HeaderCanada Report October 2010
On Saturday October 3rd chief instructor for Kazokukai Derek Ridgway and his wife Lori left the UK for Vancouver in Canada, this was Sensei Ridgway’s 10th year of visiting and teaching in Canada and as normal there was a full schedule of training in and around the Vancouver area for the next two weeks.
Chief instructor for Kazokukai Canada Mike Scales organised the visit. Mike had sorted quite a busy schedule for Sensei Ridgway over the next two weeks with loads of clubs wishing to book him to teach a class for them.
As was customary the first couple of days were taken in adjusting to the 8 hours difference in time between the west coast of Canada and the UK, but soon we were firing on all cylinders and ready for the training to begin.
Mike had booked four sessions for Sensei Ridgway on the Tuesdays and Thursdays of both weeks at his own club in Coquitlam. Mikes club has supported Sensei Ridgway since the very first visit over 10 years ago and all the seniors were well keen to welcome him back to their dojo. Mike’s dojo was the first to really support Sensei Ridgway in Canada and we always have a really strong turnout.
For the first week we covered Pinan/Heian bunkai especially Yondan. In the second week we studied the kata Sanseiryu in detail both its performance and its many bunkai.
On the Wednesday of the first week Sensei Ridgway was invited to teach for Sensei Chuck Julson. In this class the kata Chinte was covered including bunkai. This proved a very popular class with all manner of locks takedowns and effective applications being shown in true Sensei Ridgway fashion.
Friday saw us catching the ferry from horseshoe bay over to Vancouver Island. That weekend Sensei Ridgway had been booked by Sensei Roy Tippenhauer from the Shito-Ryu dojo at Campbell river where there were two classes which Roy had organised, first for the junior grades to cover the bunkai for Pinan Godan, and second for the senior session to cover the kata Bassai Dai bunkai. A great time was had by all with a really good turnout enjoying the training. This was Sensei Ridgway’s second visit to this dojo and it appears it won’t be the last, Sensei Tippenhaur has offered to take Sensei Ridgway fishing next time to catch a few salmon – definitely something to look forward to in the future!
Upon returning to the mainland it was thanksgiving in Canada and Mike’s wife Elizabeth had cooked a fine thanksgiving dinner including turkey and all the trimmings, which really was a rare treat. Liz is an excellent cook, and over the years has looked after and fed us well.
The second week was now upon us and we were back in Vancouver with two more sessions at Mike’s Coquitlam dojo, continuing the theme described earlier.
On Wednesday night we travelled across Vancouver to teach at Sensei Mert Horita’s dojo in Ladner not too far from the USA border. Mert had asked Sensei Ridgway to cover bunkai for Bassai Dai kata. Again all really enjoyed the class and Sensei Horita invited Sensei Ridgway to come again on his next visit to Vancouver.
Friday we travelled back to the UK on the long flight from Vancouver. It had been another superb trip with a great response from all concerned. The support in BC and around Vancouver seems to be growing for Sensei Ridgway and his very dynamic ways of teaching. Next years trip is already being pencilled in so keep and eye on the website.
Special thank you from Sensei Derek Ridgway:
Through this website I would like to give a big thank you to all who attended the classes and supported me so well while I was in BC.
I would like to thank Sensei Roy Tippenhaur from the Campbell River Shito-Ryu dojo for being such a fine host and for organising so well for us.
(Thanks to Chad for helping me demonstrate the bunkai)
Thanks to Sensei Chuck Julson for hosting me at his dojo and for being such a willing guy for the beatings in the bunkai demonstrations.
A big thanks goes to Sensei Mert Horita for inviting me to his Ladner dojo and for his hospitality later.
Lastly as always a very big thank you goes to Mike and Liz Scales who looked after both me and my wife Lori while we were there. They showed us the sights and escorted us around. They have looked after us now many times and without their help and organising skills these trips simply would not get off the ground. “Kazoku” means family and they have become to us like family, so cheers to Mike and Liz and thanks again for a great time.
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