The Budo Summer Camp '98!

This summer the Risør Summer Camp celebrates it's 15th anniversary, with a fantastic group of 9 great instructors from many different styles such as Aiki Jutsu, Katori Shinto Ryu, Shorinji Kempo, Jujutsu, Aikido, Wing Chun, Arnis, Capoeira, etc. The camp is held in Risør, Norway, June 26th to July 5th. Some of the instructors are Shihan Keido Yamaue of Yamaue Aiki Jutsu, Shihan Yukihiro Sugino of Katori Shinto Ryu, Senseis Are and Eri Kusano, etc .

This years Budo camp is arranged by the Norwegian Budo Federation and Risoer Ju-jitsu Club.

Please Note!
I have no financial motives or other personal gains in placing the info about this seminar here, I have nothing to do with the arrangement of the camp, I just think this is a great camp that more people should know about! The text below is translated from Norwegian (by me) from the invitation I got from the sponsor, I apologize in advance should I have missed any points in the translation!

The 15th Summer Camp!

The Budo camp in Risoer is celebrating it's 15th anniversary this year. This camp has become a tradition, every summer budo practitioners from all over Scandinavia are coming to train with knowledgeable and highly skilled instructors from a great variety of styles.

Two camps in 10 days...

As usual, the camp is split in two parts, one camp for the small kids and one for the "big kids" :-)

The first is aimed at kids between the age of 7 and 14, and the second is for those who are 15 and above.

There are advantages for everybody in doing it this way, but most for the kids, as they at any time have a staff of about 20 camp guides who looks after them and makes sure they have a great time during training as well as socially when not training.

This is camp takes kids seriously!

At the adults' camp the training will be very diverse, you can learn aspects from many different styles, with some of the best instructors available!

The socializing is great as well, every evening the "Budo-grill" is fired up outside the the training hall, and everybody gathers to eat and chat and have a good time. The uniqueness with this camp is that the instructors most of the time will be around also for the social part, answering questions and joining in on the fun in general.

The instructors:

This year we can present a spectacular group of instructors, among them one of the greatest martial artists in the world, who has never before visited Scandinavia, and is one of three(!) Japanese top instructors on the camp!

Sensei Yukihiro Sugino:

8th dan in both Aikido and Katori Shinto Ryu. He will become the next grand master of this 700 year old tradition, and nobody who sees him (or trains with him!) would guess that he is over 60.

His father, the current grand master of Katori Shinto Ryu, is 94 years old, and one of the very few persons in the history who has received 10th dan in two different styles (Aikido and Katori Shinto Ryu), and he is still teaching in his dojo in Tokyo, where our guest Sugino Sensei also instructs every day.

Sensei Kei Yamaue:

10th dan Aiki-jutsu, he is the Honorary Protector [don't know if this translated very well] of the camp, and this is the 14th time he is instructing here!

His Aiki Jutsu system is officially recognized and respected in Japan, where he is also a priest and one of only two students in the Saga Imperial Palace Daikakuji Temple and Daishoji Imperial Temple. Yamaue sensei is an official ambassador of the Saga Temple and his Budo knowledge is sought after worldwide from clubs of all styles.

His demonstrations of the use of Ki energy has left many in wonder, and we will have more opportunities to be impressed this summer!

In addition to the teaching Aiki Jutsu, the use of Ki, and general martial arts techniques Yamaue sensei is also going to give instruction in the use of Kongo (a weapon similar to the Yawara-stick/Kubotan). A few handmade versions will be available for sale.

Sensei Eri Kusano:

5th dan Katori Shinto Ryu, has taught at most of the camps in Risoer. She is a very popular instructor, and one of Japan's most talented female practitioners in this art. The participants at last years camp will no doubt also remember her demonstration of Sa-Do, the Japanese tea ceremony that she has studied for more than 20 years! We hope there will be another demo this year, where we can join in.

Sensei Are "Kakudoh" Kusano:

5th dan Ju-Jutsu, 4th dan Katori Shinto Ryu, Aikido and Kyudo, 3rd dan Iaido, 2nd dan Shorinji Kempo and Arnis. This instructor from Kristiansand (Norway) has done what most Budoka dream about. 8 years ago he traveled to Japan to train, and has lived there since. He already had about 15 years of Ju-Jutsu training and an iron will to train hard. Today he is without doubt one of Norway's most knowledgeable martial artists, and in addition to learning about the martial arts he is also a monk, studying in a Buddhist temple.

At last years camp he had a very popular workshop where the participants could make their own Bokken (wooden sword), we will try to fit this into the schedule this summer as well.

Sensei Claes Bjurestig:

5th dan Ju-Jitsu, is also one of the instructors who has been teaching at many of the camps, and a very popular teacher he is! He is teaching Goshin Ryu Ju-Jitsu, among his teachers are Professor Richard Morris as well as Shihan Yamaue. A more enthusiastic instructor on the mat is hard to find, EVERYONE leaves one of his sessions sweating!

Johan Skaalberg:

3rd dan Arnis, 2nd dan Ju-Jutsu and Wing Chun instructor, has over the years developed a frightening ability to perform efficient self defense. His performance is world class, and should be experienced!

He is bringing with him his training partner Anders Randin, one of Sweden's best Wing Chun exponents.
Together this popular duo will give most martial artists an "aha-experience" on how self defense can be performed efficiently!

Jacob Sucksdorff and Ib Andersen:

Instructors in Capoeira, this summer for the third time in Risoer. Capoeira is quite different from other martial arts, but has been a very fun part of the camps! Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art with African origins, and contains incredibly acrobatic techniques. It is a very interesting and different experience to join these skilled instructors in a session where the music and cooperation is just as important as the performance of technique ...and their technique is incredible!

When & Where & Time & Cost & Travel Info:

Date:
Kids camp: Friday 26th - Monday 29th of June

Main camp: Wednesday 1st - Sunday 5th of July

Price:
Kids camp: NOK 675,- (USD 90 / GBP 55) including food and lodging!
(bring a sleeping bag)

          Main camp : NOK 700,- (USD 95 / GBP 56) for the whole camp
                       NOK 200,- (USD 27 / GBP 16) for single days
                       NOK 300,- (USD 40 / GBP 24) for the Weekend
                       Lodging costs NOK 30,- per night (USD 4 / GBP 2.50),
                       when sleeping over in the place we train. Bring a
                       sleeping bag!   There are also Hotels/Motels in the
                       center of Risoer (15-20 minute walk).

Travel:
          Risoer is a small and cosy town by the sea in the south of Norway,
          and you can go there by bus, train or boat.
          If you go there via Oslo we recommend you travel by boat, and you
          get a 20% discount with Agder Cruise in the period June 26th -
          July 6th if you show them the invitation to the camp. The Agder
          Cruise boats departs from the center of Oslo and stops in the center
          of Risoer.

Contact:
         Hans Petter Skolsegg
         email:[email protected]
         phone: +47 922 59 959