Kangeiko on the Beach

Waking up before 5am on a Sunday morning is certainly not my idea of fun, so why do you ask did I subject myself to it this morning?

Today was the last session of ‘Kangeiko on the Beach’ at Cleethorpes and hosted by our friends form Kiazen No-Michi. Each year they run a week long programme of Kangeiko (cold weather training) at Cleethorpes beach, and today was their last session, they had invited Sensei Paul along, and he had extended the invitation to anyone else who was interested.

So why on earth did I subject myself to this? Well it allowed me to tick three things from my karate wish list

• 1.    Train with the guys from Kiazen No-Michi at one of their events. They always attend our courses, and as well as being very talented karateka have always been very friendly and welcoming. Unfortunately until today their courses have always clashed with something going on in the non-karate world.
• 2.    Train on a beach. I don’t really understand why but ever since hearing stories and seeing pictures of people training on one of Ireland’s beaches with Sensei Kato I’ve wanted to give this a go.
• 3.    Take part in Kangeiko. Again I’m not really sure where this came from but since hearing about it I’ve always wanted to give it a go.

So with a groan (and some mutterings about my mental state from my lovely wife!) I forced myself out of bed, into the car and through blizzards of snow to the beach! I arrived just in front of the Selby contingent (Sensei Paul, Sensei Ian, Phoebe, Kelvin, Sam, Dave and Abi), and shortly afterwards Sensei Andy and Sensei Jackie arrived and gave a very warm welcome on a very cold morning!

All in all there were 16 of us who were brave (or mad!) enough to take part. We started with a bit of a jog to the pier and back to loosen up – of course with karate nothing is ever that simple so we had to carry and pass between us the large punch bag Sensei Andy had brought for the occasion. But we were certainly not going to let this put us off so with the chant of “Washoi” (be brave) ringing out we quickly completed the run and the warm ups.

Training consisted of some basic combinations which were then built up to attack and defence patterns that were repeated up and down the beach, and could easily be translated into one step techniques. We finished off with some partnered races and then a warm down. The hour had absolutely flown by! Kangeiko was not over yet though. We quickly relocated for the reward that had helped get us through the morning – a fry up of mammoth proportions!

I’d like to thanks Sensei Andy and Sensei Jackie and all at Kiazen No-Michi for letting me take part in their Kangeiko, Sensei Paul for treating me to the fry up at the end! Abi for being my running partner, and Lewis for being my partner in the races (and managing to not drop me during the piggy back race!).

I had a fantastic time, great training with a great bunch of people, and the chance to socialise over a full English afterwards. Was it worth getting up so early and driving so far? Definitely. Will I be back next year? You bet.

If you are interested in joining me let me know – who knows maybe we could do our own Kangeiko in Haxby, then join them on the beach for the final training session and fry up!

Jim Bamford

visit www.haxbykarate.co.uk to receive a free training session. For more information email info@haxbykarate.co.uk