Amos sensei training camp 25-27sept 2009

Its that time of year again, guys. If you wanna learn shotokan karate from one of the best teachers alive, then do not miss this awesome event at Lindaskoli.

Richard Amos method of transmitting complex concepts in a understandable way with new exercises is amazing and that is the main reason why i have traveled out of the country more than 10 times to train with him (He has also visited Iceland twice before) He is now coming to a place very close to you and i cant emphasize this strongly enough: Do not miss it.

And to the brown and blackbelts: You have the opportunity to join in for all the classes (yours and the lowergrade class) and if you do, you will get your name mentioned on my fabulous (!!) blog.... ;)

Seriously; immersion is vital for fast progress and weekends like this where we can do over 10 hours of training with a worldclass teacher that actually really wanna teach are quite rare, so i am definetly there for all possible sessions. (I also do the kids-class in addition to the regular classes when i visit him in NY)

I guess you can tell by the nature of this post that i am quite excited bout the weekend already..... :D

Workout music?

I am looking for some help as to what kinda songs that would be good to have on my Ipod for working out to. Upbeat, happy stuff seems to make most sense and to kick it all off i will post some of my favs to get the list started. Hope you guys will pitch in with your best tunes.

Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
Beds are Burning - Midnight Oil
Tubthumpin - Chumbawumba
Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
Pretty Vegas - INXS
Dr. Feelgood - Motley Crue
Whatever You Want - Status Quo
Waterloo - Abba
Dude Looks Like A Lady - Aerosmith
Back in Black - ACDC
Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm
I Understand Completely - Paul Gilbert
Hard To Handle - Black Crowes
Truth - Clawfinger
Bad Horsie - Steve Vai
Summersong - Joe Satriani
Pretty Fly For A White Guy - Offspring
Mr. Brownstone - Guns and Roses
Let Me Entertain You - Robbie Williams
Alive - Pearl Jam
Them Bones - Alice in Chains
A New Level - Pantera
You Gotta Fight For Your Right - Beastie Boys
YMCA – Village People
Cotton Eye Joe - Rednex
Get This Party Started - Pink
Funkytown - Lipps Inc.

And now; YOU GUYS!!!!!

You can do it!! :-D

Just a quick post about putting your biggest muscle into whatever you are trying to accomplish......

:-)

Apology

I know many people wanna order japanese uniforms and belts, and i will just here publicly take the opportunity to apologise for procrastinating in helping you guys out with this. (Its not *all* my fault since its also been hard to get all the measurements, but thats beside the point)

I will print out an orderform and measuring info and then we can either make a group-order from Japan (and save on shipping) or i can put you guys in contact with the European dealer in Holland with whom we will get the best price available.

Again, i am sorry, and will try my best to get my head around this issue now.

Mizu no Kokoro

Seeing as i have a clear personal opinion as to how one should feel and respond during kata and kumite; i thought i should try to elaborate on the japanese saying "mizu no kokoro"...... However, as my feeble attempts failed to impress me, i decided to link to an article online, instead. Some of this guys meditation-ideas might strike us "westerners" as being bit too much, but at least i think its a good attempt to explain what i mean.

:-)

And here is the article

Icelandic tradition...

According to ancient icelandic tradition; for ceremonial purposes, all belts must be worn.... (hihi)

The realisation of a big dream

When i was 13 years old i was hugely impressed with our new VCR.... My mom let me rent a couple of videos pr week and i quickly got into the mysterious and captivating world of martial arts. Dubbed movies from Hong Kong, horribly ninja-sagas, vengeful samurais, Bruce Lee and similar characters all impressed me and i could not wait to start training. At the same time my mom was working far from home and my babysitter was a highly accomplished martial artist so i took her advice bout what to practice very seriously.... (she was a shotokan 6th kyu.... hihi)

However, as we were gonna move clear across southern norway i postponed starting until i was 14. At my new home there was a very solid Kyokushin dojo about 3 km away, but as i said; my expert friend had recommended shotokan so i had to ride my bicycle 17 km each way to train at closest the shotokan dojo.... (it was run by an awesome 3rd kyu, btw.... hihi)

This was a huge turning point in my life; i suddenly had passion and desire to accomplish something and even though i had failed at any other sport i tried, karate was patient with me. The fact that everyone just did their best and that no-one was ever ridiculed or looked down upon was enough to get me completely hooked.

The next part of my way is not a part i am proud of, nor do i recommend it; I did, however, drop out of school and devoted as much brainpower and physical effort into improving as i could muster. This singular focus made going through the beginning ranks of shotokan a rather swift affair. Speaking of ranks; the highest ranked karateka in norway at that time was an old gentleman called Egon Solem. He was a 5th dan and i was pretty sure he could fly.... Passing shodan just before my 18th birthday and getting my sandan only 5 years after that was two very proud moments in my life.

The 27th of june 2009 i passed my 5th dan test and it really makes my head spin.... 2 weeks after i turned 40, i had the extreme pleasure of fighting Tom Kompier sensei (among others), show my Gojushiho Sho, Heian Shodan and Meikyo. The fact that the audience included some of my peers from when i started training, some of my current committed students and friends from all over the world made it a very emotional moment for me.

I will strive even harder to improve my karate in the years to come.

To my main teachers, from the bottom of my heart, thanks for all your help and support:

(in alphabetical order)
Richard Amos
Enoeda Keinosuke
Kawasoe Masao
Geir Larsen

My biggest hope is that i can inspire someone in the way that you guys inspired me.