Newsletter Newsletter 3/2005 Norway 7th Summercamp 2005

Midnight Sun Summer Camp 2005

Summertime is Taekwon-do-time, at least here in Northern-Norway!

ITF Norway arrange the 7th Summercamp from Monday 27. June to Sunday 3. July 2005.

50 participants from 10 years to 50+ years spent a week in Finnsnes, a small town on the coast of Northern-Norway, far above the arctic circle. We were a nice bunch, training together, learning new techniques and playing purposely under the command of our Sabumnim, Ray Nicolaisen, 6th Dan. During the week we had a seminar with focus on sparring which was led by Mr. Willy van der Mortel, 6th Dan. These were some very demanding days, but even with sore muscles and blistered feet, we all enjoyed it thoroughly!

  

The training camp (which took place with midnight sun, 24 hours a day), concluded with exams and upgrading for some of the participants. We also had a local one day championship which gave the contestants a chance to put their newly aquired skills to practice. Taekwon-do camp is also a wonderful time of social fun, with playing boardgames and cards, and just spending time together!

Cecilie Revhaug, I. Degree
ITF Tromsdalen TKD

This year's summercamp is over, and we have got some new inspiration and fresh competence (ahead sore muscles) after a fun, learning and not at least a social week.

I will especially commend the children that participated for their good Taekwon-Do etiquette and respect for Black belts and seniors, and stayed positive all along. This is good for the future.

  

The first 3 days of the camp was conducted by Sabumnim Nicolaisen. This days with 2-3 session was related to basic, pattern and self defense. To repet the basic is necessery to get more dynamic and power in the techniques, and everybody saw the need for training of self defense: I also see that self defense we have to practice all the time.

On Thursday and Friday the program was sparring and this was conducted by Sabunim Willy van der Mortel. 2 great days and after you feel it in your body and the muscels. The training was very motivating and you get a lot of ideas to continue your work on sparring.

Saturday we had a small championship at the camp. Where the participants competed in pattern, sparring, spes.tech. and power. I was so lucky to be a referee, since I in May participated in a 2 days umpire course, and that was a good experience for me.

Sunday was the last session and the people that graduated on Saturday was realy happy to learn some new techniques and patterns. The participants was devided into groups and got help and good advice from all the black belts.

To sum up the week: It was learning, motivating and a lot of fun. A great thanks to Sabumnim Mortel, Sabumnim Nicolaisen and his assistents! I wish you all a nice summer, and hoping that we see you all at next summer camp.

Geir-Are Danielsen, I. Gup
ITF Narvik TKD

Monday to Wednesday was conducted by Sabumnim Nicolaisen. During these days the training was corrected against different methods of self defense and how to use variation of techniques, gound fighting, and naturally the technical identity in Taekwon Do; the patterns. Self defense was emphasis on different situations, and the participants liked that we spend a lot of time on this to practice different techniques and methods.

The focus on patterns was not only correction on the movements and memorizing the pattern, but also a lot of focus on application to the patterns and how it can be used.

Also this year as last year Sabumnim Nicolaisen had invited Sabumnim Willy van der Mortel to conduct a 2 days sparring seminar. Sabumnim Mortels intense and motivated workshop's in sparring gave the partipants new ideas and a lot of sore muscles.

The summercamp closed at Sunday along with theory, and workshop in groups with query related to ITF Taekwon Do and also the participants that graduated on Saturday got some training in new technique and patterns.

On the closing of the camp Sabumnim Nicolaisen told us that next summercamp is already on the calender and will be arranged from 26.June-2.July 2006, and also that he has invited Sabumnim Mortel back next year to share his experiences and reflections about sparring in ITF Taekwon Do.

Odd-Magne Hansen, I. Degree
ITF Kvaloya TKD