Luton Higash Karate Kai

Ogwen Bank, Wales - 2nd-6th May 2005

Luton Lunatics - Michelle, Ellie, Sam, Jeff (at the back), Andrew (at the front), John, Tim and Alex

So why are the Luton Lunatics all feeling a little under the weather? Why have we had a hospital visit, time taken off work and have three Lunatics limping around like it's going out of fashion? Why is everyone crawling around in a lethargic stupor? Why is everyone impatient to put all their new marital arts knowledge into practice as soon as their bodies start responding again? Why? It must have been the good old Ogwen Bank course again!

Left: Jeff fighting a lady - it's OK, she's 5th dan. Right: Luton ladies Ellie & Michelle getting stuck in

Yes, it's everyone's favourite first-person-beat-'em-up; Ogwen Bank. But this is more real than any virtual reality! This year, the Lunatics numbered 8, with veterans John, Alex "the shark" and Sam accompanied by virgins "Trojan" Jeff, Michelle, Ellie, Andrew "Raging" Bull and "Vic"Tim. Tim also brought along his lovely young lady Lesley for much needed moral support.

This was to be a big year for Luton as John was hoping to take his 4th Dan and Sam was hoping to take her 1st. Ogwen Bank gradings are the toughest there are, but John and Sam were well prepared for this with months of hard preparation. This didn't stop them being very nervous though!

Sam and John taking a talking break. At the same time. Hope they don't get caught!

We started at 7.30 on Monday morning, when the rest of the country was enjoying a bank holiday lie-in, on our grassy dojo. After some exercises, we picked our sparring partners and were off. It was enjoyable to experience a "light spar" Ogwen-style to see how we had progressed against our adversaries from previous years. Swindon didn't disappoint with their matching Chinese outfits. It certainly added a touch of class to everyone's tracksuit trousers and waterproofs. It showed commitment, not only to martial arts, but also to fashion.

Left: Alex fighting, demonstrating his finesse. Middle: Ellie kicking (with a guard!). Right: Andrew fighting

The day-time sessions were filled with basics, confusing combinations and, most importantly, kata. Sensei Peter Spanton took us through the bunkai to the five pinan katas ensuring all present had a much deeper understanding of them. These lessons were invaluable to club instructors and students alike. Sensei Spanton also took the black belts through some advanced bunkai which shows that there is always something new to learn about these basic katas, and there is always a new and interesting way to cause pain, lock people up and throw them on the floor. We would also like to thank John Spurgeon for his role in demonstrating these painful moves.

Left: Michelle in the middle. Right: the whole class

By Wednesday, the familiar aches were beginning to settle in. During an altercation between Alex of Luton and Stuart from Swindon, the fight ended up, like so many do, on the floor. Alex had the slight advantage, but realized that his position was leaving him open to the infamous Swindon Finger. "Not the Swindon Finger!" shrieked Alex, but it was nonetheless applied and the advantage was lost. Sneaky fighters, those Swindon boys. But we didn't let minor incidents like these stop us celebrating Michelle's 22nd birthday in true Ogwen style. She was ritually floured and ketchupped before being washed off in the river. She did get hold of the ketchup bottle though, and made sure that no one around her escaped unscathed. Good spirit in the face of adversity!

Left: Michelle celebrating her birthday with flour and ketchup. Right: Michelle celebrating her birthday with a swim

Wednesday afternoon saw the brown belt and below kata competition. With a large number of entrants, we knew that the competition would be tougher than in previous years. In the evening was the pub quiz. The Luton Lunatics split into two teams - boys versus girls, and the inter-club competitiveness was off to flying start. The Luton boys' team ended up winning the overall quiz, but only after a bitter set of tie-break questions against Garry's Nuts from Windsor. To save time, we really should have just padded up and settled it outside like gentlemen!

Left: Andrew taking a run-up on poor Dave. Right: Ellie giving Michelle a "judo chop"

Wednesday afternoon also saw the black belt kata competition, but this year it was with a twist. The candidates had to invent a kata and perform it for the judges. The most memorable performances came from Stuart from Swindon with "Hong Kong Stuey" - his kata mirrored his fighting style by not relenting to a prone victim until they submitted or died. Also there was John from Maldon with "No I Dea". His kata finished off with an inspired piece of misdirection to lull the enemy into his final gyakazuki trap!

Course black belts

Following that, there was the mandatory sauna and Jacuzzi to prepare us for Friday and the final push. Friday morning saw the baptism of the virgins with Trojan Jeff going in quietly before a hearty thump from Chris Foxwell put him underwater quicker than expected. Rather him than me. The Raging Bull, Ellie and "Vic"Tim were also dunked. Michelle had already seen the bottom of the river so was charitably excused.

Tim. Ellie and Jeff enjoying their morning dips

Following seemingly endless sessions and assessments, John and Sam were delighted and terrified in equal measures to be told they would be allowed to take the infamous Ogwen Bank grading. This would be a large grading with 10 going for promotions. Among these were four candidates from Swindon, two from Maldon and two from Staffs. It promised to be an enduring spectacle.

The grading started off with basics and kata where the candidates gave everything they had. Then it was time for the blocks and counters which warmed them up for the sparring. There were excellent shows of skill and spirit throughout and John didn't let a minor incident between his head and the concreted floor slow him down at all. This was excellent grading from everyone, but then John and Sam had to wait to see if they had passed. After a few tense hours, it was time to go to the clubhouse for the awards ceremony. Sensei Spanton read through the results to the competitions in the week and we were very proud of Sam for getting the bronze medal in the brown belt and below kata competition. The whole club was also honoured with the Ian Yates Memorial Trophy. This is an award that recognizes the effort that Luton has consistently put into karate and the progress we have made over the years. We were overjoyed to receive it.

Luton being awarded the Ian Yates Memorial Trophy

Finally, the results from the grading came and John was duly awarded his 4th Dan, the last grading he will ever have to take. Sam was awarded her 1st Dan and Luton is very proud of its new black belt. Ellie was also awarded her green belt and "Vic"Tim was awarded his orange, so congratulations go to them as well. All in all, this was a fantastic week. We all learnt volumes and progressed a lot thanks to Sensei Peter Spanton's inimitable tutelage. It was very good for the Luton Lunatics as a club and we are looking forward to putting ourselves though it all again next year! Now, where did I leave my Deep Heat?

Alex Buxton
Luton Higashi

Reporter's note - Although every effort was made to ensure this report is as accurate as possible, I was hit on the head a few times in Wales so if my memory of events doesn't tally up with anyone else's, please accept my profound apologies. And all the photos on this page have been unashamadly stolen from the report on our parent site www.higashi.org.uk. Please check it out to do them justice.