16th annual Kyokushin training camp-Multiple-man fights highlight of 16th Gassku |29 March 2005

During the camp, three senior members of the school aptly demonstrated Kyokushin’s unique 'Spirit of Osu' or perseverance beyond one’s normal limits to complete the fights required for their respective grading tests.

Throughout the camp, all students were required to demonstrate the 'Spirit of Osu' in the various training classes.

Training began at 5 a.m. everyday with a marathon run which was later followed by a session of Kyokushin's basics as well as advanced hand techniques.

In view of the forthcoming grading, the emphasis during this camp was placed on physical as well as mental preparation, the perfection of good basic techniques and stances which are the foundation of Kyokushin karate.

The mid-morning session was devoted to practising the use of the Bo (Long Staff) and the students were taken through the different strikes, blocks as well as the Bo Kata. The senior members were taught self-defence techniques against the Bo.

The highlight of the camp was the required fights by the three senior members, namely shihan Philip Moustache, senseis Francis Françoise and Philip Verghese.

Shihan Moustache had to successfully complete 60 fights whereas the other two senseis had to complete 40 fights each. Their opponents included the school’s best knockdown fighters whereas the other members were on hand to cheer them on in their quest.

Fighting started at 6 a.m. and all fights were conducted under the International Karate Organisation (IKO) knockdown rules whereby the fights were continuous with only a 15-second break after every 20th fight.

Senseis Françoise and Verghese successfully completed their 40-man fight, thus meeting the last grading requirement for their fourth dan black belt grading which they had undergone last month in South Africa under Kyokushin grandmaster Kancho Shokei Matsui.

For Sensei Verghese, it was an even greater achievement because he had undergone a major surgical operation in November last year.

After the two senseis had completed their fights, shihan Moustache continued on in his quest and successfully completed the 60-man fight in one hour and 25 minutes.

Moustache's feat went down in the history book of Seychelles karate as no other Seychellois karateka has gone beyond the 50-man fight.

In fact, Moustache was the first local fighter to complete the 50-man fight and he  achieved the feat during the school’s seventh edition of the training camp in April 1996.

The last two days of the camp saw grading sessions for karatekas of the lower coloured belts. The majority of the students passed their grading.

Shihan Moustache, who is also Kyokushin's local branch chief, will later this week present the successful karatekas with their new belts and certificates.

Meanwhile, the Kyokushin Karate School will hold its annual Shodan Shinsha (black belt grading) at the Young Lions Dojo at Belonie, this coming weekend.

Two students – Rodrigo Albert and Ricardo Suzette – will attempt a black belt grading whereas the others will attempt brown belt grading.