Jodo Summer Camp in Kacov
from August 4 to 11, 2007
Thanks to those who made this first Jodo Summer Camp in Eastern Europe a great success. About 130 participants could be welcome; this was a world premiere in our federation! The venue was fantastic and the organization excellent! A great "Thank you" to Patrick Orth, Renata and the whole Czech team. I take the full responsibility of the little "mishap" at the end of the Gasshuku. If the weather was quite uncertain and if we lost about one and a half hour to go to the gym (by the way, a marvelous gym), the organization made it clear to me that in the future I have to delegate more than ever because the number of candidates has grown enormously. From now on, Kyu candidates will be examined by the Shoden and Dan candidates by myself and the Chuden. This little organizational trouble has deprived us of a syonara party which we can live with, of course, but it also deprived us of an official closure of the Gasshuku which troubles me much more, because I would have liked to express my gratitude to our hosts, to Vincente Borondo, Adrian Knight and Suezawa sensei for their excellent attitude and their technical contribution.
Adrian Knight will assist us to organize the Gasshuku in Japan in 2009 and I thank him on behalf of everybody for his efforts. If we are lucky we will convince the Japanese to organize this Gasshuku in Summer and not in Spring as many would like to have it (because of the humidity and heat).
I also got the agreement from Vincente Borondo, who teaches in Madrid, for his integration into our federation. I am really happy about this decision. Vincente is really an advantage for our federation and we will appreciate it very much. What's more, he decided to organize next year's Gasshuku near Madrid. This will be our first Summer camp in Spain. The dates may be basically the same as in Kácov, however, they have to be confirmed.
Suezawa sensei who practices Shintô Musô Ryű in his "Bunbu Dôjô" in the outskirts of Tokyo has ensured us that all European participants who would like to come to Japan will be welcome.
Finally, I would also like you to express your opinion in the Forum section of our site. It is often because of your reactions that we will be able to change something, for example, the course of the examination day this Summer. Hoping that everybody could return home safe and wishing to see many of you at the Kagamibiraki in 2008 I give my best regards to all of you.
Pascal Krieger
Fédération Européenne de Jodo / European Jodo Federation