NY - 08

This update is a bit overdue, but hopefully i will remember the highlights anyway.

May 5th: Flying is boring, i realise that the sandals i brought were very smart after all (I almost left them home, since the weather-forecast sounded cold-ish) Made it to the hotel i used last year. Virginia House on 112th and Lexington, its the best option for budget travelers in NY, i think. (50$ for a single room, free internet and a very bad breakfast)

May 6th: First class with the big guys. This year it was only Rune Nilsen and Pål Erik Hansen from Norway, so the private classes was really intense in the amount of personal attention. (Maeda sensei was also there, i wasnt all alone being funsized, though....)

The rest of the days blur together, so i dunno when what happened..... hihi

Highlights: Sunny and warm for the most part, great classes, 10 km run in Central Park, the best burger in the world (it lives on the corner of 2nd avenue and Saint Marks Place), getting 2 tattoes (yes, it was mad painful, but damn they look good), watched a standup-show on Times Square, kumite with Maeda sensei is always great fun, pro pedicure, bought bubblegun and ofc just walking around in the rather large apple. (I also may have had a fresh danish for breakfast and got busted by Richard sensei a block from the dojo.... :-$ )

May 12th: Flying home (really dont like flying) Bought bag of M&M (and finished it the next day)

I should be back next year, it really is a kickass place for a week of intense karate. Would love for a couple of icelanders to join me, though..... Maybe in the fall?

Steve Ubl sensei in Iceland.

Wow. Wow, wow, wow. (Ok, i will try to be more detailed...)

I am so grateful for him taking the time to travel from sunny and warm San Diego to teach us. And the visiting students from abroad were also a bit emotional after receiving what only can be described as amazing insights into *real karate*

I am definatly visiting his dojo next year.

Nobody teaches what sensei teaches, so grab any remote chance of training with him. You will not be disappointed, unless you are looking for info that will win you shiny objects. If your are looking for how to get your karate to work, though.... Look no further.

He is coming to the gashuko in Fredrikstad this year.......

;-)

Wohoo....

In no particular order:

Gudmundur Kari
Bjarki
Vilhjalmur
Bergsteinn
Gudrun
Olafur
Jon Agust

Remember that karate does not end with passing shodan, it starts. Congratulations.

PASSION!!

In my opinion: Its the coolest word out there. I am ever so grateful for being passionate in one area of my life (karate (big surprise)) It gives me tremendous joy to move, struggle to improve and every now and then succeed at something i wasnt able to do earlier. And other times i dont get it at all, but i love the process of striving for excellence, so whether i get there or not doesnt really matter.

:-)

And why this topic, you may ask..... Well, i just watched all the auditions for the australian version of the show "So you think you can dance" - and wow!! These guys can *move*!! And still they pour their heart and soul into moving even better. I am officially inspired and so much looking forward to this weekend gashuko. I dont care what we gonna train as long as i get to move and hopefully i will get slightly better. If not, i will settle for the experience and hope that the effort i put into this will help me keep my karate alive-ish into my 40-ies, 50-ies, 60-ies, 70-ies, 80-ies and so on..... (you get the point....)

And to quote my biggest hero: "Live with Passion"

Summer gashuko in Norway

Here is the info i have bout the summercamp in Fredrikstad late june.

5 instructors:
Steve Ubl 7th dan
Aidan Trimble 7th dan
Richard Amos 6th dan
Tom Kompier 5th dan
Scott Langley 5th dan

Location:
Kongstenshallen in the sunny city of Fredrikstad, Norway

How to get there from Iceland:
Icelandair to Oslo, Gardermoen
The most convenient flights would be morning-flight on the 25th of june and then home on the 2155 flight on the 29th.

Local trains from the airport to Oslo then the regional train to Fredrikstad is the way to go. Some sightseeing and food in Oslo like we did last year sounds like a plan.

Hotel close to the dojo

We have 15 rooms that fit up to 3, on a first comes - first served basis.

Singleroom 675,-
Double 765,-
Double with extra bed 900,-

All prices in norwegian kr and includes breakfast.

Official poster

Its also possible to camp right next to the dojo:
For more info regarding this option, call:
Harald Knutsen
Phone +47 69320532

Anyone that wanna go should make up their mind and make sure they have the flight-tickets sorted and a space at the hotel.

:-)

New gear from Japan?

Measuring for a Shureido coustom do-gi:

2 different models: NW3 or KC10

NW3: Wrinkles a bit, more sound, thinner. Cottonthread on top of a synthetic thread, dries very quickly.

KC10: Does not wrinkle, soft until sweaty and then stiff so it does not stick to legs and arms, very durable. Synthetic material, dries quickly.

I have had both do-gis and will recommend either. If you wanna feel the quality and get a second opinion, then Villi, Disa and me use the NW3, Gusta, Eydis, Jon Andri and Bjørg use the KC10.

Measure on a gi that you really like and add 3-5 cm to your ideal length of jacket, arms and legs.

Supply height, weight, what name you want on the top and pants (if any) and the measurements on this sheet: http://www.karatedo.co.jp/shureido/english/e_order/faxdogi.html

I have included this sheet of measures for reference: http://www.karatedo.co.jp/shureido/english/e-do-obi/e_sizes/size.html

When it comes to custom black belts, the Shureido brand is as good as any and if you want to order one then supply the following details: Width of the belt (4cm, 4.5cm or 5cm), length (if ordering a cottonbelt or a 5cm wide then add 10 cm for the knot of the belt as this will be more extensive due to the thickness of this quality), cottonbelt or satin (satin is shiny and wears out faster), what do you want embroidered on it and with which colour.

Ask me if you want help with any of this, but make sure that the final measurements are what you really want.

Einars Skyr-commercial

Skyr - karatestyle from Einar Hagen on Vimeo.