What is Kangeiko?

 

Kangeiko is usually described as cold winter training.  In traditional Japanese training, Karate-ka may work out in the snow or with the windows open.  Here at the gym in Paonia, the gym is already cold, so we didn't need to add any hardship there. Kangeiko is a way for people who study karate to strengthen their mind and body by coming to class for a whole week and trying out new things.  We work on conditioning exercises to help with future competitions and we work on kehon for the same reason. Working out hard 5 days in a row does not seem difficult to the uninitiated.  But it takes fortitude and determination when a Karate-ka's day is already jam-packed with school, work, children or homework. This year's Kangeiko, February 12-16 2007, was our first, and we had a great turn-out for it.  Everyone was challenged, everyone was sore, but everyone stuck it out.  Karate spirit ran high and winter-training was a big success. First day!

Above:  Group photo on last day. Left:  Clay shows the moves of WanKan to the kids. Below Right:  Cat stance is fun. Below Left:  Dinner at Fiesta Vallarta on the last night!  Yum!