BKFA Summer Course 2009
The annual British Kung Fu Association Summer Course
This year the Summer Course was in Scarborough, from the 26th July till the 1st August. It was a very successful course with around 70 people attending in total including 12 from our Stafford, Cannock & Codsall clubs. The Summer Course is a long standing annual event in the Lau-Gar calendar as it has been running for 33 years now. It has been held in many different places across the country including Tenby, Torquay, St. Andrews and Llandudno; however the majority have been in Scarborough.
Tai Chi on the South Beach (click to enlarge)
The weekdays started at 7am with a run which started as a 2 mile run up to the South Bay Car Park on Monday and worked up to a 5 mile run to the top of Oliver's Mount, looping several times and back down to the beach again by Friday (you were encouraged to run at your own level, taking no longer than 58 minutes so some brave souls ran further & some ran less). For those who were unable to run Pete Hornby was teaching Tai Chi on the beach. After the run/Tai Chi session it was back to our hotels for breakfast and to get ready for the main training.
The runners warming up.
The main session was held at the Pindar Leisure Centre and ran from 10am to 2pm. The theme for this year was a new variation of the Lau Gar Two Man Set, incorporating the 8 powers and 18 keywords that were studied on last year's course. Each session featured a warm up and stretch, stance training and advice, practice of the Two Man From, walking techniques, kicking techniques, Chi Gung led by Master Yau, syllabus work, another stretch and, finally, standing meditation. The sessions were chosen to appeal to students of all levels and there were many high level Black Sashes around to help anyone who needed it.
The runners waiting for everyone to get back.
As usual on Wednesday evening there was a barbeque and on Friday evening we all met for some drinks to celebrate the end of the course and to relax and chat (or play pool). We had quite a large group from the Stafford areas clubs this year, including Summer Course beginners Jane and Holly, and we also met up with Gabby again (we 'adopted' her last year as she was the only member of her club on the course).
On the last day it was annouced that next year's Summer Course will be held in Llandudno from the 1st to the 8th August 2010 so start looking for a hotel now.
Members of the Stafford, Cannock & Codsall Clubs with Master Yau on the last day (click for larger version)
(left to right - Back row: Garry, Ben F, Jasson, Ben L, Gil, Alan & Pete. Front row: Riona, Master Yau, Jane, Holly & Gabby)
 Jane and Holly with Master Yau |  Riona and Jason with Master Yau |
Words: Alan Smewing
Pictures: Pete Hornby
