Washinkai held another successful summer gasshuku at Milton Abbey School in July 2022. Shihan Chris Thompson started teaching karate at the school in 1988 and the Association has been holding its popular summer courses there since 1991.
The Gasshuku was held on the hottest week on record. However, this did not daunt all those attending! It was the largest gasshuku held for many years, with many returning to train after the Covid pandemic. Every session was held outside in the shade of the trees behind the Abbey.
On Wednesday, nine people successfully attempted Dan gradings from 1st to 5th Dan. On Wednesday evening, following our annual BBQ, presentations were made to Oliver O’Connor for all his work taking photos for both Hawkinge and Dover Karate Clubs. Sensei Neville Smith made a surprise presentation to Shihan Chris Thompson, celebrating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of Washinkai Karate. Presentations continued, awarding Andrew Newman with 6th Dan. Andy started with karate and made the switch to Washinkai in 2008. Sensei Neville Smith was awarded his 8th Dan. Neville has been doing karate since 1974 and has been a member of Washinkai since 1986. The Graham Smith Trophy was awarded to three instructors in December 2021. These were Sensei Neil Benton, Pete Saunders and Trevor Starkey. All three continued through the Covid pandemic to teach karate to our members via Zoom. Therefore it was felt appropriate that they be jointly awarded with this trophy. Neil had held the Trophy for four months, followed by Pete Saunders. The Trophy was then handed to Trevor Starkey for the last four months of the year. Fun was had with the annual quiz organised by Calum Mendham with the help of Sara Benton. The course finished on Thursday with our usual guest instructor Sensei Yoshinobu Ohta, instructing the group through the Shotokan kata Jion and Jitte.
Washinkai looks forward to returning to Milton Abbey for the 2023 summer gasshuku.
