Small group, no more than 12 students, for more hands on time with Eli.
November 2nd-9th 2024. 6 places left
March 29th till April 5th 2025. 11 places left
Places books out fast, make sure you book in no to save your place.
Who is it for:
This camp is aimed at people with no prior training at all, up to instructors 1st degree with the WTBA.
If you are a WTBA instructor, you have a choice of either these camps or the Instructors Camp. You can still get a lot of great training here to perfect what you already know. Or you might have an instructors degree only in form and qigong, wanting to upgrade that to a grade so you can teach partner drills.
If you are only graded in Form, then you will be out of your depth coming to an instructors camp to learn partner drills.
If you are a full instructor especially or a higher rank, then you're better off booking into the Instructors Camp, however, if the dates of the foundations camps suit you better, then Eli will always give you some special attention in more advanced principles.
What will it be like:
There will be 7 hours of training each day.
You can learn all areas of the WTBA syllabus, or just the ones you choose.
If for example you are not interested in the combat/self-defence area of training, you are more than welcome to do some more practice on form or push hands etc during that session. Obviously for any partner drills you'd need someone else who also doesn't want to do combat.
Keep in mind that even the combat area can be done slowly, so it is suitable for everyone.
The camp will be limited to 12 people, the purpose of this is that you get far more hands on training with Eli.
Eli will teach and explain the general principles to the whole group, or sub groups, he will then go around and give individual advice to every student throughout each session, making sure that everyone gets exactly what they need for they level of skill.
Aside from the training, we'll be staying right on the sea.
It is a great escape from the cold, warm sunny training and swimming in the sea during the break time.
Check out the videos and pictures below.
What will be taught:
We will work through the WTBA grading syllabus. Students will generally learn according to their grade, but we are not strict on this, sometimes it's beneficial to have a look at things in higher grades, so long as you keep you main focus on your grade.
You will have the chance to take a grading during camp as well, if you want.
Exactly what will be taught will depend on who is attending, Eli has a chat with everyone on the first morning, to see what people want/need to learn.
Three main areas of practice:
1.
Qigong and Slow Form.
We will start with Qigong and Foundations of Movement, then moving onto the YLC Taiji form, or the Bagua Circular form, you choose one.
Since it's a small group, Eli can teach both forms at once. For more information on choosing Bagua or Taiji as your main solo form, click here.
2.
Partner Training Drills.
This area is where we pair up and practice the methods within the student foundations.
It's martial, but not rough martial, at least not when you first start out.
These set training drills teach us important skills that can be used in the martial practice, but a student should never consider themselves as combat ready from only practicing drills, this is where area three comes in.
3.
Combat/Self-Defence.
This area is where we practice fighting, don't be scared, if you are a total beginner you will be treated as such.
This area is still done slowly to start off with, the speed and pressure you use will depend on your current skills.
If you know nothing, you don't need to worry about getting punched in the face on day one.
We will practice pad work to learn how to strike, attack/defence methods, working our way through from the most simple to the more difficult areas.
Our focus in the WTBA is for use in self defence, not competition.
We learn to deal with the most dangerous of situations, life or death, as well as a drunk kid swinging a punch at you in the parking lot, where a more gentle method is used.
This is a mixture of Bagua and Taiji. Covering striking and grappling.
Retreat Schedule:
Day 1
Arrival day, get to camp after 4pm, chill out or do some training, but no official classes.
There is no dinner on this first evening.
Days 2 to 7 training schedule:
Please note, a session that says partner drills for example, you can choose to do more form or qigong if you prefer.
Exact times will be set closer to the time.
7am
Warm Ups.
7:15am
Qigong
7:30am
Taiji or Bagua form.
9:30am
Breakfast.
10:30am
Partner Drills.
12:30pm
Lunch. Then you should still have two hours free to go for a swim, chill out, or do some more training.
3pm
Partner Drills or Combat.
5pm
Cool down Qigong Flow Practice.
5:30pm
Finish. Chill out and get ready for dinner.
6pm
Dinner.
Day 8
Leaving day, pack up and head home in the morning, we need to be out by 9:30am.
There is no breakfast this last morning.
Things most likely to be covered:
Breath Work with Movement.
The building blocks of the internal martial arts and Qigong.
Moving our bodies in harmony with the breath.
Standing Three Circle Qigong.
Strength and balance within stillness.
Everything we practice stems from what we learn in this Qigong.
Taiji or Bagua form.
This is our solo practice, teaching us how to move from the centre, balance & grounding, stretching & mobilising, activating the Qi. Almost every movement has a martial application, therefore even if moving slowly, we are furthering our understanding of combat.
You choose either Taiji or Bagua, most start with Taiji.
Push Hands.
This is we learn about structure and grounding, redirection of force, reading the intent of our partner & the importance of being neutral.
Chee Sau.
Listening skills through softness, learning to feel your partners movement before it happens,
always using the path of least resistance.
Small San Sau.
This is a martial partner form, using variations of the Taiji form postures up to single whip. It’s done in a way to emphasize waist movement. Sometimes exaggerating parts to make it easier for the student to understand the principles.
You’ll also learn a lot of other fighting principles through the applications practiced.
The form can also be seen as a combat strength workout.
Taiji Grappling.
This is combat training for self-defence.
Grappling is used either to subdue an opponent in a less violent manner, (when the situation is not serious) Or as a way of locking up their guard so you can strike with the elbows.
It's very important we know how to defend against grappling type attacks.
It's also a very useful skill to have if your attacker has better striking skills than you, perhaps they are a boxer who only trains striking.
This session is done standing up.
Taiji Boxing.
This is combat training for self-defence.
Taiji boxing is the use of our hands to strike, fist or palm.
Defending against the most common striking attacks.
Not to be confused with the western sport of Boxing.
There are a lot of similarities, but in Taiji boxing we only use gloves in training to protect our partner. We train on the assumption that in a real fight we will not have them on.
Therefore, there are a lot of differences to how we strike and move.
Form & Qigong Flow Practice.
Eli leads a run through part of the form, then we all do standing Qigong together.
Other things that might be covered.
Taiji Ground Fighting.
This is combat training for self-defence.
In self-defence we never want to take the fight to the ground, but, it could still happen.
Therefore, it’s very important that we know what to do once we get there!
The main goal is to learn how to get back to your feet as soon as possible.
We don’t hang around down there trying to get an arm bar on, unless we’re learning a technique like that in order to be a good attacker for our training partner.
Kick Defence.
When it comes to self-defence, kicking is considered an advanced technique, you don’t want to risk losing your balance. However, defence against kicks is necessary.
So, in this session we will focus on the defence part. Dealing with kicks to the legs and body, maybe a little to the head if there is time.
Of course in order to practice the defence, we need someone to throw the kick, therefore you will still have to learn at least the basic ways of kicking.
Partner Circle Walking.
Martial practice drill to learn about reading your partners movement.
The practice is done at long range, teaching us how to close that gap in order to attack, as well as how to read when our partner will try this on us.
Cost:
Training fee & 7 nights accommodation on site €800
Optional Breakfast Lunch and Dinner for your 6 training days €180
€200 Deposit to hold your place.
A further €400 due by 3 months before start date.
With the balance payable in cash on arrival.
Late bookings will be €100 extra.
Please note these fees are only refundable if we are able to find someone else to fill your place.
Inclusions:
Bottled drinking water.
Tea & Coffee.
Bedding, Towels.
WiFi.
Street Parking if you hire a car.
Food Situation:
For only €180 you can join the breakfast, lunch & dinner meals, during the 6 training days, this saves you having to go out and find food.
Amazing organic meals prepared on site each day.
Please note, you cannot prepare your own food in the kitchen when the group meals are being prepared.
The meals fee needs to by paid with your second payment 3 months before start date.
Your Accommodation:
Queen Bed in private room.
Queen Bed in private room with private bathroom.
Single Bed in triple room.
Bunk Bed.
Who gets what:
Private Rooms with Queen Beds will be reserved for couples, or two good friends who want to share a bed.
If no couples are joining us, in this case there will be a €100 surcharge for who ever wants the private room, and €180 surcharge for the private room with private bathroom.
Ladies and Seniors will get first choice, because I'm old fashioned like that.
Most people will stay in the triple rooms, the sooner you book the better bed option you'll get.
Location:
The Waterfront Sky Villas
7 Thomas Ashby,
Marsaskala MSK 1373ST.
When you turn onto Thomas Ashby, we are the first villa on the left.
20 minutes from the airport by taxi.
3 minute walk to the sea.
Google Maps link
https://goo.gl/maps/ATpuAbgqU6JYiw9h8
Check out the place we'll be staying below!
Still warm on new years eve!
