Annual Summer Workshop 2003

In July 2003, Lucas Castrounis organized the first Annual Summer Workshop which was promoted as a holiday and week long Wing Chun training experience.

The group attending the workshop stayed at the Stefanakis hotel in Varkiza, a cosmopolitan resort near Vouliagmeni Beach. The hotel had a nice swimming pool, good surroundings and was very near to the beautiful sea side comprising an excellent beach, restaurants/taverns and good local food.

The response was tremendous, with attendees form England, Cyprus, Italy, France, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. However, to Lucas' surprise, no one from the Greek Wing Chun schools was there. The nearby Wing Chun schools had decided to close their schools for the duration of the workshop. Over the course of the week Lucas Castrounis covered the basis of the Wing Chun system, including forms, Chi-Sao, double hand drills, Kali and Wing Chun boxing.

On the last day we practised the 3rd form (Biu Gee) and its applications, with Dan Creswell serving as an excellent assistant. Bear in mind that the night before we had partied all night long, so most us had not had any sleep. Nonetheless we had a great time and managed to train as normal. Fair play to all!

By the end of the week everyone had had an excellent holiday as we had visited the historical parts of Athens. Every one left the camp with a good understanding of Wing Chun, having completed a week of very hard (but thoroughly enjoyable) training and asked that event be repeated the following year.