Kees Bruggink's gasshuku
Ossendrecht, 19-21 May, 2006
Kees organised the second gasshuku in Ossendrecht (Netherlands). This year’s gasshuku was very varied, both in content, and in participants. The theme for these days was makoto, which has a strong connotation of truthfulness and honesty.
On the first night, as we were ready to go to bed, a taxi arrived, much to our surprise with Josemi from Spain. He was the one who travelled most to get there.
On Saturday, we all were on the mat at 6 o‘ clock. Hans and Josemi studied the kihon for the rest of the day, and the others intensified their studies of omote, with the aid of the sempai.
That night, Kees gave a demonstration of Shodo, and many of the people from the Aikido group that was training there as well during the weekend, came to see what it is. Kees explained the backgrounds, and a lot of the people tried their own hands at the brush enthousiastically. The last ones went to bed late.
At breakfast there was a lot of greeting and smiling between our group and the people from the Aikido group, since we were no longer strangers.
In the afternoon I brought out my bows and arrows and we did some archery, which everyone enjoyed a lot. After that, we did our last training hours, and gave official thanks.
dojo Munen Muso (Jac Rongen)
top: Hans, Lars, Kees, Peter - bottom: Josemi, Jac, Remy, Jan.
Peter and Kees demonstrate with vigour.
On Saturday night Kees demonstrated and explained about Shodo for those who were interested.
More than 20 people came, also from the Aikido group that was present, and a lot of them tried their hand at the brush.
Peter and Lars practicing kata.
Wil showed a lot of kime in taking this picture.
Hans and Josemi kept practicing Kihon for two days, and ended with learning 2 kata.
Just before leaving, the weather cleared up.
Fédération Européenne de Jodo / European Jodo Federation