During my 35 years in martial arts I have taken part in an infinite number of training camps but the NTN summer camp in Norway, which I visited for the second year, is really something unique.
Between the 28th of July and the 4th of August I had the honor of participating in probably the biggest TKD summer camp in the world. As last year the camp took place in a very beautifully situated village called Surnadal, which is located about 160 km south-west from Trondheim. This year half a thousand TKD-enthusiasts gathered to improve their TKD-skills and to spend time together in a TKD-atmosphere.
I went to Norway together with my wife and assistant Petra Dydiszko 3 Dan, by a personal invitation of Master Per Andresen. Master Per is the president of Norway’s biggest association, National Taekwon-Do Norway (NTN), which has slightly more than 6000 members. As same as last year I was invited to conduct trainings for the red and black belts and to continue our ongoing training cooperation with the Norwegian national team. The other training sessions during the camp were conducted by a very experienced and skilled group of instructors including:
Those persons who have many years in TKD will surely recognize a couple of the names of the instructors mentioned above. For example Mrs. Trude Hoff Leirvik and Mr. Hans Jörgen Helmersen were world champions in the 80’ties.
The organizer of the camp was National Taekwon-Do Norway and Nordmore folk high-school in Surnadal with Mr. Kjell Gunnar Polden in the lead of all logistic who was very professional taken care of. Worth mentioning is that Nordmore folk high-school is one of few schools in Europe who has Taekwon-Do ITF in the curriculum.
The technical level of most of the participants was very high. Very good kicking technique, high knowledge of Taekwon-Do and a fantastic attitude all together made me really enjoying my time with this nice persons. The enormous will to learn which I felt among the participants made every training session fantastic for me as instructor. The summer camp also included a couple of additional activities such as hiking in the beautiful mountains among waterfalls and fiords. Something as beautiful as that is impossible to describe in words.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Master Per for his invitation. It is always a great experience for me to meet with him. Master Per is a true TKD-practitioner with enormous knowledge and a humble attitude on life and humanity. Master Per is a fantastic person with TKD in his heart and soul.
This years summer camp left me with many valuable memories. Once again I was very inspired by the TKD-spirit among all of the participants. You could really feel that half a thousand persons hadn’t gathered for only kicking and punching. TKD can be so much more than just a martial art.
More photos on http://www.itfsweden.com/fotogalleri/norge_2007/index.htm and http://www.ivarsoyfoto.no/projects.html
Swavek Dydiszko, Sweden