Banff dojo

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 6:48 pm

the first indoor spot

I train in a nice space these days, it cost too much but it is a good spot. I think that it really doesn’t mater where you train as long as you train. The memories of the training will make your training space special to you.

Here’s my first training space in Banff. Primitive it was, a poorly heated garage bay.Snow drifted under the door in blizzards. It’s used by carpenters to store cement making materials. We had to sweep the floor before each workout to remove the lime, sand , rock, and nails.

One winter we shared the space with a Hudson Bay boat. Another winter we shared it with a leaky sucker truck. That’s the year we started wearing shoes.

Had some good times in this place.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 7:14 pm

Dojo #2

Eventually we were crowded out of the first space and we moved to a new garage bay. It worked out to be a better spot for a few years. The light was better and it was slightly cleaner.

The makiwara is a new addition back when I trained with other folks here I didn't have one.

The dojo only had one skidoo back then. Marcus it was here that Jean-Guy developed his irrational fear of skidoos.

Back then their was only one skidoo we have six of them now. Jean-Guy is now afraid to come through the door.

Remember a dojo without a skidoo is just a dance studio. ::multi:

I spent hours here teaching boxing, the heavy bag next door was handy.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 7:29 pm

Eventually we got crowded out of this spot by equipment and we moved to the electrical room. Lots of sparring went down in this room.

All three spots had access to the heavy bag. However in the summer there is no room to use it. Looking forward to the fall so I can start working the bag again.

BTW. Folks that’s Kevin…aka Ruiner playing with the bag.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 8:10 pm

I eventually had to find a better spot to train.

I worked out at a gym for a while, but I never could have it on a fixed day time basis. Just didn’t fit my needs.

BTW that’s Marcus aka Stryke kicking the old guy around

We tried out side but it was weather dependent and the mosquitoes sucked.

We tried a squash court for a while. It was really clean, kind of noisy. I just about killed Jean-Guy throwing him on that floor. But the biggest issue was it was not available same time all the time.

Eventually I decided to bite the bullet and rented a spot. The landlord even sprung for this spiffy banner.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 8:14 pm

To be continued! taking a work break now

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 11:01 pm

Beautiful dojo`s Laird

Nice new bag too !!!!

and makiwara

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 2:29 am

Beautiful dojo`s Laird

Thanks mate! I suspect most Uechika won’t see the beauty of the filthy industrial dojo’s. But I will always have fond memory’s of those years. Those were the years were I trained alone without the benefit of any sensei. I took a student, a big weight lifter and together we dismantled kata. We spent our time testing theory. Boxing and seeing how many new ways we could discover to mess each other up. Jean-guy got hit more than any student should, but over the 4 years we trained he developed some solid skills. I guess his tuition was being my meat puppet while I tested my beliefs.

Nice new bag too !!!!

Hey my loved ones were good to me this past Christmas. I still miss the old black leather bag with the ring of duct tape. Ryan has it now out on the coast. I hope he’s getting some use out of it.

and makiwara

yeah mate, no dancing in that room

. I’ve got two of them, one in the skidoo room and one at the Y. Got to toughen up if I’m going to keep playing with Randy…He’s a monster.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 2:30 am

The rented dojo has great light. It’s a nice space. Floor is tough, cement with tile on top. Rick let me have his old mats so we now can do throws and take downs without killing the newbies! Photo doesn’t do it justice. I took it off a video clip. The space is called the training center by the Y.

We set up a makawara on the deck on the outside of the dojo, so I guess we are not a dance studio….then again we don’t have any skidoos so we might be.

In the winter months we are displaced from the training center and moved to a different spot.Here is an outside view of the winter dojo.

Kind of strange , low light and plush carpet with underlay. Just doesn’t feel right…but it’s good for ground work so I explore more of the mat in the winter.

They just move the furniture to the fireplace end when we train. Gives the space a temporary feel, just not our dojo, I was happy to move back to the training center this spring!

The room still doesn’t feel right to me, but I’ll live with it. I’m thinking about putting in a vending machine to augment the revenue stream.

Just kidding, I’m always happy to move back to our regular space, something about carpet just feels wrong.

I think when the dust settles we come to realize that it’s not important where we train, but what we train, and who we train with. You just get to know and respect the people who sacrifice their time and bodies to train with you. Friendships develop! I suspect the folks at GEM’s camp already know this.

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 2:42 am

good memorys Laird .

Actually find it fun doing the garage type trainings with small group .

has a informal feel of course , but also somehow more intense , lets face it not many folks will be enamoured by the conditions , and you find only the hardcore will turn up .

I hope that my training spaces will alays have the gritty reality feel to them .

Got to toughen up if I’m going to keep playing with Randy…He’s a monster.

I hear ya mate , Ive just finished some on my version of a Makiwara ... decided i better get myself up to scratch if i`m gonna have some fun up there

.

the Makiwara Conditioning Rick posted has Improved my base a whole lot , and power generation , using the whole body more connected and more relaxed .

I think the vending machines a good idea , mate I`m making good use of the extra long white belt !!!

Danny Smith · Post by **Danny Smith** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 4:36 pm

Wow!

I guess my dungeon Dojo here is not so bad after all.
training is the important thing.

I have a pic here of my Dojo and some of my students.
But I don't know how to post it to this sight.

Can someone tell me how please?

Thanks.

Tomahawk
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CANDANeh · Post by **CANDANeh** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 5:33 pm

[img]photobucket%20file%20as%20example%20then%20close%20it%20off%20with...[/img]

photobucket works well

Danny Smith · Post by **Danny Smith** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 7:26 pm

Danny Smith · Post by **Danny Smith** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 7:29 pm

Dangit, it didn't work!

.

I'll try again

.

Danny Smith · Post by **Danny Smith** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 7:31 pm

This is loco, I can't seem to make it work

.

Danny Smith · Post by **Danny Smith** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 7:48 pm

Ok, I think I have it now.

This is against the East wall of the Dojo.

That is yours truly on the far left.
The next is Tim, from England, and then we have
Lance, Nathaniel and my little tough guy, Tristan.
I work with the Chickasaw youth Services teaching kids
and young adults. There are more students but some were a bit camera shy

.

Tomahawk.