Originally from the Lorient region, I come here regularly to recharge my batteries. I also have a pied-à-terre in Port-Louis., small town steeped in history with its citadel and two museums.
About fifteen years ago, I organized a one-week course there twice with Yukinobu Shimabukuro sensei.
Our Belgian friends came each time in large numbers under the leadership of Patrick Wauters and Veerle de Wit but also our Russian friend Igor Gorbunov.
On the occasion of one of the two courses, a karateka from Lorient took part., Franck Thébault. The latter, practicing shotokan, has always been curious in his practice and participates in many training courses different from his current.
We lost touch for a while. Then on the occasion of the seminar that I organized at Maisons-Laffitte on 12 June 2022, in collaboration with Okinawa Prefecture, Franck who is CN 5th Dan, made the trip to Yvelines to participate.
It was on this occasion that we renewed our friendship and he asked me to come and introduce Uechi-ryu to Lanester where he trains..
This club is a section of the Foyer Laïque de Lanester (FLL). It is directed and trained by Pierre-Yves Le Trocquer, 7th Dan and regional expert. He is assisted by numerous educators.
For the record, Pierre-Yves was tried in another, by Yukinobu Shimabukuro sensei during his 7th Dan in Paris.
The Lanester club offers a wide range of courses throughout the week and depending on the level of the participants..
He occupies a very beautiful and large dojo which belongs to the FLL, located in a former cinema in the city.
Encouraged by the invitation from my friend Franck, I went to meet the club’s karatekas in August 2022 to provide my first training there.
I was welcomed there warmly but also with a certain strangeness in view of the school that I practice and represent. Indeed, almost all of the people in the club didn't know Uechi-ryu at all.
The surprise passed, the practitioners I meet at each training session are always interested and delighted by my presence (visibly!!!), but also to learn new techniques that are unfamiliar to them.
As far as I'm concerned, it’s always a pleasure to meet them again and have a great time with them.
A l’occasion, Pierre-Yves opens his dojo to other clubs in the region by organizing free courses when I come from Lorient.
Finally, I don’t forget the little moment of conviviality at the end of Friday evening training, where we meet around a good beer to strengthen the bonds of friendship.
If you are passing by Lanester and want to train, go meet the karatekas of the FLL. you will be pleasantly surprised by their welcome, their kindness and the competence of the teachers.
To contact them:
Visit their site:
https://karate-lanester.org/index.php/organisation-de-la-section-karate-du-fll/
