What a fantastic experience! Being a beginner student working towards my "...one thousand days of training..." I am eager to find every opportunity I can to push my training to the next level. The invitation detailed pre-dawn training, board breaking black belts (demonstrating their spirit), and advanced curriculum. All this for a reasonable fee on top of a beautiful drive through the mountains to a Northern Okanogan lake? This will do just fine... I'll be honest, I was a terrified to learn that I was the most junior colored belt out of 62+ participants. I quit counting black belts after 25, I mean niju go, when I had to start remembering what Ni-dan, san-dan, and yon-dan meant. Wait a minute...Yon-dan?? That's 20 years of intense training dedicated to this discipline. Wow! I was immediately relieved by the friendly, family like, welcome received by all and was especially thankful to be invited into the "Team YYC" cabin. Over the gentle aroma of sulphur emissions coming from the water, entertaining stories were told about eggs benny, practical uses for high powered lazar beams and jokes with no punch lines. Truly an opportunity to strengthen bonds and create several lasting memories with like minded Kyokushin students. I cant wait until my kids are old enough to participate! Up at the crack of dawn and by the end of a great day of training I realized how important the foundations of basics play a role in the more advanced curriculum. The diversity and dedication of the students combined with the unique approaches and obvious passion of each instructor to impart their hard earned knowledge was truly inspiring! Through out the weekend I enjoyed being introduced to several new elements of self-defence and a new found respect for etiquette and spirit. In addition to a few newly earned bruises, I left the winter camp energized and thankful to be a part of something bigger. Thank you to all of the organizers, instructors and participants that made winter camp - 2016 a fantastic experience! OSU Shawn Woodford
