Day 1. Overcast skys, wet rails, huge puddles, slippery surfaces and never ending rain. These are what the days training would hold. With everyone ready and after all the instructors and group leaders were introduced the warm up could begin, taking place on the roof of the south bank centre over 150 people gathered together with what would kick off Rendezvous 3. The warm up began with some light jogging under cover, which somewhat resembled a rave, lead by Chris and Dan and moved on to quadrupedie out in the open allowing us to enjoy the full effects of the rain and puddles, giving everyone a small glimpse of what the day had in store. After some various upper body exercises the second half of the warm up was taken over by the Yamakasi and moved on to the underground car park where the focus would be the lower body. In true Yamak style the aim was to have simple yet effective exercises but to not stop, just keep going and going. As everyone soldiered on energies rose when we had to begin counting to 10 together. Everyone shouted as loud as they could when we reached 10 a very unique experience indeed but one topped when we formed a large circle and rested our arms on the persons shoulders next to us, bringing a greater sense of unity knowing that everyone else was suffering too.


With the warm up behind us we broke up into 5 groups and each lead our group to the first station where the training could begin. I was lucky enough to lead my group to Jubilee Gardens which after the torrent of rain through the night left the grass waterlogged featuring miniature lakes and all. The route began with a catleap, cat balance along the wall and then hanging in cat position. After a few repetitions we noticed everyone was a bit apprehensive to the movement lacking the lustre displayed in the warm up not but 10 minutes ago, although the route was clearly well within the ability of everyone.

Pulled aside by Forrest he asked me if I was feeling 'brave' to which I replied with some uncertainty 'sure' and he then proceeded to explain what he had in store for the group. After explaining his plan to Steph and the other instructors he gathered everyone and gave the slight modification to the route. As everyone wanted to remain as dry as possible he decided everyone would become as wet as possible and what better way is there than sliding on the grass, not on the feet but sitting down. When Forrest said go 3 people would sprint as fast as possible until they reached him, slide and do the normal route as fast as possible. Everyone looking confused and very hesitant we lined up and waited for the signal. 'GO!' sprinting as fast as possible we slid and completed the rest of the route.

Hobbling back to the queue we realised that once we were as wet as possible it couldn't get any worse, allowing us to be much more unconstrained while moving and give our best. Everyone joined in and the atmosphere instantly changed from one of anxious foreboding to an audacious rowdy group well ready to get stuck in to what the day held. After a second route focusing on precisions we moved on to the car park underneath the Southbank Center.

"...consciously trying to keep your balance, with other things in the back of your mind subconsciously may affect your performance..."

Greeted by Yohan, Tracey and the other instructors we split into two groups and were shown some combinations to get used to the space. As this was a popular spot our movements required a delicate touch due to the wear and tear from the many who have trained there before. One wrong move and the rails we were using could fall over. Soon after we were shown by one of the Yamak students an underbar combination with a slight twist. We had to do the combination with a partner doing each move at the same time with as much fluidity and grace as possible and a successful try would grant the praise of a 'sexy movement'. After many underbars, dive rolls and sexy movements later we took a break for lunch joining up with the other groups to speak of our endeavours so far.

With lunch past us and the skies opening up again we started a second shorter but more intense warm up lead by Dan and the yamakasi in the car park. The groups rejoined and we moved on to the baby 45 and had another mini warm up from Chris to keep the energy going with various vaults and tic tacs. We then split up into 2 groups. The first route featured a kong to precision and later moved on to palm spins. Chau was at hand just in case of any slips or mishaps and would help rotate anyone round if they were unsure with the movement in the rain. With everyone getting back into things and once joined by Danny's half of the group we moved onto some balance drills on a rail near by. Chau and Danny gave some wise words about being focused and in the moment explaining that although you may be consciously trying to keep your balance, with other things in the back of your mind subconsciously may affect your performance so it's important to try and let go.



The next station featured some challenges from traversing a window sill without touching the floor to finding a way under the benches with only about one foot of space and just about anything else Brian and Anne-T could concoct. Followed by plyometric jumps over the benches, precisions on to extremely slippery wooden tables and chairs and cat balance on the edge of building, this forced everyone to be far more careful with their foot placements. This station was more taxing than others requiring maximum effort on many of the jumps and a great deal of attention to spatial awareness but spirits were high. As everyone seemed fatigued in a last ditch effort I decided we should monkey walk to the last station despite the onlookers drinking coffee outside giving us puzzled looks.

Many a stare later we arrived at the last station and began the route set out for us. Yann quickly realised we were feeling deflated from the days events so far and decided to play a few games suggesting it is always important to finish training on a high note and just have fun. The first game we played featured 6 people. In groups of 2 we would run down a set of stairs to chase another group and try and stop them from completing their route by obstructing their way or simply grabbing them. The difference with this was that not only were you chasing someone but you were also being chased, confusing some people to begin with but everyone got the hang of it after a few tries. The great effect this game played on the group was everyone became much more relaxed with their movements and really left go when compared to the first route.

The second game had everyone joining hands and passing every obstacle without breaking a link in the chain made a great deal easier with the help of the people either side of you. The true challenge came when 2 by 2 we faced a wallrun although not very high with the walls in the slippery condition they were in it became a momentous task. Attempts were made but with slip after slip we needed help. Moving into chair position, Yann implied we could use him as an extra step up if we needed to. Helping each other up we eventually successfully finished the route. With the day coming to an end we headed back to the Southbank Center soaked but not defeated by the weather to stretch and warm down with Dan and reflect on the days events.

Labels: Event Coverage

Great class tonight. Absolutely freezing, full complement of practitioners suitably attired, and Thomas and myself with the lucky duty of driving everyone on through the London streets... who could ask for more?! And this particular class turned out to be a fine example of why training in adverse weather conditions can be so useful.


The problem, or perhaps one should see it as a bonus, was that ice and frost was covering everything in sight. Benches, walls, railings, the grass... slippery, cold and generally uninviting. After a thorough Thomas Des Bois upper-body warm-up, it was straight onto movement drills and routes to keep everyone warm until croissant-time at the end of the class. Simple movement, nothing fancy, and in good conditions - well lit, dry, rough surfaces - all of it would have been even simpler. However, dim those lights, scatter some frost around, and glaze those surface in patches of ice and you have a whole different story unfolding.

Suddenly every move becomes uncertain; every step a possible slip, every grab a possible miss, and every jump a possible butt-bruising. On a muscular level, you work so much more - everything has to contract that little bit more to keep a grip or land the jump, techniques have to be soft and light and very precise, and focus maintained at all times.

The spirit is alive and well in London, and refusing to be dampened by an English winter in full approach...

To their credit everyone threw themselves into it and got on with the exercises, and it is here in this kind of training that spirit is shaped the most. This is when you find out how much you can push yourself and just what kind of mental control you have over your body, which really does not want to make that jump onto an ice-covered wall. You learn the most about yourself in adversity - character is only truly formed when under pressure and tested properly. It's easy to be brave when there is no challenge to overcome; a breeze to be calm and at peace when sitting in a mountaintop temple retreat. But how will those traits stand up when faced with a great risk, or hurled into the maelstrom of a bustling metropolis? That is when such virtues really count, and only then that we can discover whether we have them or not.

And so we ended with the simplest of tasks. A fingergrip traverse along some sloped walls, maybe 30 metres in length. Usually this ia good warm-up for the arms, and you can bust out 3 or 4 reps there and back. But tonight, with glacial moss covering the walls and ice along the grip, even completing one full traverse without coming off was a physical feat. A better work-out for the abs you could not find, as we discovered! After Thomas and I went there and back we knew it was a tricky one, so big congratulations to Daryl who managed to get there. The task added a good half hour beyond the official end of the class, but I think those who were there clawing away at the ice with us found something useful in just attempting it, whether they made it or not.

The spirit is alive and well in London, and refusing to be dampened by an English winter in full approach... ;)