Summer Camp 2025 – a report by Shihan Jozef Gora

We are reposting the report about our Summer camp 2025 in Niesulice (Poland) written by Shihan Jozef Gora in English here. The original article in Polish can be found here: https://chiryu.pl/2025/summer-camp-2025-fgtck-relacja/

We’re already longing for summer and vacations, and we have particularly fond memories of the Geido Tao Chi Kihon Federation summer camp. This time, it took place in Poland, at the Kormoran Recreation Center in Niesulice.

On August 15th, Niesulice welcomed us with beautiful, warm, sunny weather. The center was filled with “wild, crazy” crowds of people enjoying the summer.

We were accommodated in comfortable and cozy wooden houses with a fully equipped kitchen.

Additionally, there are separate sleeping rooms, a living room with TV, toilet and shower. 

A group of four from Dojo Oświęcim was allocated the house visible in the photo.

The camp’s training program included Chi Ryu Iaido and Okinawa Kobudo, as well as the use of the Center’s facilities. During the first session, each cabin received the symbol of our SC 25 – a plush green Kermit the Frog – which kicked off the long-awaited “pink flamingo” game.

It involved being everywhere with Kermit, in all the places where you were and participated in activities.

If any resident of a given cottage forgot or lost Kermit, a resident of another cottage could take him and demand a ransom.

Well, now the real fun and fighting over Kermit began. And Kermit was with us everywhere:

at meals,

while sleeping,

in the fridge,

and during rest.

Iaido classes were led by Shihan Kathrin Siggelkow, Technical Director of the Iaido Federation, and Shihan Sven Goessner, Technical Director of Chi Ryu Aiki Jitsu. 

Revision of techniques and presentation of new ones made the time pass quickly during morning and afternoon training sessions.

There was also time for fun. We had fun on Lake Niesłysz, riding pedal boats:

By the bonfire and roasting sausages:

Where Kathrin and Sven received commemorative T-shirts with meaningful themes related to what they talked about most often:

We all actively participated in creating the SC25 stone souvenirs:

The weather was kind to us, sunny and warm. In the evening, we were greeted by beautiful sunsets.

  and in the mornings they woke up to wonderful mornings.

Time flew by so quickly, pleasantly, and in such a friendly way that before we knew it, it was August 20th and the end of camp. We had to say goodbye and return to our homes and dojos. Thanks to the excellent teaching skills of the instructors, we gained new knowledge and skills. Shihan Katrin promised that we would meet again next year at the same location, at another summer camp. Therefore, we recommend and invite everyone to this form of relaxation and training. 

And now that’s all. I was there, I ate, I slept, and I observed. And I’ve described to you what I saw and experienced.

We’re going home, see you next year!

Joseph Góra