🌞 Location: Essex Outdoors
Welcome to the breakdown of the British Karate Guild (BKG) Summer Camp 2024! If you missed it, you missed big—but don’t worry, I’ve got the inside scoop to get you up to speed. This year’s camp was an absolute blast, filled with kicks, katas, and an insane amount of energy. So, whether you’re a seasoned karateka or just curious about what went down, let’s jump right into it.
Friday: The Warm-Up (But Make It Intense) 💪
Everyone arrived on Friday, and we kicked things off with a class led by Shihan Nick Da Costa. The focus? Basic Kyokushin Karate techniques. It was like Karate 101 but with a twist—Shihan Nick made sure we were all on point, setting the tone for the intense weekend ahead.
Next up was Shihan Jeff Whybrow. His class? A killer mix of combinations for competitions and Kihon Kata. This wasn’t just about repetition; it was a test of speed and focus. You could almost see the gears turning in everyone’s heads, trying to keep up with the pace. Precision and power? Absolutely essential.
Saturday: Four Classes, One Goal—Mastery 🥵
Saturday was no joke. We had four back-to-back classes, each one more challenging than the last.
1st Morning Class: Shihan Darren Stringer 🥋
We kicked off the day with pad work—and I mean a lot of it. Mawashi Geri (round kicks) were the name of the game. It felt like we did a thousand kicks, and honestly, we might have. It wasn’t just about technique; it was about stamina. Shihan Darren made sure we knew that real strength comes from pushing past your limits.
2nd Class: Shihans Nick Da Costa & Jeff Whybrow 🥷
This session was a deep dive into advanced territory with the 3rd DAN Katas—Garyu and Sushiho. These aren’t your basic katas; they’re complex, requiring sharp focus and flawless execution. If you didn’t already know these katas, you definitely left the class with your brain working overtime to remember every move.
3rd Class: Shihan Nick Da Costa 🤜
Now, this was where things got real. Bunkai—the application of Kata movements in real-life and self-defence situations. Shihan Nick didn’t just teach the moves; he showed us how to apply them in ways that could be life-saving. Think of it as turning theory into practice, with a side of adrenaline.
Last Class of the Day: Shihan Graham Warden 🏋️♂️
To wrap up Saturday, we went all-in on knockdown fitness and stamina training. By this point, everyone was exhausted, but Shihan Graham pushed us to dig deep. The focus was on building that ironclad endurance that’s crucial for knockdown fighting. No room for slackers here.
Sunday: The Final Countdown 🥇
Sunday was all about testing everything we’d learned. With just two classes to go, the energy was electric.
1st Morning Class (Optional): Shihan Felix Ntumazah 🧘♂️
For those who still had some gas left in the tank, there was an optional yoga/stretching session. This was the calm before the storm—stretching out the muscles, centering the mind, and preparing for the ultimate test of the weekend.
Final Class: 50 Rounds of Kumite 💥
This was it—the main event. 50 rounds of Kumite (sparring) with opponents of all grades, sizes, and experience levels. It wasn’t just about winning; it was about endurance, strategy, and adaptability. By the end, everyone was drenched in sweat, but the sense of achievement? Unmatched. Every round was a new challenge, a new opponent, a new lesson.
Why You Shouldn’t Miss the Next One 🤔
The BKG Summer Camp isn’t just a weekend getaway; it’s an intense learning experience. You don’t just walk away with sore muscles—you leave with new skills, a deeper understanding of your practice, and a burning desire to improve even more. The sense of community is also unbeatable, with karatekas of all levels coming together to push each other to be their best.
So, if you weren’t there this year, start planning for 2025 because this is one camp you don’t want to miss. Ready to level up your Karate game? We’ll see you on the mats next year. 👊