Bushido CRT2009: report.

At the end of Bushido CRT08 people commented that it was the worse weather ever so it can't get any worse, they were WRONG.

Whilst it rained in 08 there were many periods of fine weather even sunshine, in 09 it was raining when we got there and raining as we drove home and during.............it didn't stop! It just went from light and continuous to downright heavy.

Despite the rain the training continued regardless and I have to say that despite the bad weather it was the best CRT to date with everyone giving 100% attention to the training and learning.

Bushido CRT09 commenced on Thursday night at Jamisontown where the participants were put through 2 hours of HPT in the form of circuit training and bag work followed by self defence and then grading on technique and drills.  This year everyone was totally focused and managed to demonstrate great switch and thrusting side kicks amongst everything else.

Day 2 at Colo Heights commenced at 8pm on Friday night, (in the rain) with a warm up then straight on to circuit training in the grinder with high intensity interval training in the cage, followed by the traditional 500 push ups, crunches and dips for those doing the full physical Bushido.  This was followed by more circuit, bag work and HPT fun as per usual on CRT.

For those doing the technical Bushido it was hours of self defence practice including handgun disarming, close quarters combat (CQC), drills and scenario based exercises.

Friday night finished at midnight to the bewilderment of many who wondered what was going on 'bed so early, this must be some kind of trick'.

Day 2, Saturday commenced at 4am.  Day 2 was to be the longest day ever run on a CRT, being 22 hours finishing at 2am on Sunday morning.

After the warm up it was straight back to the HPT circuit in the grinder for the full physical people and back to self defence training for the technical graders. At 5am the technical graders schooled the full physical people on the finer points of handgun disarming, this was followed by breakfast and then off to the Colo river.

At the river all participants took part in 30 minutes standing in the Kiba-dachi stance after which the full physical people trained on a circuit involving sprints on the sand, moving through the water at times chest deep, dragging the sled and the heavy chain with lots of push up, crunches, dips, bag work and more running with the usual impatient demands from Shihan to get wet and sandy.

The technical graders spent most of the time at the river in ankle to knee deep water practicing drills, self defence and technique.

Due to the freezing cold conditions and continual rain the river session finished at 11am, the annual sand castle competition was held back at the camp site in the sandpit.  Once again the Steve Stockton team went all out in the hope that after so many disappointments this year might just be Steve's year.  The competition was close but in a nail biting final judging Steve (and the rest of his team) were victorious. Shortly after an emotional Steve thanked his teams mates and was heard to say, "it doesn't get any better than this". Well done Steve.

(Above the wining sand castle and celebrations).

After lunch the technical graders continued with self defence training focusing on defence against an attacker with a stick, the full physical graders spent some quality time with Renshi George out on the oval, sprinting, working the bag, carrying the big poles and generally working hard.

As the afternoon went on all the participants came together to practice the Geri Waza and Tenshin Waza drills followed by Bukido Randori practice, more HPT for the full physical and self defence scenarios for the technical.

After dinner the 4 hour continuous training commenced with drills and continued with weapons, self defence, randori, CQC, S.P.A.R, HPT and technique work.

Late in the evening it was time for the endurance kicks with everyone starting off with 1000 groin kicks and finishing with Jimmy Stockton completing his 5000 kick marathon.  Of course the full power front kicking was next which took us to around 2am as jimmy finished his 500 full power front kicks with everyone there to provide support and encouragement.  The longest and wettest (it didn't stop raining all day) training day in CRT history was over and most people by this time look like death warmed up and were ready for bed.

It was apparent by this time that the rain was not going to stop and considerations of health, safety and duty of care were now paramount.  It was decided that unless the sun came out on Sunday the camp would conclude on Sunday afternoon. I felt that everyone on CRT09 have given 100% and I could not have asked anyone to train harder and with more dedication.

Just like the previous days the sun didn't come out on Sunday, participants got up to another wet day but on Sunday as a 'bonus' it was now freezing cold, down to about 8 degrees according to the temperature gauge in my car with a heavy wet mist.  After a quick breakfast it was into two hours of HPT circuit and bag work for all, this was followed by the 30 minutes of full power hammer fists into the bag by the full physical people and personal drill practice for the technical people. Next up the black belts demonstrated personal drills, personal weapons drills and advanced personal drills.

After a short time to get themselves together the presentation of well earned belts was made followed by the presentation of the Sword of Bushido to Ed Van Spanje who was judged by the non grading instructors as being the most outstanding participant on Bushido CRT09.

Well done to all of those who attended and trained so hard at Bushido CRT09, again I have to say that even though the weather was atrocious it was the best CRT to date, everyone was focused on training and learning without complaint and are already looking forward to Bushido CRT2010.

The following promotions were made as a result of CRT09

Geoff Wilson: Sandan (Renshi).
Steve Stockton: Sandan Ho (Sensei).
Jimmy Stockton: Nidan (Sensei).
Matt Callaghan: Nidan Ho.
Olga Jevdic: Nidan Ho.
Ed Van Spanje: Nidan Ho. 
Lyndal Field: Nidan Ho.
Evan Field: Shodan.
Lee Del Force: Shodan.
Rod Tracey Shodan.
Megan Gospo: Shodan Ho (3)
Brendan Wiggins: Shodan Ho (3)
Shane Meilak: Shodan Ho (2)
Steve Dose: Blue belt.
Cherie Cager: Blue Belt
Joshua Gullotta: Blue Belt.