The intention of the beach training was to train in another environment, quite different to the dojo. To test and challenge basics such as posture, balance and breathing, to challenge the spirit by having to dig deep, and to have a great time. Also the local cafe serves a great breakfast.
For those who could the training began with an hours mokuso at 6am (some obviously chose to do that bit at home) and be in mokuso for the sun rise.
Then we began the physical part with a beach run for the warm up. This included kiais with punches running up the beach. The rest of the one and a half hours was spent doing line work and pairs work in and out of the waves and on both solid and soft sand. With some light sparring in the surf. (The objective at times seemed to be drown the instructor)
Training finished up with a period of mokuso facing out to sea.
It was then change into dry clothing and off to the cafe for breakfast. We were still there 2 hours later listening to stories from our South African nidan (65 years old ) about beach, bush and desert training taken by visiting Japanese Shotokan instructors in the 70′s.
It was a great time and I am being frequently asked for the next one.
