Copyright Peter Morton Academy of Judo Jujitsu Karate
Annual National Seminar 2002
Canberra - 4-6 October 2002
This article appeared in the 2002 newsletter.
This took place at the Gold Creek Resort in the suburb of Gungahlin and was hosted by the Evatt branch with the hoards arriving and checking in on the Friday afternoon.
Friday evening: 6:30 the Board of Directors meeting; 8:30 the Annual General Meeting.
Saturday, after an early wake up, things were underway by 7:40 with the opening ceremony followed by a yoga session.
Now, if you have ever come into contact with this type of torture then you will know the teacher tries to get you to tie yourself into knots. Before this happens you are lulled into a false sense of security when the first thing you are asked to do is lie flat on your back and relax. Yes, this is a piece of cake, I can handle this.
Wrong! Before you know it, you are attempting to place your body in the most unnatural of positions. Meanwhile the teacher (female by the way) turns herself inside out and back again, making the whole thing look as easy as falling off a log.
Imagine ninety-one adults sitting cross-legged and going "ommmmm..". The resonance through the room was unreal and worthy of the praise of the best monk. An unreal sound. Any minute now and the teacher would levitate off the floor. Well, that's what it felt like.
To untie the yoga knots, a session on boxing takedowns came into full swing. This was quite opposite to the yoga stretches and the brain now came into play, it was either move and avoid or wear a punch where it would leave an impression to be remembered.
Unfortunately for Renshi Mark Tomasich, a finger on one of his hands decided to try to do a hold down by itself, resulting in a dislocation. Shortly after it had been relocated to its proper position all went quiet as Mark declared, "I don't believe it, I have done it again!" He had dislocated the same finger again. This left him with a very sore hand.
Next came what most had been hanging out for - morning tea and a chat.
After drinking the place dry, two sessions ran simultaneously: one on women's self-defence and the other on black belt technique review.
The women's self-defence session was very well presented by Renshi Mark Tomasich and Sensei Allan Waddell and focused on some of the women's reactions to the course, their initial problems, their inability to relate to others and to being physically touched.
The presenters shared their experiences, gave advice on how to handle these types of situations and what the legal requirements of instructors are.
Now that the heavy stuff was over, it was time to have some fun of a different type. Kids games and how to play them.
Have you ever seen a fully-grown girl climb up one side of a man, over his back and down the other side? This actually took place, to the amazement of most, and we were told that it is a good game for balance. It is probably also good for breakfalling when the poor bloke collapses.
With the games over, the pace slowed as a photo session got under way. Branch shots were taken with Soke Morton. After this a spot of lunch.
With full bellies and empty minds, participants were thrust into what can only be described as torture test number two (yoga being the first). This was POWER TRAINING. Yahoo! How many of this can you do, how many of that can you do in a certain time period? Push-ups, sit-ups, squats. "Ok, ok, I can do a couple of each," echoed through the assembled faithful. But really, the professional fitness instructor showed a lot of good exercise ideas.
As a bit of a break from the physical, participants were divided into groups and each had a discussion about the Academy web site. A lot of ideas came out of this as to what people wanted to see on this site.
Time for a cuppa and then straight into the physical, with two sessions running side-by-side again. One group went through boxing drills and the other was put through some judo, then the two groups swapped over.
A cool down session followed and, now that the training was over, everyone headed for their rooms to prepare for the night-time activities and the 40th anniversary dinner.
After the dinner came to its end, a few insomniacs went night-clubbing well into the wee hours. How did they manage to get up on Sunday morning? Who was the well-known South Australian CI that was approached in the nightclub and was asked what sort of stuff he had for sale? Who was the person that fell asleep in a spa in the room of a Canberra CI? What did two high ranking Canberra members find in their beds when they returned at 3:00am?
Sunday: another early start, breakfast and around 7:45am a warm up and technique review, then it was competition time.
First competition was the basic steps for the Peter Morton Perpetual Trophy. There was very little difference between the branches and all did an excellent display, but one group stood out just that little bit with impeccable timing and they became the winners. Batemans Bay, NSW, takes the trophy home again.
The next competition: two-man attack for the National Self-Defence Trophy. Again it was extremely hard to pick a winner but one finally emerged and the trophy went to the Golden Grove branch, SA.
A bit of a sit down while some exhibition routines took place. It is always good to see a couple of Shihans tossing each other around the tatami.
The morning tea bell went and this was followed by an exhibition of how the techniques that are taught by the Academy can be put to practical use.
The South Australian contingent demonstrated a routine set in a bar and another set at a bus stop involving two ladies. Following these, Canberra black belt trainees and Shihan Scharrer acted out a café scene, with waiters and bouncers being flung through the air and over tables. Very amusing and well done.
Technique review followed the café scene and then it was time to "ask Soke". Soke gave an informal talk about the Academy then the floor was open to questions. Seated on a chair on the tatami, with all looking on, it was like watching a wise man with the multitude as the group gathered around to hear him speak his words of wisdom.
The final leg of the seminar was trophy presentation and the closing ceremony with the new Principal of the Academy taking head of place on the tatami.
...a South Australian perspective
Eleven representatives from South Australia travelled to Canberra for the Annual National Seminar this year. Tanya travelled by air and ten of us drove in two Toyota Taragos.
After arranging to meet at my house and leave by 10am, everyone was there ready to go - except, you guessed it, Craig. He finally arrived about 11am, following a phone call by Ginny, ascertaining that he couldn't find my place, despite having been there before.
At last we were away, with me driving one vehicle, with Tracey, Greg, Marc and Craig, and Ginny at the wheel of the other, with Tom, David, Gareth and Dave.
I must say I was very excited, this being my first seminar and the opportunity to travel with my family as well. I had made the same trip less than 12 months earlier, but this time there was no pressure and it was much more comfortable with only five in the vans instead of seven, like the previous trip.
The first driver change saw Craig and Gareth take over. I was asleep not long after this, but with only six drivers (three in each) it was no time before I was back behind the wheel, just in time for: the Hay plains.
Breakfast at Maccas in Wagga was followed by the customary photo at the Dog on the Tucker Box. We arrived in Canberra at about lunchtime on Friday. After dropping Ginny off at her mother's, it was off to pick up Tanya from Frog and Laraine's, then on to the Gold Creek Resort for check-in.
After the executive committee meeting and the Annual General Meeting, it was time for some much needed sleep.
Saturday morning, following breakfast, it was clear the dining room and set up the mats. After the opening ceremony: yoga exercise (very different), followed by sessions of boxing, judo, demonstrations of black belt techniques by Eddie and Dave, and pressure points by Soke Morton.
The dinner that night was a very special event, being the Academy's 40th anniversary, with many presentations and the official handing over of the swords, making Dave and Eddie, Principal and Deputy Principal respectively. When the function wound up, about midnight, it was off to the Holy Grail Nightclub in Canberra (for those old enough) and, thanks to the persuasive powers of Craig, Eddie, Rowls and their wives joined us.
Sunday was a little less strenuous (fortunately) and it was soon time for the basic steps and two-man attack competitions.
Congratulations Marc on a fantastic effort - it was the best I've seen him do. He won the National Self-Defence Trophy for the two-man attack competition. (He had also had more than two hours sleep, unlike some of us.)
The basic steps competition was a good effort but unfortunately, without any rehearsal and preparation, not quite good enough. After lunch, it was time to pack up and hit the road.
As we were very tired by this stage, and with one less driver (Ginny was staying a few more days and flying home), the driver changes were more frequent, but I managed to get the Hay Plains (AGAIN).
Finally we arrived back in Adelaide around 4am-ish and after dropping everyone home and returning the vehicles, I crawled into bed at about 6am. Congratulations to everyone involved in organising the event, and putting on such a wonderful show.
To me it was an unforgettable experience and I look forward to seeing everyone in Adelaide next year.