Flavour of Kyokushin !
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Camp : The Final Part
Fifth Day : The Gradation Day
Our grading started from 8:30 in the morning. We were told to warm up within a short time. It was an indoor grading, on the large veranda of the first floor of the Youth Hostel. We were divided into two groups. In one group 5 senior sempeis (3 for shodan and 2 for nidan). Uttam Sempei and Santanu Sempei were appearing for nidan. On the other group were the other senior (age 15 and above) were appearing for belts up to brown. Including myself three persons were appearing for brown belt. One from Ajamgarh and the other from Uttar Pradesh. The first group were told to perform each technique 100 times, we three 50 times and the others 20 times. We always descended the first group. All was going fine, but we were running out of our breath, the ground was soaked with our sweat and the whole building shook with our roars of kiai.
First the seniors performed the kicking techniques and then we followed while they rested, etc. After the leg and hand techniques were completed we had our breakfast at about 10am. Then we were back to perform the ido-kihons and katas. I had to do kata pinan-yon. I performed with all my concentration. The whole building seemed to shake with my loud kiai. Then we had to do running, frog-jumps and duck-walks.
With this the morning session of the gradation was completed. Now, the only thing that was left was kumite (full-contact fight).
I really had nothing left in me after this session. My thighs were trembling with pain and had swelled as the double of the normal size. I had to pull myself to the dormitory bed and gulp two spoons of Glucon D (which I had bought just two days before). The dormitory was empty as all the others (who weren’t appearing for the gradation test) had gone to the sea. All the other times we had gone to the sea was for water training, but this time they had gone only to bathe. I missed it and I didn’t have the energy for the next 2 hours to go to the bathroom and bathe. I kept rolling in my bed soaring with pain all over my body.
They all came back after a while and we had our lunch. I could hardly keep my eyes open during the lunch. I came back limping to my bed and had a painful sleep.
I woke up at about 4 pm. Now we were taken to the vast green field for the last session of our gradation. As I said three students were appearing for the black belt (shodan). So, there had to be at least 30 fights.
These three started with great spirits and energy. They promised to drench out the last drop of dum they had in them. But after 6 or 7 fights they hardly had a single breath left in them, these big strong boys started to cry in agony --- every one of them. Big tears soaked their cheeks. Everybody around them inspired them, but in the fights the seniors gave them a very hard time, we could hear the sounds like drums and khols and every type of base instruments as punches and kicks landed on them.
Then one of my compatriots, Amit, had his turn of fight. After a while he started to use bangla punches and kicks. But a very sad incident happened which made the fights delay for a while. While he was fighting an orange belt student of the head quarters, Bablu, a very gentle and good guy, Bablu, suddenly turned back and Amit intentionally used a powerful Jodan Mawashigeri to kick right in the side of his face. All the seniors including Shihan gave him a stern look and warned him. But just after 9 seconds exactly the action reply of this incident happened. But this time he hit him with tremendous power. Blood came bursting out of Bablu’s nose and wetted all his upper gi, he crumpled down like a log and started to cry writhing in unbearable pain. This time Shihan came up and slapped 8 times on Amit’s face. The slaps were so hard that the sound echoed all through the field. He turned Amit immediately out of the field and cancelled his gradation. All of this labour was lost just for the mistake of a heated moment. Everybody swore not to talk with him anymore.
Then came my turn. I was very aware not to commit any foul. But the opposite happened. I fought 4 fights. None of my fights was very convincing, but in the last fight something terrible happened. I had been practicing a technique to rush to the opponent and throw him out of the fighting area. I had been doing this but somehow, while falling out of the arena, this orange belt from UP managed to land a Jodan Hizageri right in my larynx. For a moment my trachea was blocked then a tremendous pain in the throat engrossed me, but as the fighting time was not yet complete, I had to continue with the fight.
After that I realized that not a single sound could make its way through my throat. Hence silence started its reign in my throat for the next 2 months. This is really very irritating and highly painful. It was swollen like I had tonsils.
After a few more fights of the other seniors who had appeared for the gradation, this session came to an end and hence the gradation test came to an end with the dusk.
I limped back to my dormitory and crashed into my bed. I was taken into a deep sleep immediately and had a great night except waking up in pain of mosquito bites.
Sixth Day : Camp Fire & Shopping Day
I awoke very late the next day. We were taken for bathing in the sea. The beach was as usual very dirty and the water was muddy. However we went to somewhat deeper into the sea and bathed nicely. But as we came back to our dormitory our bodies and ear holes were full of sand and had to undergo another half-an-hour of bathing to get the sand off.
We then had our lunch and again slept. In the afternoon everybody went for shopping and I also bought some girlie things for bou, maa and bringshu. After coming back we had some cultural programs involving all. But I could not stay awake as my body was hurting and so I had another round of sleep. Then for the first and last time we had chilly chicken and fried rice at dinner. Though they were my favourite dishes, I could not eat much as my throat was hurting way too much and I was feeling very sleepy. There was somewhat partiality as the seniors got meaty pieces and we got the bones and blubber.
After that we had the camp fire. The fire was arranged by Proshanto Sempei. Wooden planks and dry sticks were arranged in a conical fashion, while barrels of kerosene oil were poured into it. Everybody danced round the huge fire arranged inside the campus and sang along with the music system. After a while I came back. Prosenjit sempei did a great dance with a classic party dress. Western rock music, Indian film songs, pop songs ruled the charts. This was almost a whole night program. I could stay awake till 11pm, my bed was calling me so desperately that I couldn’t refuse it. I jumped into the bed and found myself immediately in a dreamland.
Thus our camp came to an end. We reached Harish Park by 6:30pm the next day. I found mother waiting for me in our world-famous goli. I had lot of tales to tell them. I also found out later that I had lost 10kg.s in the 6 days!
It was really an exciting experience, which will definitely possess a piece of my ROM for the rest of my life.
Our grading started from 8:30 in the morning. We were told to warm up within a short time. It was an indoor grading, on the large veranda of the first floor of the Youth Hostel. We were divided into two groups. In one group 5 senior sempeis (3 for shodan and 2 for nidan). Uttam Sempei and Santanu Sempei were appearing for nidan. On the other group were the other senior (age 15 and above) were appearing for belts up to brown. Including myself three persons were appearing for brown belt. One from Ajamgarh and the other from Uttar Pradesh. The first group were told to perform each technique 100 times, we three 50 times and the others 20 times. We always descended the first group. All was going fine, but we were running out of our breath, the ground was soaked with our sweat and the whole building shook with our roars of kiai.
First the seniors performed the kicking techniques and then we followed while they rested, etc. After the leg and hand techniques were completed we had our breakfast at about 10am. Then we were back to perform the ido-kihons and katas. I had to do kata pinan-yon. I performed with all my concentration. The whole building seemed to shake with my loud kiai. Then we had to do running, frog-jumps and duck-walks.
With this the morning session of the gradation was completed. Now, the only thing that was left was kumite (full-contact fight).
I really had nothing left in me after this session. My thighs were trembling with pain and had swelled as the double of the normal size. I had to pull myself to the dormitory bed and gulp two spoons of Glucon D (which I had bought just two days before). The dormitory was empty as all the others (who weren’t appearing for the gradation test) had gone to the sea. All the other times we had gone to the sea was for water training, but this time they had gone only to bathe. I missed it and I didn’t have the energy for the next 2 hours to go to the bathroom and bathe. I kept rolling in my bed soaring with pain all over my body.
They all came back after a while and we had our lunch. I could hardly keep my eyes open during the lunch. I came back limping to my bed and had a painful sleep.
I woke up at about 4 pm. Now we were taken to the vast green field for the last session of our gradation. As I said three students were appearing for the black belt (shodan). So, there had to be at least 30 fights.
These three started with great spirits and energy. They promised to drench out the last drop of dum they had in them. But after 6 or 7 fights they hardly had a single breath left in them, these big strong boys started to cry in agony --- every one of them. Big tears soaked their cheeks. Everybody around them inspired them, but in the fights the seniors gave them a very hard time, we could hear the sounds like drums and khols and every type of base instruments as punches and kicks landed on them.
Then one of my compatriots, Amit, had his turn of fight. After a while he started to use bangla punches and kicks. But a very sad incident happened which made the fights delay for a while. While he was fighting an orange belt student of the head quarters, Bablu, a very gentle and good guy, Bablu, suddenly turned back and Amit intentionally used a powerful Jodan Mawashigeri to kick right in the side of his face. All the seniors including Shihan gave him a stern look and warned him. But just after 9 seconds exactly the action reply of this incident happened. But this time he hit him with tremendous power. Blood came bursting out of Bablu’s nose and wetted all his upper gi, he crumpled down like a log and started to cry writhing in unbearable pain. This time Shihan came up and slapped 8 times on Amit’s face. The slaps were so hard that the sound echoed all through the field. He turned Amit immediately out of the field and cancelled his gradation. All of this labour was lost just for the mistake of a heated moment. Everybody swore not to talk with him anymore.
Then came my turn. I was very aware not to commit any foul. But the opposite happened. I fought 4 fights. None of my fights was very convincing, but in the last fight something terrible happened. I had been practicing a technique to rush to the opponent and throw him out of the fighting area. I had been doing this but somehow, while falling out of the arena, this orange belt from UP managed to land a Jodan Hizageri right in my larynx. For a moment my trachea was blocked then a tremendous pain in the throat engrossed me, but as the fighting time was not yet complete, I had to continue with the fight.
After that I realized that not a single sound could make its way through my throat. Hence silence started its reign in my throat for the next 2 months. This is really very irritating and highly painful. It was swollen like I had tonsils.
After a few more fights of the other seniors who had appeared for the gradation, this session came to an end and hence the gradation test came to an end with the dusk.
I limped back to my dormitory and crashed into my bed. I was taken into a deep sleep immediately and had a great night except waking up in pain of mosquito bites.
Sixth Day : Camp Fire & Shopping Day
I awoke very late the next day. We were taken for bathing in the sea. The beach was as usual very dirty and the water was muddy. However we went to somewhat deeper into the sea and bathed nicely. But as we came back to our dormitory our bodies and ear holes were full of sand and had to undergo another half-an-hour of bathing to get the sand off.
We then had our lunch and again slept. In the afternoon everybody went for shopping and I also bought some girlie things for bou, maa and bringshu. After coming back we had some cultural programs involving all. But I could not stay awake as my body was hurting and so I had another round of sleep. Then for the first and last time we had chilly chicken and fried rice at dinner. Though they were my favourite dishes, I could not eat much as my throat was hurting way too much and I was feeling very sleepy. There was somewhat partiality as the seniors got meaty pieces and we got the bones and blubber.
After that we had the camp fire. The fire was arranged by Proshanto Sempei. Wooden planks and dry sticks were arranged in a conical fashion, while barrels of kerosene oil were poured into it. Everybody danced round the huge fire arranged inside the campus and sang along with the music system. After a while I came back. Prosenjit sempei did a great dance with a classic party dress. Western rock music, Indian film songs, pop songs ruled the charts. This was almost a whole night program. I could stay awake till 11pm, my bed was calling me so desperately that I couldn’t refuse it. I jumped into the bed and found myself immediately in a dreamland.
Thus our camp came to an end. We reached Harish Park by 6:30pm the next day. I found mother waiting for me in our world-famous goli. I had lot of tales to tell them. I also found out later that I had lost 10kg.s in the 6 days!
It was really an exciting experience, which will definitely possess a piece of my ROM for the rest of my life.
Camp : Part 4
Third Day :
This schedule continued for the next 3 days. But as some students including myself were to appear for the gradation test on the 5th of June, we were given some relief for this time. We only appeared for the water training only.
On the third day, we went jogging for 2 kilometres and then we were brought at a place, where there were cultivation fields on the both sides of the pitch-road. The soil was very coarse, full of small pebbles. We performed two-knuckles 50 push-ups on these small pebbles. After this performance, our knuckles had developed a unique pattern and were bruised and stiff. The black-belts had performed koken (arc-fist) push ups and tegatana (sword-hand) push-ups and also another interesting one. One person laid down on another so that his bodyweight was almost doubled. Now the person below had to perform two-knuckles push-ups in that position. It was really very entertaining to see these but in reality we were shivering within.
Then another game was performed. People were arranged in partners. One of them took off the belt holding the two-piece dress together. This belt was wound around the waist of a partner. The wound person would try to move forward and the other one would try to hold him back. Whoever failed were punished 50 squats. My partner failed once and I also failed once.
We had quiz on that evening. There were 8 teams consisting of 4 members each. I was in Prashanta sempei’s group. He, who flaunts a know-it-all attitude, let us down disastrously by answering wrongly with great confidence !! My team was one of the four finalists. I’m proud to say that I was the only member of my team who had contributed the points. But we couldn’t answer any question in the final round !! The questions were on martial arts and miscellaneous.
For the first time we had chicken on dinner. Some partiality was done and I got nothing more than bones. I do not regret, I will have chicken many a days at home, but this time won’t come back again.
Fourth Day :
The fourth day’s practice was gradation special. On this day the senior girls and junior belts were appearing for the gradation while the seniors practiced ido-kihons and katas all the day. This day everybody was allowed to ‘bath’ in the sea in casuals. But we were not allowed. All the day we practiced the same thing hundreds of times. In the afternoon, we were taken to that magnificent field and again had the same practice. But this time it was very relaxing….yet very boring. Still we learnt all the small details in techniques. We came home utterly tired and dinner and went to sleep in a hurry waiting for the big next day.
We had a very good night’s sleep on the previous night and we arose a little late in the morning. But my thighs were aching due to the last few days’ strenuous practice. I loosened up, applied some medicine and had some and then did my brush. I hoped the day would pass without any obstructions.
This schedule continued for the next 3 days. But as some students including myself were to appear for the gradation test on the 5th of June, we were given some relief for this time. We only appeared for the water training only.
On the third day, we went jogging for 2 kilometres and then we were brought at a place, where there were cultivation fields on the both sides of the pitch-road. The soil was very coarse, full of small pebbles. We performed two-knuckles 50 push-ups on these small pebbles. After this performance, our knuckles had developed a unique pattern and were bruised and stiff. The black-belts had performed koken (arc-fist) push ups and tegatana (sword-hand) push-ups and also another interesting one. One person laid down on another so that his bodyweight was almost doubled. Now the person below had to perform two-knuckles push-ups in that position. It was really very entertaining to see these but in reality we were shivering within.
Then another game was performed. People were arranged in partners. One of them took off the belt holding the two-piece dress together. This belt was wound around the waist of a partner. The wound person would try to move forward and the other one would try to hold him back. Whoever failed were punished 50 squats. My partner failed once and I also failed once.
We had quiz on that evening. There were 8 teams consisting of 4 members each. I was in Prashanta sempei’s group. He, who flaunts a know-it-all attitude, let us down disastrously by answering wrongly with great confidence !! My team was one of the four finalists. I’m proud to say that I was the only member of my team who had contributed the points. But we couldn’t answer any question in the final round !! The questions were on martial arts and miscellaneous.
For the first time we had chicken on dinner. Some partiality was done and I got nothing more than bones. I do not regret, I will have chicken many a days at home, but this time won’t come back again.
Fourth Day :
The fourth day’s practice was gradation special. On this day the senior girls and junior belts were appearing for the gradation while the seniors practiced ido-kihons and katas all the day. This day everybody was allowed to ‘bath’ in the sea in casuals. But we were not allowed. All the day we practiced the same thing hundreds of times. In the afternoon, we were taken to that magnificent field and again had the same practice. But this time it was very relaxing….yet very boring. Still we learnt all the small details in techniques. We came home utterly tired and dinner and went to sleep in a hurry waiting for the big next day.
We had a very good night’s sleep on the previous night and we arose a little late in the morning. But my thighs were aching due to the last few days’ strenuous practice. I loosened up, applied some medicine and had some and then did my brush. I hoped the day would pass without any obstructions.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Karate Camp : Part 3
Second Day :
But this time I could not wake up in time. I was 7 minutes late to report and I had to do 50 jumping squats, which took away almost a quarter of the energy that I stored during the hour long rest.
However, there was another tough job for me ahead. It is a fact that I’m not used to sit in a “babu” like posture at home. I rather choose to sit in a different manner, half-spreading both of my legs in a particular side.
It was now time for another session of meditation which was as long as 30 minutes. Meditation does not mean relaxing by closing your eyes. You have to ward off all the thoughts constantly which come to take nest in your mind. Though it sounds simple, it is not that easy. Moreover, you’ll have to follow a particular rhythm of breathing in and out. In all the previous sessions of meditation our postures were like “Bajrasana” which I’m very used to and that was preceded by at least a short course of training, which had enhanced our focus and concentration. But this time we had to meditate right after getting up from sleep and the posture was that dreadful (for me) “Babu” posture. I did not feel comfortable at that and my joints started to ache after a short time and I could hardly meditate. This session was done on the roof of the youth-hostel, which was very rough. So it was very devastating and painful. After 30 minutes of endurance (each minute seemed like a millennium) when it was called off, I could hardly stand on my feet and walk. This was followed by different techniques of pranayam and methods of rescuing people suffering from illness and carrying particularly heavy-weight people.
Then we were told to get our shoes on within 2 minutes for Sand Training. It meant the greatest test for me and I confess that I did not manage to succeed in it fully. It was the toughest experience for me in the whole time of the camp.
We reported at about 7 am in the morning. Then we jogged for some time and went to a nearby sand-hillock. You know, a person has to strain his legs to climb a steep hillock. Moreover, here we weren’t allowed to touch the ground with our hands and as it was made of sand, it was difficult to find a firm grip of feet on the ground. After the juniors had completed their training, we the seniors were called. We had to run up and down the hillock 20 times continuously. It was also told that all the trainees other than the one who comes first will have to perform 50 jumping squats. I competed with pupils only one of whom was junior than me. I became completely out of breath after the event and naturally finished 3rd last. Then after performing the squats my legs became as unmovable as stone pillars moreover they were trembling like crazy.
Unable to stand anymore I sat down. As soon as I did, somebody gave a hard spank on my back. It was very hard indeed !! I can still feel the pain, which lasted for many hours. I jumped up and heard that we were not allowed to sit down and all the seniors now were to perform 200 mae-geris (front kicks). The kicks should have been in the face level but to my utter surprise I could lift them as high as the stomach level (I believed that it was impossible for me to lift it an inch!!). Then as soon as we finished we were ordered to perform 4 sets of rabbit-hops and duck-walk up and down the hillock. Both of them is what I dreaded most. They were very strenuous exercises to strengthen the thigh and the calf-muscle. I did 3 sets spending every bit of energy I had left in me. But then somebody(Amit Sempei, green belt and appearing for brown) lost balance and came rushing from above and hit straight on my upper lip. Both of us fell down all the way to the bottom of the hillock and I discovered that my mouth started to bleed badly. Immediately some medication was given to me but still I had to complete the set. Due to the break, my muscles were relaxed and then suddenly due to restraining I managed to pull the hamstring and discovered the meaning of ‘pain’ alright!!
But no mercy !! I had to jog all the way back to the hostel at about 9 am. I was as tired as a log and pulled myself to have breakfast. Which consisted of a boiled egg, rice and a curry of chola-aloo (this menu was carried on till the last day). We were told to eat fillingly as water-training was next starting from 11 am. We bathed hurriedly and jumped onto the beds to have a sound sleep, with the whole body aching. The water training was very soothing and relaxing.
We were taken to the sea beach and for the first time we were allowed to touch the sea-water. We were positioned according to seniority facing our back towards the sea, so that my knees just reached the level of water. You know it is quite difficult to lift your leg above the surface of water from underneath it. We had to perform all the kick techniques at that posture. Moreover, as we were facing opposite the sea, we didn’t know when the waves would come thrashing onto us. Thus, it was very difficult to keep standing, and if we failed to do so, we got some hard spanking with a thick branch of a tree. I myself got a few. However, the water and the pleasant wind and the excitement of the moment wiped off all the strains though it was quite heavy (which we understood from our hunger and pains later on). Then it was time for some sprint through water. Students deliberately started to loose balance and fall into water to wet themselves. All over, it was quite fun and we enjoyed this session thoroughly.
But the aftermath was disastrous. There was no water when we come back. There was only one tube-well in the youth hostel (which was our only supply of drinking water throughout our stay there). Thus there was a large queue in front of the tube well. We had to wait for about an hour to get ourselves and our uniforms cleans as they were drenched with sand. Juniors were made to bath first and then the seniors. I had only one uniform. Thus we had to make them dry for the next session (which was to be started after 2 hours). The dormitory was a mess with water everywhere.
Then we swallowed our lunch and had a good sleep. In the afternoon we were taken to a vast field. It was one of the most magnificent field I’ve ever seen. Lush green was everywhere. It was almost like a stadium as the grass were very evenly cut (1 inch), though the ground was very undulating at places. Cows were grazed in this place, so they helped to do this job. No artificial machine had done this !! The weather was very soothing. A cool breeze was blowing. The sun was behind large clouds and we felt as light as a feather. Training seemed to be a pleasure in these conditions. We were taught the finer points of kata (meditation in motion) and several ido-kihons. Though the training wasn’t that light, still we didn’t feel the strain and did everything perfectly. It was very easy to concentrate. The vast dome of the sky with no sign of a single house in the range of vision, no dust, no commotion, heavenly peace dwelled everywhere. People in white dresses with a deep green background : this scene was also very soothing to the eyes and the mind (don’t ask me why, I felt it). I was speechless in this beauty of nature and the harmony of everything around me. Perhaps this was one of the best experiences I had there.
We came back home. Had a round of antakshari (boys vs. girls) in the evening (naturally the stock of songs was so huge in both the parties that it ended in a draw). We went back to sleep at 10 pm waiting for the incidents that the day after would endow us with. This was the end of the second day.
But this time I could not wake up in time. I was 7 minutes late to report and I had to do 50 jumping squats, which took away almost a quarter of the energy that I stored during the hour long rest.
However, there was another tough job for me ahead. It is a fact that I’m not used to sit in a “babu” like posture at home. I rather choose to sit in a different manner, half-spreading both of my legs in a particular side.
It was now time for another session of meditation which was as long as 30 minutes. Meditation does not mean relaxing by closing your eyes. You have to ward off all the thoughts constantly which come to take nest in your mind. Though it sounds simple, it is not that easy. Moreover, you’ll have to follow a particular rhythm of breathing in and out. In all the previous sessions of meditation our postures were like “Bajrasana” which I’m very used to and that was preceded by at least a short course of training, which had enhanced our focus and concentration. But this time we had to meditate right after getting up from sleep and the posture was that dreadful (for me) “Babu” posture. I did not feel comfortable at that and my joints started to ache after a short time and I could hardly meditate. This session was done on the roof of the youth-hostel, which was very rough. So it was very devastating and painful. After 30 minutes of endurance (each minute seemed like a millennium) when it was called off, I could hardly stand on my feet and walk. This was followed by different techniques of pranayam and methods of rescuing people suffering from illness and carrying particularly heavy-weight people.
Then we were told to get our shoes on within 2 minutes for Sand Training. It meant the greatest test for me and I confess that I did not manage to succeed in it fully. It was the toughest experience for me in the whole time of the camp.
We reported at about 7 am in the morning. Then we jogged for some time and went to a nearby sand-hillock. You know, a person has to strain his legs to climb a steep hillock. Moreover, here we weren’t allowed to touch the ground with our hands and as it was made of sand, it was difficult to find a firm grip of feet on the ground. After the juniors had completed their training, we the seniors were called. We had to run up and down the hillock 20 times continuously. It was also told that all the trainees other than the one who comes first will have to perform 50 jumping squats. I competed with pupils only one of whom was junior than me. I became completely out of breath after the event and naturally finished 3rd last. Then after performing the squats my legs became as unmovable as stone pillars moreover they were trembling like crazy.
Unable to stand anymore I sat down. As soon as I did, somebody gave a hard spank on my back. It was very hard indeed !! I can still feel the pain, which lasted for many hours. I jumped up and heard that we were not allowed to sit down and all the seniors now were to perform 200 mae-geris (front kicks). The kicks should have been in the face level but to my utter surprise I could lift them as high as the stomach level (I believed that it was impossible for me to lift it an inch!!). Then as soon as we finished we were ordered to perform 4 sets of rabbit-hops and duck-walk up and down the hillock. Both of them is what I dreaded most. They were very strenuous exercises to strengthen the thigh and the calf-muscle. I did 3 sets spending every bit of energy I had left in me. But then somebody(Amit Sempei, green belt and appearing for brown) lost balance and came rushing from above and hit straight on my upper lip. Both of us fell down all the way to the bottom of the hillock and I discovered that my mouth started to bleed badly. Immediately some medication was given to me but still I had to complete the set. Due to the break, my muscles were relaxed and then suddenly due to restraining I managed to pull the hamstring and discovered the meaning of ‘pain’ alright!!
But no mercy !! I had to jog all the way back to the hostel at about 9 am. I was as tired as a log and pulled myself to have breakfast. Which consisted of a boiled egg, rice and a curry of chola-aloo (this menu was carried on till the last day). We were told to eat fillingly as water-training was next starting from 11 am. We bathed hurriedly and jumped onto the beds to have a sound sleep, with the whole body aching. The water training was very soothing and relaxing.
We were taken to the sea beach and for the first time we were allowed to touch the sea-water. We were positioned according to seniority facing our back towards the sea, so that my knees just reached the level of water. You know it is quite difficult to lift your leg above the surface of water from underneath it. We had to perform all the kick techniques at that posture. Moreover, as we were facing opposite the sea, we didn’t know when the waves would come thrashing onto us. Thus, it was very difficult to keep standing, and if we failed to do so, we got some hard spanking with a thick branch of a tree. I myself got a few. However, the water and the pleasant wind and the excitement of the moment wiped off all the strains though it was quite heavy (which we understood from our hunger and pains later on). Then it was time for some sprint through water. Students deliberately started to loose balance and fall into water to wet themselves. All over, it was quite fun and we enjoyed this session thoroughly.
But the aftermath was disastrous. There was no water when we come back. There was only one tube-well in the youth hostel (which was our only supply of drinking water throughout our stay there). Thus there was a large queue in front of the tube well. We had to wait for about an hour to get ourselves and our uniforms cleans as they were drenched with sand. Juniors were made to bath first and then the seniors. I had only one uniform. Thus we had to make them dry for the next session (which was to be started after 2 hours). The dormitory was a mess with water everywhere.
Then we swallowed our lunch and had a good sleep. In the afternoon we were taken to a vast field. It was one of the most magnificent field I’ve ever seen. Lush green was everywhere. It was almost like a stadium as the grass were very evenly cut (1 inch), though the ground was very undulating at places. Cows were grazed in this place, so they helped to do this job. No artificial machine had done this !! The weather was very soothing. A cool breeze was blowing. The sun was behind large clouds and we felt as light as a feather. Training seemed to be a pleasure in these conditions. We were taught the finer points of kata (meditation in motion) and several ido-kihons. Though the training wasn’t that light, still we didn’t feel the strain and did everything perfectly. It was very easy to concentrate. The vast dome of the sky with no sign of a single house in the range of vision, no dust, no commotion, heavenly peace dwelled everywhere. People in white dresses with a deep green background : this scene was also very soothing to the eyes and the mind (don’t ask me why, I felt it). I was speechless in this beauty of nature and the harmony of everything around me. Perhaps this was one of the best experiences I had there.
We came back home. Had a round of antakshari (boys vs. girls) in the evening (naturally the stock of songs was so huge in both the parties that it ended in a draw). We went back to sleep at 10 pm waiting for the incidents that the day after would endow us with. This was the end of the second day.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Karate Camp : Part 2
First Day :
At last the day of departure came. We started the bus journey in a merry note. I met representatives of this karate from different parts of India. Andaman, UP, Mughalsarai, Ajamgarh, New Delhi. All of the trainees were very young and were very energetic.
The bus journey from Shihan Shivaji Ganguly’s home to the Government Youth Hostel at New Digha took almost 5 hours. We reached there at about 1:30 pm. Just as we entered we got the news that there’ll be no electricity for 3 consecutive days. Moreover, the heat was also scorching. Shortly we got admitted to our dormitories. In mine there were about 30 students. The beds were okay. But the bathroom and the fans were terrible. Water-supply was very poor. This was the first time that I bathed in front of a number of cockroaches and in such dim light that I had to strain my eyes to get a proper view of everything inside. But very fortunately the electricity came after a few hours.
In our lunch we had dahi-chire. It was a rule that there shouldn’t be a single grain of food in our plates after completing eating, otherwise he were warned to be punished. Most of us were so hungry that the idea of leaving food behind never occurred to us. We had our first session of training on the sea beach 2 hours after our lunch. The session wasn’t very tiring one, but was quite refreshing. We had to walk for about 8 minutes from our hostel to get to the sea-beach. In dinner we had the same menu. Then we went to sleep. We were always guided by whistles blown by the senior blackbelts. 10:30 pm was the time of Lights Off. After that whoever was found awake had to be on the duty of night-guard and stay awake for the rest of the night. I almost got caught on the first day. The next day was the real test of tenacity. We were informed that next day we were going to night-training, beginning from 2:30 am.
It seemed a few minutes that I laid down on the pillow and being cruelly ravaged by the bird-like-mosquitoes that my sleep broke. I noticed that the lights of the dormitory were already on. It took sometime to come back to myself and realize where I am and what’s going on out there. But as soon as I heard that the first two whistles had been already blown, my heart gave a huge leap. I leapt from my bed and did my brushing in haste and then dressed myself up. Thank god that I don’t usually go to big-toilet in the morning. Then we gathered in the open place in front of the hostel. All the neighbouring place seemed to be in a peaceful slumber. The roar of the wind through the leaves of the trees seemed to be the sound of their snoring. After all of us had gathered and the late-comers were punished we were placed on the two sides of the highway and our practice started.
It was almost 2:45 am. Not a single sign of human habitation could be seen around us. Our rythmatic loud sounds (khiai) filled the air. This practice was quite strenuous. After all the shadow techniques were practiced, we ran for about 4 Km (Up and Down). Then we sat down in the two sides of the highway making a straight file to meditate. What a pleasant experience it was !! There was not a single disturbance, pin-drop silence reigned around us. All our strains and pains and floating haphazard thoughts were blown away by the gentle breeze. We were told to wipe off all the thoughts in our mind and concentrate to : “nothing”. This “nothingness” brings an indescribable mental peace. It is an attempt to forget the self and to unify self with the nature, which is the main aim of all the martial arts.
Our practice ended at 4:30 am and we were told that the next session would start from 5:30 am and we can lie off for the moment. We did not care to undress and we jumped into our beds and roared our way into a sound peaceful sleep.
At last the day of departure came. We started the bus journey in a merry note. I met representatives of this karate from different parts of India. Andaman, UP, Mughalsarai, Ajamgarh, New Delhi. All of the trainees were very young and were very energetic.
The bus journey from Shihan Shivaji Ganguly’s home to the Government Youth Hostel at New Digha took almost 5 hours. We reached there at about 1:30 pm. Just as we entered we got the news that there’ll be no electricity for 3 consecutive days. Moreover, the heat was also scorching. Shortly we got admitted to our dormitories. In mine there were about 30 students. The beds were okay. But the bathroom and the fans were terrible. Water-supply was very poor. This was the first time that I bathed in front of a number of cockroaches and in such dim light that I had to strain my eyes to get a proper view of everything inside. But very fortunately the electricity came after a few hours.
In our lunch we had dahi-chire. It was a rule that there shouldn’t be a single grain of food in our plates after completing eating, otherwise he were warned to be punished. Most of us were so hungry that the idea of leaving food behind never occurred to us. We had our first session of training on the sea beach 2 hours after our lunch. The session wasn’t very tiring one, but was quite refreshing. We had to walk for about 8 minutes from our hostel to get to the sea-beach. In dinner we had the same menu. Then we went to sleep. We were always guided by whistles blown by the senior blackbelts. 10:30 pm was the time of Lights Off. After that whoever was found awake had to be on the duty of night-guard and stay awake for the rest of the night. I almost got caught on the first day. The next day was the real test of tenacity. We were informed that next day we were going to night-training, beginning from 2:30 am.
It seemed a few minutes that I laid down on the pillow and being cruelly ravaged by the bird-like-mosquitoes that my sleep broke. I noticed that the lights of the dormitory were already on. It took sometime to come back to myself and realize where I am and what’s going on out there. But as soon as I heard that the first two whistles had been already blown, my heart gave a huge leap. I leapt from my bed and did my brushing in haste and then dressed myself up. Thank god that I don’t usually go to big-toilet in the morning. Then we gathered in the open place in front of the hostel. All the neighbouring place seemed to be in a peaceful slumber. The roar of the wind through the leaves of the trees seemed to be the sound of their snoring. After all of us had gathered and the late-comers were punished we were placed on the two sides of the highway and our practice started.
It was almost 2:45 am. Not a single sign of human habitation could be seen around us. Our rythmatic loud sounds (khiai) filled the air. This practice was quite strenuous. After all the shadow techniques were practiced, we ran for about 4 Km (Up and Down). Then we sat down in the two sides of the highway making a straight file to meditate. What a pleasant experience it was !! There was not a single disturbance, pin-drop silence reigned around us. All our strains and pains and floating haphazard thoughts were blown away by the gentle breeze. We were told to wipe off all the thoughts in our mind and concentrate to : “nothing”. This “nothingness” brings an indescribable mental peace. It is an attempt to forget the self and to unify self with the nature, which is the main aim of all the martial arts.
Our practice ended at 4:30 am and we were told that the next session would start from 5:30 am and we can lie off for the moment. We did not care to undress and we jumped into our beds and roared our way into a sound peaceful sleep.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Experience of a life-time ! Part 1
21st All India Shinkyokushin Summer Camp 2004 at New Digha.
1st June to 6th June
Introduction :
My interest in Karate and preparation of camp
From my childhood I was a devout admirer of Martial Arts, maybe mainly influenced by the astonishing rythmatic art of warfare and undoubtedly also by the legendary master Bruce Lee. But once I got admitted to Kyokushin Karate Organization on 2nd November 1998, I was attracted by its strict physical and spiritual discipline, and it gradually made a deep mark on my mind.
I had made a thorough research and study on the philosophy of martial arts, the ancient Japanese and Chinese cultures and their religions like Taoism, Zen, Confuciasm, Buddhism, Tai Chi. All of these religions seemed more or less to converge at the same point: the separation of the mind from the body and the separation of the soul from the mind. And, the realization of the Ultimate Truth from the cultivation of the soul alone.
But to achieve this great task one has to rise above his body and all the earthly senses. I thought that budo was the way to achieve this. I found Kyokushin Karate, which claims to be the strongest karate among all the other styles of karate, to be the most suitable one. As this style is full-contact, it made me ‘feel the pains’ and made me aware constantly that how much I’m helpless to my senses and thus providing me inspiration to rise above it. Thus I had truly devoted myself to master this art and concentrate my all internal and external (mental and physical) energy at a point. But still now I have not succeeded, so this thought alone inspires me to ‘go for it’.
The summer camp never meant to me as a tour to Digha and its wonderful sea-beach. I was waiting for this for almost last 4 years. This time it brought with it yet another challenge: The brown belt gradation test. This camp was a time to prove myself.
And perhaps I did it
I had started to prepare myself mentally and physically from a week before my departure. I tried to concentrate on a single thought: “I’ll have to make it.” I restricted my diet, avoided all physical cultures that had the slightest possibility of the most minor physical injury.
(to de continued......)
1st June to 6th June
Introduction :
My interest in Karate and preparation of camp
From my childhood I was a devout admirer of Martial Arts, maybe mainly influenced by the astonishing rythmatic art of warfare and undoubtedly also by the legendary master Bruce Lee. But once I got admitted to Kyokushin Karate Organization on 2nd November 1998, I was attracted by its strict physical and spiritual discipline, and it gradually made a deep mark on my mind.
I had made a thorough research and study on the philosophy of martial arts, the ancient Japanese and Chinese cultures and their religions like Taoism, Zen, Confuciasm, Buddhism, Tai Chi. All of these religions seemed more or less to converge at the same point: the separation of the mind from the body and the separation of the soul from the mind. And, the realization of the Ultimate Truth from the cultivation of the soul alone.
But to achieve this great task one has to rise above his body and all the earthly senses. I thought that budo was the way to achieve this. I found Kyokushin Karate, which claims to be the strongest karate among all the other styles of karate, to be the most suitable one. As this style is full-contact, it made me ‘feel the pains’ and made me aware constantly that how much I’m helpless to my senses and thus providing me inspiration to rise above it. Thus I had truly devoted myself to master this art and concentrate my all internal and external (mental and physical) energy at a point. But still now I have not succeeded, so this thought alone inspires me to ‘go for it’.
The summer camp never meant to me as a tour to Digha and its wonderful sea-beach. I was waiting for this for almost last 4 years. This time it brought with it yet another challenge: The brown belt gradation test. This camp was a time to prove myself.
And perhaps I did it
I had started to prepare myself mentally and physically from a week before my departure. I tried to concentrate on a single thought: “I’ll have to make it.” I restricted my diet, avoided all physical cultures that had the slightest possibility of the most minor physical injury.
(to de continued......)
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