The 08 to 10 November 2024, the second training camp organized by the club took place Traditional Martial Arts Santa Coloma de Cervello Shubukan Barcelona, directed by Paquita Ferrer 5th dan Uechi-Ryu.
On this occasion, the latter invited me to lead the classes during this long Spanish weekend or rather should I say Catalan!!!
It is in the company of around forty practitioners and their families that we are installed in the very pretty Alba Seleqtta Spa Resort hotel..
It’s a busy schedule that awaits all the karatekas of the Paquita club, with no less than 8 h 30 of practice.
The training sessions will take place outdoors, close to nature and mainly on a large grassy area of the hotel and under a magnificent sun..
First training on Friday 08 November 11 18 h 00 to 19 h 30
Night training, will focus on part of the fundamentals of the school, namely Hojo Undo and Yakusoku kumite. All practitioners are very involved and know the required techniques.
This type of course is a good time to get to know each other outside the tatami and to strengthen ties.. This is what Paquita strives to do and she achieves it perfectly..
I feel a real cohesion between the people present and a real brotherhood.
Second training on Saturday 09 November 11 08 h 00 to 09 h 00
At this time, a long muscular awakening is necessary. The body and muscles gradually loosen up and prepare for this long day of training..
In the morning freshness, this hour will be mainly devoted to working on the Sanchin kata, followed by a small HIIT of 4 minutes.
Breakfast has barely been eaten when you have to put on the keiko gi again and this time head to the beach located at 2 minutes from the hotel where the sun is always present.
Third training – Saturday 10 November 11 10 h 30 to 12 h 30
Working with your feet in the sand will give this training another dimension with unstable ground and heavy legs..
After a few races and fun exercises as a warm-up, most of the course will focus on the work of Goshin jutsu with the search for distance (Ma) and the variety of defenses.
These two hours finished it is time to go to lunch and rest before resuming training.
Fourth training and third of the day – Saturday 10 November 11 16 h 30 to 18 h 30
This time, the work will focus on kihons which Paquita's students are not used to practicing.
Variation in positions, sequences and directions. Everyone is diligent and despite some difficulties, manage to chain together the different techniques required.
The second part of the course will see bunkai work on the Kanshiwa kata.. Cut into sequences, these will be offered with several variants.
For the final training on Sunday 10 November, appointment is given at 10 h 00 pour 2 hours of self defense.
This course is a little unusual for Paquita's students but I still feel a certain enthusiasm to discover a new approach which is nevertheless very linked with Uechi-Ryu karate.
The fun warm-up highlights the element of surprise and the appropriate reaction to adopt.
We then discuss the principles of safe distancing (inner circle) between the aggressor and the attacked, l’observation, learning Cover and hitting essentially open hand combined with the foot.
Scenarios with several attackers will be performed and will complete this intense training..
We will end these two hours with a Hiit of 8 minutes.
Now time for a well-deserved rest after this long weekend of practice.
I would like to thank Paquita for the perfect organization of this camp, Miguel my valiant Uke throughout this weekend, all participants young and old for their involvement, finally José Luis and all the families.
This training camp was a real success.
