Fred Quant in Czech Republic
20th to 21st November 2004
During the above weekend we had our fifth seminar in Zlin, Czech Republic (300 km east from Prague) led by Fred Quant. 25 people (including Fred) from many parts of Czech Republic, Moravia and also foreigners attended this seminar. There were Joseph and his jodo group from Hungaria, for the second time our friends from Poland (seitei jo from Poznan and the aikido group from Cieszin) and also Radu Sarandan, who practices still alone in Romania... I hope you can meet them one day, too.
The Saturday morning practice started with mutual uchikomi geiko and explanation of the first three techniques. In the afternoon we continued with kihon tandoku, practicing and repeating basic kata (tokushu waza and omote waza). Sunday training was dedicated to kihon sotai and new kata according to the level of the practitioners. Fred introduced also a few movements with tanjo.
I think the program was selected with sense for the groups according to the different levels of the majority of practitioners. We have a lot of people who would like to practice in the future but presently they do not have many possibilities. And in the same way there are some people in the seminar who never practiced before together with those who practice regularly with us for example in Zlin. This time it seemed that everyone was happy with both what Fred showed and also what they practiced.
As an organizer I would like to thank Fred that he comes to us and misses the rare organization’s mistakes. This time we had to undergo the way from Prague to Zlin and the weather this time was really terrible, so not only his flight from Amsterdam and back was longer, but also these car trips. My sincere thanks to all participants for coming and practicing even in the cold dojo... I think this time we all had to prove we deserve the practicing.
So good by and meet you all in Czech... sometime in Spring.
Patrik Orth, Czech Republic
Fédération Européenne de Jodo / European Jodo Federation