coming together as a community. Students started arriving late morning on Friday 19th August in time to start commence at 2pm.  After 3 hours of training several students took advantage of the large swimming pool on site to relax in. We then gathered in the dining hall of the college for our dinner. Everyone agreed that the food provided over the weekend was superb. The first day was rounded off with a "pub quiz" - kindly provided by The Empress pub in Cambridge.

​On Saturday we trained for a full day, 9 - 12.30 and 2.30 - 5. The day started with everyone training together under Sensei George. We then split into three groups according to grade and enjoyed the rest of the day training further with Sensei George, who focussed on knife defense, Sensei Andre, who kindly provided an introduction to the bo staff and Sensei Joost, who ran a session devoted to break-falls and ground work techniques. After another chance to relax in the pool and sharing our evening meal, we listened to brief lectures on a variety of topics.

​The weekend finished on Sunday with a final morning of training in groups under Sensei George, Sensei Dick and Sensei Dave. This was the largest event that the OTGKA has run for several years. Many thanks to all of the instructors and participants for making this a great event. We have received lots of positive feedback so the association will organise a similar event for next Summer.