It all started at 10
o'clock in the evening on June 22, 2000. Twenty karatekas seated
themselves in a school bus chauffeured by Shihan Camille Ohan, heading towards
the 
Lechouerie
Inn in Ste-Anne des Monts
in Gaspésie.
After 9 hours of traveling, our tired travelers arrived at their lodging. The trip alone proved to be a self test for the karatekas. As soon as they arrived the teamwork started by discharging the baggage and carrying them to their rooms.
It is very early and everyone absorbs their new surroundings that will serve as their training environment for the next three days ! First task, however, is to find their rooms where they can sleep considering the long demanding day. In each room their is a head black belt who has been given a Japonese nickname which was used frequently and explosively.
Take Rolande Fabien as an example. This your 16 year old black belt who was nick named Yoko said "I pronounced my nick name 'YOKO!' very loud the first time and by group proceeded by repeated it 3 times. Certain names were more difficult to pronounce which became really amusing."
Shihan Ohan was very well prepared for this expedition and had a very detailed schedule which was booked from the moment the team awoke, till they set off for bed. Although the first day started with some rain, they were able to rest a few hours before embarking on this special training program that will become one of their most memorable experiences.
The objective of this
trip was to work the karateka's character, their courage, and their perseverance. 
After
a well deserved restful sleep, the morning training starts at 4:30am with two
knocks on the door of all the rooms by Shihan Ohan who was completely awake and
in shape to start the day on the right foot with his students. Gare
aux endormis ! No time to waste in bed. Only half an hour to get ready
and be out at 5:00am. Thank goodness for the heads of each room
who made sure of they were prompt.
The training started with some warm-ups to wake the body up. This was followed by some fighting techniques and some jogging. After that, a small breakfast, videos and a conference to complete the morning.
Almost all activities took place in the outdoors. The students of dojo Ki Arts Martiaux of Senseï Gilbert Vallée, were invited to join our voyagers in the afternoon for a series of courses dealing with self defense, Kyokushin techniques, and some individual and group tests.
For the individual
tests, Shihan Ohan students at random to give them a test to be performed in
front of everyone. A new person was chosen each time and each time a different
test. No one new when it was their turn and what they were asked to do.
For each karateka, this was a test of courage, a test to prove they can
surpass their limits and to prove they can do it.
In the group trials, as Rolande Fabien retells us about the cold water training, "Holding on to our kimonos, we gradually advanced towards the very cold water. We had to give kicks and run in the water. It was difficult to maneuver in the water because of the pressure against our legs and the weight of our wet kimonos. Another trial was to accumulate 25 rocks from the bottom of the water and bring them to shore. The goal of these exercises was to resist the force of the water and test our endurance."
Even
though parents were not admitted during the training camp, the youngest
children were relatively self sufficient. They had to demonstrate their
seriousness and sense of responsibility during their participation in group
activities. They knew very well that bad behavior resulted in being banned from
all the federation's future activities for one year.
Also a talk on "Why do young people get nervous?" allowed them to participate with others who thought and who they saw things in their heads.
In the afternoon, everyone had one hour to relax and took advantage to walk along the sea shore, a little reading, play in team sports, and simply talk and laugh together.
In general, free time starts after supper until bed time. The evening of June 24, they celebrated Saint-Jean Baptiste with their new friends from Saint-Anne des Monts around a traditional Saint-Jean bonfire. Shihan Ohan had even organized a small choir composed of adult members who entertained this joyous day. Meanwhile, the younger crowd enjoyed themselves by feasting on grilled marshmallows.
To conclude this training camp 2000, a mini-competition comprising of 10 people consisting of members of Montreal and Gaspésie was held in the basement of the inn.
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The departure... June 26 they boarded the bus to return to Montreal. What did they retain from this training camp...
For the young ones especially, a learning experience in become responsible, and for all an unforgettable experience which added to their training. An amusing and pleasant environment.