Ok so I’m sitting at home looking on Facebook and I see a post “KAPAP Level 1 course Londonderry New Hampshire USA”. Well I can’t do that, too far away…will cost too much…etc etc. So being a good egg I share the post on my timeline but say that I would love to go but, can’t afford it, too far way, missus will not approve, too much work, too much money on blah blah blah…

Well shortly after, I get a comment to my post, “come along Brett” from Avi… Hmmm OK I know that once you do a level 1 the rest are free but all the way to America and I hate travelling – it’s bad enough jumping on a plane to Corfu, let alone 6,000 miles away.

“Come along Brett… Don’t worry about the accommodation you can stay around a friends”. Tick, tick, tick… Invite in person from Avi? Wow! Oh by the way, it’s three days BJJ training with Avi who is an official Machado black belt. Noooooo, can’t do it, I keep finding excuses.

My partner then turns round and repeats to me one of my favourite quotes I use when students crap out of training. “If you really want to do something you’ll find away, if not you will find an excuse”! OK I get that… I’m going! LOL

So to cut a long story short, at the airport my Virgin Atlantic ticket in hand and… hang on errrrr ESTA pass not sorted (YIKES), panic time. Thankfully I had my iPad with me and a solid wifi connection so I managed to book in and finally on the plane ready for the dreaded 7 hour flight.

Thankfully three movies later, courtesy of Virgin Atlantic, we touch down in a rather nippy Boston Logan Airport. Found it rather strange that in the land of the FREE I had to present a passport to buy a bus ticket. Rather odd but there you go. Another hour on the road by bus I finally arrive in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Waiting for me Russ Towers a fellow English man who jumped ship and decide to move to the land of milk and honey.

Russ gives me the low down on the area and points out that the temperature is a mere -16c, with a nice few feet of snow. Apparently this was the end of the winter season and it can snow a couple of feet in one sitting.

Mat burns and BJJ drills

Anyway we turn up at the dojo in morning, can’t say I slept well via a mixure of nervous energy and of course my body was still in the UK time zone. I get to meet the crew, who are well travelled and training starts by going through the BJJ blue belt drills. Me being as flexible as a blank of wood found this quite amusing, however I was a bit more flexible than our Italian friend who came over to train, Luigu, who was a spiritely 72 years old LOL… Avi Nardia probably thought I was a raging loony but we had lots of good conversation and I particularly enjoyed his stories, especially ‘the cat in the kitchen’, which I’m sure if you follow Avi Nardia on Facebook you will know it. After three days and most of the skin off my toes chafed off and my feet looking like they were being held together with plasters the BJJ drills final come to an end. What a great education that was with a few new ideas to begin to the mat in little old Great Yarmouth.

Canilonies and KAPAP

So finally after 3 days of BJJ which I admit, I’m a bit of novice at, we hit the main event. Quite surprising that in comparisons to training the UK it had the feel of a traditional martial class, lot’s of Gi’s and black belts and me standing there with a white belt on. Psst by the way I’m a 1st Dan Black belt in Korean Karate 🙂

Oh and I finally get to meet Jeff Burger, who I meet via a Toby Cowern who insisted that I must try something called a “Canilony”. Damn may I say they were very nice and would highly recommend if you ever go to Boston – I kindly shared amongst the team.

The next few days we train lots of drills, Sensei Avi Nardia certainly trains us hard. No breaks, just take a few minutes out here and there, drink tea and eat bananas, we are told. Training all day and up to 11pm at night and ridiculously early starts, at the dojo for 6am. Highlight of the course was training barefoot in the snow doing “Suburi” drills and live cutting with a Katana (Japanese Samurai sword). Trust me those blades are mighty sharp!

We were doing all kind of crazy stuff and I must admit was seriously flagging by the last day of the course. So here comes the end, the guys and girls pick up there certificates and my friend Russ Towers receives his Black Belt off Avi Nardia, which pleases everyone as he works so hard and is extremely dedicated. Next thing I know I’m called up, what the hell for I don’t know. Wow have a level 2 certificate handed too me. What an honour, was so chuffed flying home and the end of a great adventure.

So it come to home time and I travel back with Mr Burger who kindly gives me a tour of the old part of the City Boston and the harbour area. We visit the famous “Green Dragon bar” which was headquarters or the American rebellion and have probably the best pint of Guinness ever. Several pints later it’s time for the dreaded flight back. By the way jet lag sucks!