On the 3rd
day of the seminar, when everyone was working on the sparring
techniques of the 5th student grade, much to everyone's surprise,
the editor-in-chief (Nadja Irena Fisic) of the daily newspaper
"Jutarnji List" walked in. The newspaper is amongst
the Top 3 daily newspapers of Croatia and Nadja traveled some
190 mi all the way from Zagreb in order to interview GM Bill Newman.
GM Bill Newman
demonstrating how to handle sword and buckler.
Despite her
tight agenda, the editor-in-chief stayed another while to see
some demos from GM Bill Newman, and she was deeply impressed.
The editor-in-chief
watched GM Bill's demos very closely.
GM Bill demonstrated
various applications covering the sword, sword and buckler, espada
y daga, tonfa, staff, single stick and short-power.
At the end
of the session both Falk Welker (Escrima Assistant Croatia) and
Jürgen Pottiez (Karlsruhe) received their 2nd TG. Since there
was only one more day to go, training continued with a focus on
the sparring techniques of the 5th student's grade. The TGs trained
these accordingly to their programme, i.e. sword and buckler,
staff and dos manos (transition).
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And there
were mode graduatoins: Sascha Böhringer (Escrima Assistant
Croatia) graduated in a very special test, his 1st TG. Patrick
Schmitt (Karlsruhe) received his instructor's diploma.
Learning about
strategy and tactics in combat was not finished for this day however.
In the afternoon most of the summer camp partitioners met for
a paintball match. The "playground" was the premises
of a 300 years old farmstead. Just like in Escrima, it was imperative
in order to survive to use proper strategies and tactics. The
encounters were hard and rough and went on for a few hours but
at the end of the day (and many bruises later) it was simply great
fun for everyone!
The "Paintball
Army" lead by master sergeant B. Schimpf. (frontmost).
On the last
day of the summer camp focus was put on the figure eight using
one or two weapons and on short-power. At the end of the seminar
week, Bernd Hoyer received his 3rd TG. Everyone was very happy
and satisfied with the days spent in Croatia and promises were
made to come back next year.
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