Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

When Snr Grandmaster Braff invited me to attend a Tour of Denmark and Germany during April & May 2008, I was excited to travel and train with some of the most experienced European Instructors.

Here are my notes from this amazing trip:

I arrived in Horsen on 24^th April and was greeted by Snr Grandmaster Dr Braff & Chief Instructor Chad Foster (Horsens School of Self Defense), this school became our home for the next 3 weeks.

We started to teach classes from the 25^th April (Anzac Day), which was a Friday morning then drove 8hrs at 210 kph !!! on the Autobarn, I thought this was FAST, however I knew we were in trouble when an elderly lady passed our vehicle in a VW Sedan!

 
That evening, we were greeted in Millhouse Germany, by our hosts Gurd Stroud, Dr PeterJonscheri (Wyatt Erp) plus MANY other Grandmasters & SOKE’s

 The Beer and the Wine flowed freely, whilst I enjoyed for my first time Hospitality German-Style, which was an amazing night of comradeship.

Next Day, we were into the training.. The seminars started early, some of the best Martial Artists from all of Europe, UK, Australia and US were in attendance.

One of the proudest moments for me was hearing the Australian National Anthem being played, then someone mentioned to me that this was the 1^st time EVER that our anthem had been aired at this Prestigious International Event!

 
The Seminar went for 2 days with over 400 participants from all over Europe or UK, some of the highlights were seminars conducted by Seijo Gerd Stobbe – 10^th Dan, Grandmaster Andy McGill, Snr Grandmaster Robert Braff, Krishna Gopal – SOKE, Professor Chad Foster, Hanchi Martin Rodgers and of course my own seminar (to be able to teach at this event is definitely a highlight of my Martial Arts life).

Saturday Night the Germans hosted a Banquet for the International Delegates & European Participants, during this event I was appointed Director for all Australia for the Court of Honours, which is a subsidiary for the Intercontinental Court of Honours, their headquarters is in Germany.

After 2 days of intense martial arts training, we `Doc and I’ went back to Horsen Dojo which is run by Professor Chad Foster in Horsen, Denmark.  We were given a special treat by being escorted to the Circus to behold the Shaolin Monks & Wu-Shu Kung Fu Masters.

This being another once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we approached the monks for a photo shoot with them, during the photos Dr Braff, Professor Chad and myself invited the monks for a day of friendship, exchange knowledge & martial arts.

 The next morning they arrived at the dojo and we spent 5 hours of exhilarating & wonderful training and friendship, after which it can be said that a bond of Brotherhood and Sisterhood had formed..  `A dream of mine was forfilled’.

The following weekend, our party toured through the southern regions of Denmark & into Northern Germany, we eventuated to a small town called `Hoehenlockstedt’ to spend time in a old Ammunition Dump that has been converted into a modern dojo, there was a convoy of Parents & Students from Denmark with us, which combined we outnumbered the German dojo immensely, I hope they didn’t think we were invading!

SOKE Norbert Domus, 9^th Dan Black Belt in Jujitsu, promoter, founder and host of Shitaya Sports Schule became our next host, for the next 2 days we ran training for over 100 students, which was Intense and Exciting for both the students and the Instructors.

Having this International experience from 4 countries gave it a flavour of unparalleled excellence, although it was difficult to escape the German students who thirst for knowledge & martial arts was astounding.

We headed back to Horsen, Denmark knowing proudly that we had achieved the goal of presenting the vast possibilities of the arts to all levels of the Martial Arts practitioners. The following week in Denmark was filled with teaching, friendship & more knowledge sharing, the Danes are as eager as any place on the globe to learn & train in the New Era of Martial Arts.. we taught everything from Kali to San Ryu Do, Staff, Pressure Points to Muay Thai..

Dr Braff, Prof Chad and I opened the students eyes to the infinite options available to all of the arts, I particularly enjoyed the sight seeing of Denmark, but the Danish women are beautiful sight to behold!

My last weekend was `The Crown Jewel’ of the trip

Horsen Martial Arts School celebrated their 11^th Year Anniversary

Attending this celebration was a Buddhist Monk Markus Bolli `Bo Bo’ or `Ten’ as he prefers to be referred to, from Switzerland, he taught Chan Buddhism & Temple Boxing. 

There were over 200 people in attendance for this auspicious occasion, including Snr Grandmaster Robert Braff, Hanshi John Hunt & Professor Chad Foster, 3^rd Dan Sofie Foster plus numerous other instructors.

 The seminar was special, not just because it was an anniversary but there was an electricity present, ALL had a Great time teaching & learning new techniques.

 Myself & Sifu were both nominated for the October induction for the United Nations Martial Arts Congress Hall of Fame.

 To sum up this trip of 21 days, days that spanned over 60 years of learning & trying to put this in some kind of perspective, it seems to me that I have been reborn & remember why I love the Arts.

 The last 3 weeks have truly been a trip of a lifetime, I now have many new Brothers and Sisters in the world and their friendships that will last forever.

 Once again the Aussies can be Proud that they showed their Budo & Knowledge to the World !!

 Yours in Budo,

John Hunt

Hanchi, SOKE