Kazoku Kai International

Visit to Canada 2006

Kazoku Kai trip to Canada 2006

On May 27th over 20 members of KazokuKai UK left Manchester airport on route for our 5th trip to Vancouver B.C Canada. It is a long flight and around 10 hours later the party arrived at Vancouver airport tied and jetlagged. We booked into our hotel and after a quick meal and light refreshment retired to bed to try to sleep off the jetlag.

As with previous trips there was to be lots of training but different this time was that at Kelowna there was to be a competition between different countries from Kazoku Kai. This put a new slant on the trip with the guys who had been picked for the squad keen to get focused and to do their best in the tournament. Other than the squad the first couple of days were training free giving time to adjust to the time difference and to see some of the sights of Vancouver. The first training session was on the Tuesday night at chief instructor for Canada Mike Scales’s dojo. KazokuKai chief instructor Derek Ridgway was to take the session studying the kata Bassai sho.

Wednesday was a rest day where most people visited the Capilano suspension bridge and went up Grouse Mountain which provided fine views of Vancouver down below. On Thursday it was training again at Mikes dojo with bunkai from Bassai Sho and a re-cap of the form from Derek Ridgway. On Friday we all set off from Vancouver in a convoy heading up into the mountains destination Kelowna which was the venue for the international camp and competition at Tom Mah’s beautiful dojo. After checking into our hotel Friday evening was training with Derek Ridgway with a study of the Gumite Gata from the Wado system. People who had not been to this dojo before were amazed at what a superb venue it was and the facilities that were on offer at the dojo. Saturday was to be a very busy training day which opened up with sensei Tom Mah teaching the kata Bassai from the Chito-ryu style which was very interesting for students from Europe and the UK because the style is very small and would not be seen very often on our shores. Sensei Tom did an excellent session which included bunkai and got much deserved applause when he brought it to a close. After a fine lunch provided by the dojo we moved onto a session taken by Sensei peter Collins who is one of our senior instructors from the UK. He taught some kumite drills taught to him by his old instructor Steve Cattle. We all soon got stuck in with all enjoying the practical ideas which sensei Peter was teaching and we thank him for a fine session.

After the final session on Saturday the teams lined up from different countries from kazokuKai to compete in a round robin match for the international camp trophy. After some very exciting matches with all concerned giving their all for their country. England came out winners with Canary Islands second and Canada third. We applaud all the competitors who had worked really hard for this event and put on a fine show for the gathered spectators. We would also like to thank the officials who did a fine job and gave up their time freely to support the event. Saturday night was party night with a barbecue right on the shores of the lake which runs through Kelowna and is one of its major tourist attractions.
Sunday some heads were sore but there was a good turnout at the dojo for another session taken by sensei Ridgway this time teaching the kata Paichu which is quite a rare kata from the Ryeu-Ryu system from Okinawa. In the afternoon Sensei Mike scales chief instructor for KazokuKai Canada took a very well received class on kumite giving the class some ideas for their kumite which he had gathered over his many years on the competition circuit as both a competitor and international referee.
On Monday we all headed back to Vancouver some stopped on to sight see on the way back calling in at Hope where some fine scenery was to be had especially at the tunnels which were driven straight through a nearby mountain. Tuesday in Vancouver saw us back at Mikes dojo with sensei Ridgway teaching kata Kururunfa which is a very high grade kata from the Naha system of Okinawa. Wednesday was to be a rare treat for we had all been invited to sensei Sato’s 8th Dan Shito-Ryu to train with him at his dojo. He did a fine session which covered basic Principles pair work and then he gave us a demonstration of knife and sword defense. We all enjoyed it greatly and thanked him for inviting us to his dojo and looking after us so well.
Thursday was our last full day which included shopping and then the last training session at mikes dojo which sensei Ridgway continued with Kururunfa and bunkai. After training we all convener at the local pub called the foggy dew where we had a meal and celebrated a fine trip enjoyed by all. Friday saw the departure of the main group leaving only sensei Ridgway and Sensei Collins who had some more teaching to do in Canada and the USA for their final week the were to stay at sensei Mike’s home.

Saturday saw Derek Mike and Peter travel over the border into the USA to teach at john Solheim’s club at Everett near Seattle we had a great day and John looked after us really well. Sunday was a rest day before on Monday traveling to Andy Holmes dojo where Sensei Ridgway taught bunkai from Kata Kanku Dai. Andy is an ex Britt from the same Southport dojo as Mike and Peter in the UK. Tuesday Mike took us to Harrison a town around 100km from Vancouver which had hot springs and was in a very beautiful setting lakeside by the mountains. That night we were back at Mikes dojo where Derek and Peter shared the teaching tasks re-capping all the previous weeks training. Wednesday night Sensei Ridgway was booked to teach at sensei sato’s dojo teaching the kata Chatan-Yara-Kushanku. We all had a really good session with sensei sato again getting in the line and training with everyone else. Surly and inspiration to all present. After training sensei took us to a local restaurant and treated us to a fine meal. It was a great night and we thank sensei Sato very much for making us so welcome. Thursday was the final day for Derek and peter so they caught up with some last minute shopping. On the evening we had the last session at Mikes before a gathering at the frog and nightgown pub for a meal and drinks. Friday Mike took us back to the airport for the long flight back to the UK.

Message from sensei Derek Ridgway Chief instructor of KazokuKai International
I would personally like to thank all those who attended this year and gave up their time to make this years trip such a success. Some had traveled thousands of miles and some not so far but they all made a commitment rarely seen these days to come together and train regardless of nationality or style in the name of Like minded Karate-ka everywhere I salute you all.
A special thanks must again go to Sensei Mike Scales and his Wife Liz who organized and looked after us so well without them and their help such trips as this simply would not happen. On behalf of all KazokuKai members world wide I thanks them very much.

Next years trip is already planned for the same time next year watch the website for details.

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