Kazoku Kai International Camp (2005)

The 1^st Kazoku Kai International Camp was a tremendous success with 45 karatekas from Canada, Britain, and Africa participating in this very informative, eye opening, and hard training camp. The camp was led by the Kazoku Kai Chief Instructor from England Derek Ridgeway, a 6^th Dan Shito-Ryu practitioner who is also tremen-dously knowledgeable in the Okinawan Karate systems. Other instructors were Sensei Peter Collins (England), 5^th Dan Shotokan, Sensei Mike Scales (Canada), 6^th Dan Shotokan and Chief Instructor for Canadian Kazoku Kai, and Sensei Tom Mah (Canada) of Renshikan Karate-do International, 5^th Dan Shito-Ryu and 4^th Dan Chito-Ryu.

The camp started off Friday night with the kata Tomari Useishi and bunkai(Sensei Ridgeway). Then Sensei Tom Mah taught the Chito-Ryu self-defense techniques of HEN SHU HO Saturday morning. Sensei Peter Collins taught the Motobu Ha version of Naihanchi Nidan and bunkai which utilizes the 45 degree directions.

Saturday night Vince and Lara Denis (owner of the White Crystal Restaraunt and the Ridge Rocket up at the Big White Ski Resort) hosted a 'pig-roast' that was absolutely delicious. The event gave many of us the opportunity to get to know some of the other karatekas from the other country. An excellent time was had by all.

Sensei Mike Scales gave a great workout Sunday morning going over some kumite drills. It was very inspiring watching Sensei Scales, who is in his mid 50s, in there sweating and working just as hard as the rest of the group he was teaching. Sensei Derek Ridgeway then finished off the weekend with the kata Matsumura Seisan and its bunkai. This kata is almost identical to the Chito-Ryu version. Some wonderful history there to be seen.