Copyright Peter Morton Academy of Judo Jujitsu Karate
Annual National Seminar 2005
Coffs Harbour - 1-3 October
This article appeared in the 2005 newsletter.
The seminar was hosted by the Sawtell branch and held at the Darlington Beach Resort, Coffs Harbour, NSW.
Cabins at the Darlington Beach Resort
Friday. Arrival, Annual General Meeting, Executive meeting
Saturday. This year's seminar was based on the techniques taught by the academy and on the self-defence talents and wide experiences of members that we have within the academy. It started at 8:30am with the usual ceremony, introductions and welcome.
Shihans David Rowley and Edward Scharrer commenced with technique training, demonstrating the finer points of Hair Hold, Side Choke, Single Lapel 1 & 2, Side Ground Choke, Straddle Ground Choke, Arms Around Body from Behind Feet Together 1 & 2.
After a morning break Renshi Dave Burgemeister demonstrated some basic boxing techniques, concentrating on basic punches, basic footwork, slip, slide, and duck.
When everyone had had enough fun at avoiding each other, Renshi Peggy O'Malley conducted a session on women's self-defence.
Renshi O'Malley explained the Women's Self-Defence Course and the Women's Self-Defence Syllabus. This helped clear up the confusion that existed as to what women's self-defence is about and she explained just what could and could not be taught as self-defence for women.
Following lunch, Renshi Brian Clark conducted weapons defence using a baseball bat and associated strikes and Renshi Graham Darby showed that a walking stick could be used for more than just walking support.
Kempos 4, 5, 12 and Round Kick were demonstrated by Shihan David Rowley and Shihan Edward Scharrer and after considerable practise all broke to afternoon tea.
The National Self-Defence Trophy for two-man attack was again more than up to scratch. As shown and demonstrated by all contestants, our art does have a practical application in the real world. This year the Kaleen branch claimed the trophy.
The pool where a lot of seminar participants
disappeared to.
The Peter Morton Perpetual Trophy for Basic Steps competition was taken away by the Hughes branch and, just to prove that they do practice what they preach, all dan belts took part in an unrehearsed demonstration of the Basic Steps.
Shihan Rowley gave the students more technique advice and training with particular emphasis on Tekubi Gaeshi 1Silk Shoulder. He commented that when he was learning the finer points of this technique he remembers thinking "that silk feels like a bag of cement to me". After dropping the "cement" ungraciously a few times, it did not take him long to work out how to make a body feel like silk upon his back.
Shihan Scharrer followed on, demonstrating his finesse and skill at the Advancing Front Choke. He then sorted out problems that students had with this technique.
Frog held an information, question and answer session on such things as his early days in the martial arts, the younger days of the academy and comments on the academy today, then it was 5:15pm and time to end the training day.
Dinner commenced at 6:30pm where there were speeches, presentations, promotions and catching up with other branch members.
Of particular note was Renshi Colin Essery's speech after he was presented with his 4th Dan. He gave an emotional speech about how much he enjoys our art, the friendships, how well it all works and how members help each other. He likened the PMAJJK to a big extended family. He commented on how he will miss it all while he is in Washington DC, USA, for the next 3 years.
Sunday. Renshi Don Burow holds a black belt in judo in his own right and what better way than to start the day off with vigorous judo training. He showed students a different way, that is now practised in judo clubs, to set up your opponent for a throw.
Instead of leading with the right foot across to the left and then turning left, the left foot leads semi-circular to the left and at the same time the body turns left and the right foot goes into place. Once practised it is not as hard as it seems and it maybe a bit quicker than the original way.
Renshi Mark Tomasich is a member of the Queensland police force so it was only appropriate that he took the students through some techniques using a baton. The techniques were simple and effective and they could easily be applied to a short stick, if need be, as a defensive weapon.
Following the morning break, Renshi Dave Burgemeister once again got right into the boxing side of things. This time it was defence against a boxer. He stated that when you are boxing you are going to get hit and that if you think otherwise, then you are fooling yourself. He added that you should learn to take a hit to the head because at sometime it is going to happen. If you have been hit in training then, when it happens in a grading or a fight, it will not be such a shock and you will recover much quicker.
Renshi Burgemeister also commented that most people could take a reasonable hit to the head without any injury. That's ok if you have been doing boxing like Renshi Burgemeister for years!
After some boxing practice and knockdowns, the whole group settled on the tatami for an information forum. Here students asked questions and the elders of the academy gave answers.
Finally the questions ceased and the seminar came to a close just past midday.
The things that people do
The jumping pillow at the
Darlington Beach Resort
Who was the Kaleen Sensei that fractured a foot at the Annual National Seminar on the Saturday and had to miss out on training? What was the no no that she did that led to this painful mishap and her spending most of the seminar with the foot propped up in an ice pack? Why did she have to drive most of the way back to Canberra on the Sunday in pain? What were her co-drivers doing?
Maybe the injury happened when she was showing off and attempted one too many breakfalls on the kids' jumping pillow? They are not called breakfalls for nothing!
Last report was that Julie Streeter's (oops!) foot was well on the way to mending. Painful way to learn a lesson, hey Julie?
Who was the Batemans Bay Sensei that went out to a local pub, on the Saturday night of the Annual National Seminar, and fell off his chair? My spies tell me that Rod Patrick (oops again!) was unharmed and got back on the offending chair for another go as if nothing had happened. Great night, hey what Rod?
Who were the Queensland black belts, plus others, that took over the same pub and had such a good time with some wild dancing, among other things, and almost got evicted? Orrr did they eventually get evicted?
Sensei Petra Clark (double oops! No relation to Peggy or Brian of the same surname) remarked that it was a night to remember. Her chief instructor backed this up both verbally and with a large grin. Must have been some night Mark, as on Sunday morning you were moving in slow motion at breakfast.
Who was the Sensei that recently returned from the Mother country and Europe without a scratch and somehow got a hit to the head during training at the Annual National Seminar? What happened? He was not sure but he did hit the tatami.
Poor, old Ian Scamp (triple oops!) did not feel too well for sometime. Fortunately he made a full recovery after some tender loving care from his loving, ever-attentive Mrs. I guess there will be more ducking and weaving practice for you in the future, Scampie!