The retreat gave all participants a chance to an inner journey. Sensei Anette led six sessions with different tools to work with, that gave us a deeper insight into karate. The ground contact was established in different dachi during the first practice. We allowed our feet to explore their love to the ground, dig deeper and deeper and then merge. Next thing to focus on was the breathing, ”control your breath and you control your mind”. The third focus was Tanden, a hard practice with a lot of movements. Mind in Tanden. All movements starting from Tanden. Heat created from inside and the flow of energy spreading to the rest of the body. Saturday night ended with a training that focused on thoughts and feelings, and not to let one of our senses dominate all the others. More power, more speed, constantly striving for more and reach beyond our limits but with compassion in mind. During this training a variety of sensations occured, but we were not to evaluate any of them as good or bad just be aware of the different sensations. The last day of practice we focused on mindfulness and thoughts. We had to clear our mind of all distractions to be more explosive. After each karate training we walked mindfully for 30 minutes. We walked in silence in a controlled and conscious manner. All meals during the weekend was carefully designed to create as many pleasurable sensations as possible.

The food was organic, vegetarian and vegan. No talking during the meals. In the end, it was a very harmonius experience.

Sensei Anette showed movies of Taiji Kase and held lectures that concerned our six senses (including thinking mind and feeling body as two different senses), and how we should relate to them, about the search for answers to existential questions, how we can use our energy for something good instead of being destructive and much more.

Whether we wanted it or not, we were all forced to meet and socialize with ourselves during the activities of the weekend. We got the chance to explore ourselves inside out and perhaps realize how little that is really explored of our full potential.

I speak for all participants during this fruitful weekend when I say that it was very much appreciated and made us more open minded. What sensei Anette taught us will be brought to every karate training as well as be our faithful companion in everyday life.”

/Carro-san