From the 6th - 9th September 2007, nine SKA members attended the annual British & European Kilohana Association (BEKA) Gasshuku (camp) with me.The Kempoka who attended the event in the grounds of a Monastery in Los Molinos (near Madrid), Spain, were: Sensei Robert Yorston, Sensei Vincent Tait, Sempai John Sutherland, Sempai Lucie MacKintosh, Sempai Lyall Brown, John Farrington, Alan Cadden, Rebecca Yorston, and Robert Yorston Jnr.
I had the opportunity to conduct two Yoshin Kempo seminars at the Gasshuku. Also teaching in the glorious Spanish sun were...
Professor Mike Esmailzadeh (USA)
Sensei Eric Renner (USA)
Shihan Stephen Nicholls (UK)
Sensei Jason Props (USA)
Sifu Faisal Mian (UK)
Sensei Baptiste Rinsant (France)
Sensei Vincente Lopez (Spain)
At the BEKA Standards Board meeting, I accepted the post of Vice-Director. The Standards Board comprises of Mr Steve Cooper (Director), Shihan Nicholls, Sensei Rinsant, Mr Gustavo Domenech, and me. I'll commence duties as the Association's Vice-Director from January 2008 for a period of one year and am very much looking forward to the experience!
During the BEKA Gasshuku awards ceremony, I was presented with an Ohana Award. This prestigious award recognises outstanding service to the Martial Arts and is one of the highest awards within the Kilohana organisation. I am deeply honoured at receiving this award. It was great meeting and sharing time with the fellow instructors, in particular I enjoyed time with Professor Mike Esmailzadeh (pictured above) who is currently the Kilohana USA President, he has a lovely manner and is a very talented Aikido exponent. I can clearly see how Shihan Nicholls considers the Professor as his mentor.
We thoroughly enjoyed the event. I was very proud of how hard my students trained; the other instructors were also impressed with them which made me happy. I'm very much looking forward to attending next year's Gasshuku, however, before that I'll be kept busy with numerous Martial Arts events including a Kempo Seminar in Dingwall next month, and the Scottish Kilohana Gathering which will be held next April amongst the beautiful Cairngorm mountains in Aviemore!