SSKC on tour - Vienna - Austria

Kelvin writes........

This summer I decided to attend a 3 day international surgical conference which was this year based in Vienna(what a hardship!) I had some important preparation to do, however, before attending. I always try to get some form of recreation in when I go away, often packing gym/running gear in the vain hope of fulfilling this lofty goal. Then a revelation hit me….Karate.Could I manage to get a training session in whilst in Austria.

I managed to contact 2 clubs who replied, both were keen to have me training but only one was training on nights I would be there. This was Karate Union Wien (JKA): web address www.karate-kurse.at. So I packed my gi, put it in a rucksack & after the day’s machinations in a very historic medical lecture theatre took myself off, directions in hand to their dojo. Shunning an evening of food & wine with my surgical colleagues. It was quite a walk but I had been given good directions by Marcus. (1st Kyu)

The dojo was compact & bijou, there were 2 rooms in which 3 classes were run, beginners, coloured belts &, black & brown belts. The training was similar to ours, as was the mix of karateka, with kihon, kumite & kata. Great use was made of limited space. I was invited to be with the black & browns, starting with kihon then concentrating on kata as the gradings were approaching. From memory; we went through, Bassai dai, kanku dai, empi, jion & hangetsu. Finishing with some light sparring rotations.

I was treated extremely courteously & made to feel very welcome. The instruction I received was fantastic. As a bonus the session was run in English. Like us they have a sister club…In Salzburg! 4 hours by car.Their grading is in Munich. So no excuses for us! After this I was taken to a non tourist Viennese bar to sample the local wares before walking back through a beautiful city on a warm summer’s night.I must thank those who made my visit special, namely, Andreas Jericha (2nd Dan) and Franz Peischl (3rd Dan), Franz Winter, Stefan Quadlbauer, Michael Fangor & last but not least Marcus Poglitsch with whom I corresponded.

Karate whilst on tour? Most definitely!

Many thanks Kelvin for a very interesting review, more of the same from Selby Karateka please and remember don't go anywhere without your gi... (and send me the photos and write up to post), Osu!

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Kelvin's trip to Ethiopia - Facing africa

Above : The Hospital Above : the People

kelvin writes:

"This year the NOMA team went out to Addis for a total of 10 weeks. We sent out a team for preparation of the the patients 2 weeks before the main surgical team. This included feeding, cleaning & de worming amongst other things! The main team arrived on the 4th October staying until 18th October (so I missed the grading). It consisted of 5 surgeons (2 French & 3 British), 2 anaesthetists, 1 scrub nurse, 1 ward nurse plus, of course, Chris& Terry who run Facing Africa.

Using a local hospital we managed to treat over 40 patients surgically, this mainly consisted of children with the effect of NOMA, but we also helped some burn victims, gun shot injuries, some tumours & some post traumatic facial injuries. we even had to amputate an infected hand injury repair someone axed in the face, We also advised on other conditions to help the local medical staff.

I was invited to lecture to all the medical staff in Addis. When the main team left a doctor remained or the post operative care as required. Every day was busy as you can imagine but we were kindly taken out each evening courtesy of Facing Africa. Making the trip very enjoyable & a tremendous learning experience.

It was quite humbling to see how the patients smile through such terrible adversity.

Regards Kelvin"

Kelvin attached a few photos but probably not quite suitable for the blog. (Some photos now added)

If you haven't seen before the work that Kelvin does with the Facing Africa charity please take a look at the links in the sidebar.

"Facing Africa" is a really worth while cause and where hard earned money is spent wisely. If you are thinking of doing something for a charity please consider them.

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Kelvin's page updated

I have updated Dr Kelvin's page with some detail of the work he did with the Facing Africa charity in Ethiopia. Kelvin was part of the surgical team treating Noma.

I know Kelvin is very much involved with the charity and after viewing myself some of the charities work I hope there will be something we can do collectively as a club in 2008 for this cause.

I have not included the detail on the main blog because it details major facial reconstructive surgery, but if you would like to watch the you tube clips posted from the BBC's Inside Out programme or follow the links to Facing Africa web site please click on Kelvin's name in the Kyu grade table in the side bar.

Kelvin, I cant believe that I have not heard of Facing Africa of Noma before, brilliant work, Osu!

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