Years ago, when I first heard about the Practice on the Canyon event in Twin Falls, Idaho, I knew that I needed to attend. Unfortunately, I could not. I work most weekends and it is usually difficult to take off work to attend special practices. The next few times the practice came around I had the same problem. I was sorely disappointed every year, until this summer! I finally had a Saturday and Sunday free on the weekend of the practice. I need to tell everyone that this practice was everything I thought it would be and more! I hope I can get lucky and be free to attend this practice every summer. 

The first practice had all of us lined up at 9am on the canyon rim to practice combinations. The heat was a small challenge, but we powered through about an hour of different combinations going out and back along the trail. We took a quick water break and then headed up to the bridge to go across with oizuki. I think we must have done around 1,000 punches going across. On the way back we changed the practice to a moving oizuki in line, but with our own timing punching on every third step. At the midpoint of the bridge on the way back, base jumpers had lined up to take their jump down to the bottom of the canyon. We waited patiently as we watched about 20 jumpers before we continued to the end of the bridge.

The afternoon practice took place at Jesse Clark’s home gym. This practice, led by godan Marty Cullenward, was primarily focused on kumite. Marty designed an extremely helpful practice that transitioned all the way from a modified ippon gumite practice to jiyu kumite matches at the end. He had us initially facing each other, both sides in stance, and had us engage in a variety of ways without blocking. We went through the attack, to the inside and to the outside. Then there were two attacks, followed by three attacks and finally four attacks. We were encouraged to stay planted with our feet with a strong feeling so that we could be ready for a real counterattack that could work. And of course, he admonished us to follow his three most important words: “Don’t be late!” 

The final practice started at 5:20am on the canyon rim, where we greeted the sunrise with 100 Tekki Shodans. We got to see a sliver of the sun in the last few repetitions of the kata, just as it was coming above the horizon. Unfortunately the clouds covered the sun as we finished our last few kata. Marty heard the canyon begging us to do one more with conviction, so of course we obliged and our kiai echoed our gratitude.

I have to express my extreme gratitude to Jesse Clark and to all of the seniors who came out to practice and organize this event. Special thanks to Travis Perry for coming all the way out from Colorado. Also thanks to shodans Courtney and Crissie who lead the kids class in Twin Falls. Two of their students who are brothers attended all of the practices and showed very strong spirit at every part. And of course, a very special thanks to Marty Cullenward for leading the practice. I hope next year’s canyon practice brings out some of our members from far and wide. This is a practice that is very much worth making the trip!

— Leon Chodos, shodan, Salt Lake City dojo