27th IOGKF European Gasshuku in Copenhagen, Denmark 2010
The venue was in the capital Copenhagen in a place called DGI – Byen which is a sports complex and hotel combined. Most people arrived on Sunday in readiness for training to start on Monday with Master Higaonna; the training would be over 5 days.
I was amazed to hear that 850 people had registered for the Gasshuku which makes it a record for an IOGKF event ever, asking myself where are all these people going to fit in and where, my curiosity was answered by Sensei Henrik Larson who said this complex as 4 major training halls and they were big.
The training over the week was spilt into groups, the first training would feature in the morning for an hour 3rd Dans + and then every day after that 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Dan’s training with Higaonna Sensei.
It was very nice to see Sensei’s Terauchi 8th Dan, Yamashiro 7th Dan Kuramoto 6th Dan assisting Higaonna Sensei 10th Dan on the Gasshuku I’m sure it was an inspiration for everyone. There were so many countries I could not count them I would say 14+ at an estimate.
I was very happy to be invited for dinner by Sensei Higaonna with the Japanese contingent where Sensei Higaonna would talk and reminiscent about the old times before IOGKF was inaugurated in 1979 and the times and training and being together for many years, I touched his hand to show my affection and it was warm and soft but to look at it you could only image it was made of concrete.
For me this Gasshuku was one of the best I have been to in the 31 years of the IOGKF and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff of the IOGKF Denmark for their efforts in making this a wonderful and memorable Gasshuku.