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Gasshuku in Poland May 2007 This Gasshuku is possibly the last I will conduct in Poland for a while, because it is time for the Polish people to meet and train with Master Morio Higaonna and his assistant Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura which is planned for 2008. However, the seniors from each region in Poland will come to England for private training at the OTGKA Honbu Dojo in October – November 2007. The IOGKF Polish Federation have now got a strong contingent of Yudansha that can develop and build a strong foundation for the future generations that wish to train in Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do. The 2 senior instructors that are responsible for the administration and running of the regions are Adam Litwinski in the North and Thomas Siewkowski in the South assisted by Marcin Marcinkowski, Robert Pawelczak , Marian Czylkowski all are 2 nd degree Black Belt in IOGKF. Friday evening training with temperatures in the 30's was somewhat of a task for people to train, so in order to get the best out of people I ensured they had plenty of water breaks. Over the course of two weekends I covered some of the Methodologies, and plenty of close corrective training, and Sanchin Shime as a bonus, plus Iri kumi strategies as a result everyone was overflowing with enthusiasm. People came from Bydgoszcz, Lebork, Gdansk, Slupks, Piotrków Trybunalski, Debnica Kaszubska, Wroclaw and Warsaw, I counted about 100 people, which is not bad considering the stifling temperatures plus this time of year and the faith of the church which is predominantly catholic. Many children and families are attending church for Pierwsza Komunia - First Communion. I had time for some relaxation in the form of my favourite pastime, fishing, and some sightseeing. I was taken to see a wonderful wooden church at
Dzieslawice that was built in 1667, a very special place. In the last 7 years since I was first invited to teach in Poland, I have met and been associated with some wonderful people, and some that are just looking for personal gain and political disruption. I'm pleased to say that they are no longer a part of IOGKF Poland in the future development of Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Do. My special thanks to all those people that have over the years contributed to the success in making IOGKF Poland a part of the Goju Ryu family. Sensei George Andrews Click here for the Image Gallery
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