Luton Higash Karate Kai

Lynmouth Festival of Martial Arts 2009

Lynmouth is a quiet quaint town, the people are friendly and the air is fresh. The views from the coast are spectacular, and the drop from the cliffs to the sea can be a footstep away although the mountain goats make it look like a playground.

Above - Course Instructors

Saturday started with Sensei John C speaking about etiquette in the dojo and around seniors and then we launched into the workshops, Jiu Jitsu was the flavour of the day and soon I was tasting the mat. It was a steep learning curve with no end of students willing to teach what they knew. After learning how to fall and tumble safely it was only a matter of time before I was flipping grown men over my shoulder with ease.

Sensei John started his workshop which also had take downs incorporated but with simplicity, style and speed. This was well appreciated by the other martial artists.

American Kempo was an eye opener to all the martial artists, the emphasis on firing muscles in a certain order meant that a bendable arm could become an arm of steel in a matter of seconds!

The experience was an eye opener there was so much too learn in what seemed a very short time. As the saying goes, time flies when you're having fun. Can't wait for next year!

by Fiona

Above - Luton Lunatics - Doc, Karen, Ro and Fiona

Below - Same photo, but what a difference John makes

I was an inexperienced white belt when John, Alex and myself went to Bedford to attend a martial arts workshop run by Sensei Joe Biggs. I was therefore very excited to go to Lynmouth and attend another Workshop. It was a great opportunity to meet other martial artists and experience different arts in action.

Of course, it is only right when other teachers are giving their time to teach that we return the favour. Sensei John had been given two slots to give a taster of our variety of Wado Ryu Karate. Due to time constraints we were cut down to less than an hour in each slot, but with a reasonable turn out for both, the pressure was on. I was given the task of Uki for the two sessions and the focus was very much on kicks, to the legs and abdomen, to facilitate the 'take down'.

With an audience of mainly Jiu Jitsu students and teachers, a lot of what we were doing was new, but once their opponent was on the ground, they were given free rein to go in with locks and chokes as they desired, which they did with enthusiasm. Karen and myself, as the two brown belts, joined John in wandering the mat and giving 'on the spot' tips, which was warmly appreciated. For many of the people present, this would have been the first time they have experienced karate. Some were heard to comment that it had improved their impression of what Karate is about. You can't say fairer than that.

By Doc

Above - course information