He admitted that "I've been doing GKR for 14 years and never have been down to canberra before in a teaching capacity!" before the classes began, but afterwards promised that he would try and make it an annual event.
First up was a 1.5 hour session for public students in which we did lots of combinations/stances/kicks/hip work etc, then some self defence type scenarios, before finishing off with some more fun things, such as balancing/kicking challenges, and seeing who could get off the ground and deliver a technique first.
Then afte a short break, we had a 2.25 hour session for instructors, followed by question time. The second session involved lots more partner work, and was more technical than the first session, but still a bit of a sweat fest. We finished off this session with sparring work, and then a bit of two on one for some fun.
The whole day was pretty awesome, and Sensei Gavin gave me lots to think about, and a new perspective on certain areas, but one of my personal highlights was that afterwards when I went up to say hello, and thank him for coming down, and he asked my name, and said that I looked familiar.
That's now several of the high up GKR people that can recognise me, with Sensei Nabil having watched my third place at the NAS nationals, and speaking to me afterwards, and Sensei Alex Pereda partnering me at the sydney seminar last year.
Now if only Shihan would come down here......
