Farroupilha Branch, Brazil / June 2007 Contributor: Branch Master Evandro Schuster

Approximately 170 kenshis have been gathered from the 8th to the 10th of June at the PUC/RS Sports Complex, in Porto Alegre, for the 2007 South America Study Session.

The World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO), supported by the Japan Foundation Sponsorship Program, has sent 3 instructors: Yoshimi Akiyoshi, 8th Dan, Masakazu Toyama, 7th Dan, and Yuki Tanaka, 5th Dan. Among the participants, we had kenshis from all branches in Rio Grande do Sul state, others from Parana and Sao Paulo states, and one kenshi from the USA.

On the 8th, practice began at one o'clock PM with a brief introduction of the instructors, followed by Chinkon-gyo and a Kihon. Along the three days the instructors held technical trainings with the group split by graduation level, as well as Branch Master Course, Dan examinations, lessons on the Unyo-ho and Embu evaluation (with VHS support), and the presentation of a DVD from the 2005 Fukui International Taikai.

Sunday afternoon, the 10th, there was some demonstrations to the public. WSKO intructors presented Tan En Hokei (Tanaka Sensei), Self-Defense Embu (Akiyoshi Sensei, Toyama Sensei and Tanaka Sensei) and Embu (Toyama Sensei and Tanaka Sensei). Five Brazilian branches performed presentations: Porto Alegre, Downtown Porto Alegre, Passo Fundo, Porto Alegre North, and ours, Farroupilha.

Some things caught all the Kenshi's attention, besides, naturally, the very high technical level of the three instructors. Tanaka Sensei, with his sense of humor, made all the Kenshis train and learn in a very fun way. Toyama Sensei, also with a great sense of humor, spoke a lot in English and Portuguese; we realized, then, that he really made na effort to learn our language, thus making communication easier. Akiyoshi Sensei astonished everyone with his excelent technique and dexterity in teaching.

For me, personally, this Seminar had a very important meaning. To take part on it, I really had to overcome my physical limits. Less than two months ago, I was leaving the Hospital, were I stayed for 90 days, from the 12 of January to the 14 of April, and underwent some surgical procedures; my body was badly weakened by then.

I will not state all the facts here, but I would like to say that I have been at the border between life and "the other side". Every doctor that treated me and still take care of my case never stop saying: "You were born again, my friend".

At the Hospital, I got support, via letters and e-mails, from President Yuuki So, from Tsunehiro Arai Sensei and from the WSKO secretariat. At that point, I made a promise, that I would take part at the June Study Session, whatever my condition was. When I left the Hospital, I also got support from the WSKO council member Ken Noda and many North American Branch Masters.

Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to some people: President Yuuki So, Takashi So, Tsunehiro Arai, Masanori Nagata, Hidemi Uebayashi, Ken Noda, Hiroshi Onaka, Makoto Hagata and Fabian Mac-Namara Fuentes. And here from Brazil: Pedro H. O. Kenne da Silva, Ana Carolina Selmi, Italo P. Zannete, Pedro Augustin Jr. E Vinicius V. Viana. These, untiringly, have been by my side at the Hospital, offering support in many ways.

"DOMO ARIGATTO GOZAIMASHITA" to everyone!

Gassho.

Evandro Schuster - Farroupilha Branch Master

 

TOP