Annual Camp 2003

Once a year the instructors, students and families of the Sil Lum Kune Kung Fu, Kickboxing and Little Ninja classes venture off on a training week.

The venue this time around was Skegness, Lincolnshire. So impressed were the group with this years camp we've decided to book again for next year, please ask your instructor for details on booking forms for the 2004 camp.

A brief run down follows of this years highlights:

The convoy of students and families congregated in Coventry, before making the trip north to Skegness. We arrived at 3pm and our instructors quickly allocated caravans to everyone,  some of the caravans were a little more crowded than others,  we usually find the caravan with the most number of students in,  has the loudest atmosphere!

The first evening was spent getting our bearings and checking out the sites numerous facilities.  The majority of the sites facilities are contained under a huge purpose built canopy, so big are these peaks that they dominate the entire Skegness skyline.  This canopy is very useful, keeping the English weather at bay and so not upsetting any of our activities.

Students and Instructors Of S.F.C.B.A.

Sunday was our first day of training. Our Kwoon for the week was situated at a local village hall.  The Hall was quite amazing
and we felt very lucky to have the use of such excellent facilities.  With polished wooden floors, under floor heating, kitchen and immaculate washroom facilities we certainly trained in the lap of luxury.  Mark Pritchard took all students for a light jog followed by a warm up and stretch. 

Rebecca supervises two younger members sparring

We continued with line work. syllabus studies and pad work and sparring.  Whilst on camp we have time to focus on some other
aspects of the art.  Weapons is no exception with a wide variety of traditional Chinese weapons being taught.  Due to the amount of students studying weapons at the same time we kept to the smaller more close range weapons such as Nunchak, sickles, sai and even swords.

Students Learning The Sickle

Students Learning The Broadsword

Within our association we cater for the younger martial artist in our Little Ninja' classes.  A selection of the little ninja's attended this years camp.  On Sunday the Little Ninjas practiced various drills and kicks with some of our older kickboxing students. During the latter stages of Sunday's training the Kung fu students practised learning the first half of the 'Lo Han' form. Together we all finished the days training off with a few minutes relaxed breathing exercises or 'Chi Gung'.

Ashley Teaches Tom The Importance Of Paying Attention
 

Students Practising Forms With Sifu Paul Burkinshaw

On Sunday afternoon, David Cobly, an old student and friend of the association who has moved to the area (Boston, Lincolnshire)
visited us for the day.  Some of the students went to a local supermarket and stocked up on food for the week.  Later that evening David and some of the older students enjoyed a meal in one of the many site restaurants.  Sunday Night saw many of the students investigate Bungee trampolines!

Alex has fun learning to fly!

On Monday morning it was back to the training. We met at the hall for 8.50am enjoyed along warm up with competitive drills. Plenty of line work, further training in the Lo Han form.  We also continued our weapons practice and spent some time on kicking drills and leg work,  with Chi Gung to finish.

Dan and Sifu Paul Burkinshaw sparring

Skegness is home to fantasy island, a large fun fair with with all the usual rides etc and then some more extreme rides. These included two roller coasters and a huge monster ride called 'g-force'. Some students were crazy enough to go on G-FORCE as the photo below shows all their happy smiling faces. 

All strapped in and ready to go. Everyone is happy and smiling with the thumbs-up.

       

The 'G-Force' Ride In Action At Fantasy Island

A few students confirmed their insanity by actually enjoying
the ride and wanting to go on again.

We then moved to the biggest rollercoaster, the Odyssey, which twisted around the park like a huge white snake. Some of the group would have been happy going on the smaller Yellow roller-coaster but were persuaded by the more extreme members to go for the big one.

 

Students enjoying the Roller-coasters at Fantasy Island, and some with their eyes closed waiting for the ride to stop.

On Monday evening many of the students indulged in a few games of ten pin bowling.  Some faired better than others!

Sifu Paul Burkinshaw, Paul Blundell And Instructor Dave Richardson

Robert Trying To Explain Why All Ten Pins Remain!

Tuesday. Following on from a  high grade student planning meeting (12 month review) many of the group congregated for a game of extreme paintball. There was an enclosed grass court filled with inflatable baracades.

We were split into two teams and after a thorough run down of the safety requirements and signals the fast and furious game began. Instructor Dan and Sifu Paul Burkinshaw combined to ensure the blue team won the first match. Some students weathered their battle scars better than others. The paint cartridges did result in bruises a plenty!
 

After the gruelling paintball game we went back to our caravans for a shower and change ready for the evening. About twenty of us had decided to have a Chinese meal and had booked a local restaurant. Many of us had ordered different dishes and when the food was laid out it looked a tremendous banquet. Chinese food tastes fantastic and even better when its washed down with a bottle or two of Tsingtao beer.

When we returned to Butlins, some of us went to the on site cinema for the late night show which was a horror film called Under World.Thursday at training we covered the syllabus work, open hand forms and weapons training. Some students were graded on the first level internal coaching award after several days assessment and test. On the way home a few of us stopped to have some lunch / late breakfast. Which was a splendid meal
.
After training we went for a swim in the pool and a mess around on the water shoots etc followed by a relaxing half hour in the Jacuzzi.
A couple of us went into the main pavilion for a look around and a large hot chocolate. Dan is an ice cream fanatic and talked me into trying one. I ordered an ice cream and then Dan ordered an ice cream.

Later that evening around a dozen of us went to a local beefeater pub restaurant for a meal.

Friday several more students were awarded second level internal coaching awards after assessments and test as before. We had told many of the other students about the big breakfast we had had the previous day and so about twenty of us popped in for brunch. Again we were not disappointed.

After a fantastic game of paint ball on the Wednesday we had booked another game and went to play later on that afternoon.The final night before our return journey was spent visiting a few of the local bars and a few games of pool before heading off to the on site night club – Jumping Jacks.

This Camp was one of the most successful to date for the Shaolin Fist Chinese Boxing Association so much so that next years numbers are nearly double to those of last year. If you would like to attend please contact your instructor at the earliest opportunity.

Written By Sifu Paul Burkinshaw And Robert Bucker