Te-jutsu NZ hosted this years weekend 'Warrior Camp' over the labour weekend break. The camp was again held at Stedfast Park in Piha. A great venue set in a small valley surrounded by native bush. The facilities here are a real draw card as the offer a vast field for outdoor training along with indoor facilities if required.
Last year the camp was enjoyed by students of Te-jutsu and the Pukekohe United Taekwon-do club. This year they were joined by P.U.M.A. Taekwon-do, also of Pukekohe and O-win Gar Kung-fu of Hamilton.
Training activities began with Tao Chi, courtesy of Ross Owen, ( O-win Gar ) each morning to get everyone up and ready for the long hard days set up to test everyone's resolve. Other training modules included basic strikes, kicks, blocking, combinations, throws, ground work and hold escapes. Ian Peterson, ( P.U.M.A. ) took the attendees through some very aggressive kick boxing drills. Despite the bruising pace and power executed during these exercises, everyone totally enjoyed it. Ross Owen also took the students through their paces learning basic Kung-fu fighting techniques.
On the lighter side, Saturday nights entertainment was the ever favourite 'Night Ninja Hunt'. This is the martial arts version of hide and seek with torches. The adults go off and hide in the bush and the younger ones are sent out to hunt them down. As in previous occasions the older ones enjoyed this just as much, if not more, than the kids. A slight drizzle only made this more interesting.
Sunday's training was interrupted by a bush walk to a waterfall, where the brave few tested the waters and had a swim. I can tell you the water was freezing.
Despite the battered and bruised bodies exhibited on the final day of camp, all stated they would return the following year. It was also suggested they would bring more victims, (I mean students) with them from their respective clubs.
WIMAF-NZ has been set up for all martial arts and is there to promote a fellowship between the many different styles of the arts. The students of the three very different styles at the camp were exposed to different training and technique ideas and have come away with a slightly better understanding of what martial arts are really all about. All credit goes to them, as they came with an open mind and went away richer for the experience.
Ray Porter
WIMAF NZ Director
