The weekend 22-23 October, Maciej Mazur and Monika Zielińska was the guest instructors during a training camp held in Norway. Norwegian Karatekas was in for a excellent weekend lead by top athletes of the world.

The camp was organized by NKO Norwegian Kyokushin Org. Shin Norway, and held in the Capitol of Norway, Oslo. The Norwegian organization are very well wear of their level measured up against the European level – and the need for knowledge from the very best will be one of the tools to reach a higher level. If one can make the gap to the leading nations a little smaller – it will be a good start.

Odd Karsten and Nils O Dybsland ⇑

You can be a top fighter an a great athlete – but that necessary don’t mean that you are a great instructor. Trough this weekend Norwegian participants experienced that in this case, Maciej Mazur and Monika Zielińska delivers high quality as instructors. Building systematically training sessions in groups which has a significant level difference it not easy – but that looked like a walk in the park for the two Polish top athletes.

Marleen Gregusson and Tina R Johansen ⇓

In front of the camp the interest was huge, and the camp was early fully booked. Unfortunately some flu kicked in close to the weekend, so the number of participants decreased some. Saturday was the most crowded day, with 50 participant in action, split into two different groups – one for active fighters, and one for eager practitioners that want to be better, learn how to set the right focus and also train others.

Maciej Mazur – rock solid

Some of the campers had the pleasure to train under Maciej Mazur at the Danish fight camp. And did know how good and systematic the training would be. But in this case, the level was significant lower than the Danish fight camp – so how would this turn out?

To reach a group with a big gap between the most experienced and those with less experience – that in not easy. Maciej Mazur does this with the greatest impact. The agenda can be seen trough the whole session or trough the whole camp for that matter. And with this agenda the message and the concept will be drilled into the campers attending.

Maciej Mazur ⇓

The drills open your view, gives you a perspective, new ideas – and at the same time constantly reminds you about the basic elements that are necessary to anything or everything to put it that way. During the sessions, some important pointers was given when something was missing. In these cases Maciej Mazur took the time to work especially, so the group could repair what was missing, and improve their skills.

Maciej Mazur ⇓

Many became further very inspired when Maciej Mazur added some of his well known techniques – and gave the campers some drills to play with this in drills and sparring. The prove that Maciej Mazur really reached the group, was that in the sparring – some of the fresh learned stuff was not only tried, but used and that with great success!

A another thing that is worth to mention, will be the training-drills with several levels in the drill / exercises. This means that different levels can train the same drills and concept – but the more experienced will get a little more to work with than the others.

So from the most experienced to the less experienced – everyone gained a solid package to work further on in their Dojos.

Monika Zielińska – energetic motivator

Monika Zielińska has proven to be one of the top fighters of the world – but as we mention – there is no automaticity in being a good instructor. And since no one had trained under Monika Zielińska before – there was excitement to how this would turn out. That said, the team behind the camp was quite sure that it would be a good experience…

Monika Zielińska ⇑

The experience was not good.. but great!! Monika Zielińska brings such an positive energy into her sessions – high pace sessions with a great passion. Zielińska telling us that one of the most important things is to have fun in the training – and that is easy to see! This also gives the group energy way beyond first expected. she strongly recommends that you must dare to try something new – to improve, to keep things alive and fun.

In the same way as Mazur, Monika Zielińska gives us some of her best moves and technics – and of course how to make them really good with a focus on the right details – combined with physical training that reinforces the technique and makes it explosive. Everything clearly explained and showed to the group.

You quickly notice that you are motivated, the passion and joy of training is highly contagious. When you as a performer experience real joy and passion from your instructor – then you have the very best conditions for learning and developing yourself further. This will be the effect of training with Monika Zielińska.

The Norwegian organization NKO, are grateful beyond words. Knowing the tight schedule these two top fighters have – but taking the time coming to Norway,  giving a helping hand, motivate and giving great motivation. A big Osu to Svein Olaf Bennæs (also taking the picures), President of NKO, organizing the camp, with help of Marleen Gregusson doing logistics and the coordination with the national team.

Some of the camper Sunday ⇑

Beathe Hegerland / Etne & Ellisiv Leithe/Tromsø