Memoirs of a Great Trip

We were fortunate to be able to visit New Zealand twice this year, the culture, training and hospitality are of the highest standards afforded to any guest, we were there this time to celebrate the 10^th Year Anniversary for Chu Zhen Dao.

Here are some notes and fond memories of this historic trip.

Thursday 12^th November 2009

We had arrived in Hamilton just after midnight from the previous day, tired but excited about the upcoming training days with our friends and families in NZ.  This trip we were accompanied by Robert Hill and Dylan Napoli (junior) from Shihan Brad’s dojo.   We were met by Tasshi Brian and Kru Jan at the airport, thank you so much for taking the time to come and get some tired Aussies..  The first stop was a Service Station and a quick feed of pies, we started to notice how cool the temperature was but the food was nice and HOT!

As Robert has already mentioned, we then stopped at the lookout on the Kiami mountains and looked out over the region, beautiful clear night, definitely colder up there in the mountains and a local who kept calling lovingly to Robert, he wished he had brought his gloves.. 

When we arrived at Tasshi Brian’s place, the Vans were already setup and the hot cuppa’s running.. what a nice start to a trip.. fed, warm beds and a hot cuppa.. great Kiwi hospitality!

Friday 13^th November 2009

Just a quiet day settling in, letting everyone know we arrived safely.

At 11am we headed down to Tasshi’s Honbu to do some Kata work and prepare some of the boys for their grading on Saturday.  2pm that day Hanchi John, Renshi Brad (now Shihan), and myself (Sensei Mofo) went to do some sight seeing at Mt Manganui, then back to the Honbu for more Kata work, then back to Tasshi Brian’s house for Pizza J

Then came the Southern Comfort (Black Label) & Tequila worms, we headed next to the hot pools till they kicked us out..  Sympathies to Seven, who made a sudden and unexpected donation to the boys in blue – bad luck buddy..  

Back to Tasshi’s place and called our lovely ladies back home, before retiring for the night.. Big day ahead of us!

 Saturday 14^th November 2009

Went to Shihan BJ’s dojo for the Chu Zhen Dao grading, gradings went well, everyone put in 100% effort.. the Kiwi’s certainly work hard for their rank and can wear them proudly.

Sensei Justin ‘Mofo’ Nichols received his Chu Zhen Dao Black Belt, Shihan Beej was presented his Shihan belt (he had graded earlier, but the belts take time to be hand made).   Renshi Brad was promoted to 5^th Dan Black Belt and title of Shihan.    Tasshi Brian was presented his 7^th Dan Black belt, he also was graded earlier in the year, however these high ranked belts are hand made and in Tasshi’s case was embroided.

It was a good hard Karate day grading with plenty of spirit, followed by the Muay Thai gradings..

Shihan Brad ran everyone through their gradings at a solid pace, their blood and knockouts were in true Muay Thai spirit..  1 senior student was disappointed that he was taken off the grading floor due to the blood ruling, how’s that for dedication, blood all over his face and floor, yet wanting to continue!

At the end of the grading he didn’t believe he had earned his grade, so Shihan Brad asked him once more if he had earned his rank? Then granted the student 3 more rounds with Senior Instructors.. he had a brand new challenge now, he was worked till he couldn’t stand up, when asked after those 3 additonal rounds if he now felt he earned it?  A definite YES was the reply..   Whilst we don’t promote gradings to be a blood sport, some people are more susceptible to nose bleeds and facial skin being torn.. we maintain a high level of commitment from all students and instructors, however all people grading are offered the opportunity to take their sparring to a higher level provided it is against competent opponents.

On returning to Tasshi Brian, we needed a little R & R to prepare for the 10^th Anniversary dinner.. to Hanchi’s delight the main course was Pavlova – No Questions Asked !!

The evening wear couldn’t be surpassed as Hanchi John, Tasshi Brian and Sensei Mofo who even under the circumstances of a missed wake up call, still arrived in true Aussie fashion.. Pimped out to the Max (Bloody Sensational) Photo’s available on the website.. 

After a huge dinner and Hanchi kidnapping yet another desert tray of Pavlova (interesting enough this was one of the same restaurants we visited in May, they were expecting Hanchi this time and had a spare full pavlova ready for him)..  then back to Tasshi’s for a night cap..

What a day, great effort and commitment from everyone (students, families, relatives and instructors) really makes us remember how we earned our ranks and titles, the amount of sweat and exhaustion you put into a grading goes straight into your belt, so the more you commit, the more it is worth to you!

Sunday 15^th November 2009

Woke up late and hastily downed some brekky then headed back to Shihan Beej’s stable/dojo (Aquinas) for the seminars..

Opening up was Hanchi John with some throat techniques that are very effective..

Shihan Brad was next to bat, using thrust techniques that were good for use around video surveillance.

Sensei Mofo concentrated on Muay Thai working footwork and tracking breathing, this was his first seminar teaching, he received well deserved respect and knowledge from all those who trained.  Sensei Mofo is an impressive teacher, we can never forget the importance of footwork and critical impact of proper breathing in training.. (Shihan Brad was once taught by a Kung Fu Grandmaster that the difference between a white belt and an instructor is footwork, the difference between an instructor and a Grandmaster is footwork!!).. so thank you Sensei Mofo for your indepth teachings on this topic.

Lunchtime came next and Hungry Jacks (Burger King) is always a great place for a fast meal..

After lunch, Shihan Beej kicked off the afternoon with a demonstration of traditional Thai fight dance, which shows respect to all areas of life for a Thai fighter.. very hard on the body to perform this dance, it is intricate and requires exceptional concentration (as well as balance).  Shihan Beej then instructed them on powerful kicks and how to generate chi energy through the body for stronger impact.

Hanchi John then finished the seminar with 20min pressure point training, showing that the body can be overcome, controlled, maimed and disabled without brute strength..

After the seminar came some Chi testing for Shihan Beej and Tasshi Brian.

Shihan Beej did the arrow test, where he demonstrated relaxation, trust and let the chi flow through his body to absord and deflect the arrows (very sharp) into his throat then to deflect the energy back to the shaft that breaks the arrow shaft when pressure is applied..  this requires complete focus on ones inner self and is a important step in moving Chi energy through the body chakras to change energy flow.

Tasshi Brian then stepped up and demonstrated infront of his style the next phase of Chi control, the ability to overcome pain, blood flow and breathing.. his exquisite exhibition showed the teaching of Hanchi John, how to slow the heart rate down slow enough to stop the blood flow to his arms and thus use the power of the  pins.  He broke 5 tiles hanging from the pins by rope, achieving the 3^rd level of Chi.. the crowd were blown away!  We then cleaned up the hall and broken tiles and headed back to Tasshi Brian place to prepare for the dinner.

Dinner was fantastic, then back to our beloved hot pools .. woohoo J wish we had these at home!

In keeping with our traditions, we had to wear our new belts for 48 hours, making it difficult to swim in the thermal spring whilst keeping them dry.. The locals dived for cover when we looked like Turban Terrorists, as the belts were wrapped around our heads, the only thing we blew were bubbles (Sensei Mofo, step away from the Bubbles !!!)..

Monday 16^th November 2009

Last Day, woke up and had a few coffees and discussed what we were going to do..

Tasshi in all his kindness insisted that Hanchi and I take his motorcycles out for a ride.  Shihan Brad and the boys decided on gift shopping for those at home..  On the way, we stopped and tried some of NZ finest fish (or is it fush in the local language?), for lunch..   Fish won’t ever be the same back at home compared to these incredible delights..

 We then headed to Mt Manganui  whilst trying to avoid the police (The Kawasaki max’d out at 140 k/ph, whilst the Harley reaches 185 k/ph downhill – no brake necessary).. Luckily Sensei Mofo kept his promise and avoided being arrested in a Foreign country! 

After lunch and sightseeing at the Mount, we headed back to Tasshi’s house, he took Hanchi and myself out on a shooting expedition, plenty of ammunition and 1 dead widescreen TV (damn those kiwi actors, so much for Lord of the Rings!).. Tasshi kept getting phone calls reminding him we were running late, he answered these phone calls with “I’m not telling these crazy aussies to hurry up, whilst they hold loaded guns”

Consequently, we arrived fashionably late and made a grand entrance for the last night training at the Honbu.  Hanchi taught chi (Shihan Brad did Arrows, Shihan Beej did Pins and we all did rocks)..

Hanchi John was very happy that no-one bled to death as It is very hard to clean blood out of the carpet.

Afterwards was the sad part of the farewells to the students and instructors.. time for 1 last feed and prepare for the journey home..

To make this trip memorable, Tasshi wanted to make sure we celebrated with some shots of Absynthe, unbeknownst to most of us (except Sensei Mofo), this stuff is 85% rocket fuel! 

Tasshi – We feel the love brother !!

We left (nearly deported) from NZ at 6am, the worst for wear but well versed..

Yours in Budo and Grateful for showing us that Kiwi effort and Hospitality is where we should all aspire to..

Written by Hanchi John Hunt & Sensei Mofo (Justin Nichols)

(Some editing from Shihan Brad).