Letter from Bali, February 2010
My sincere sympathy concerning the wintry temperatures in Holland. No winter in Bali though; here it’s the raining season now. It means that we are more bothered by showers which regularly come down like cats and dogs. It’s true: shit happens, everywhere!
I got a few stimulating reactions on my first letter, among others from Willy Krijnen, the father of Roy Tan. Father Krijnen was crazy about Bali already and is now extremely enthousiastic that it is possible to train kickboxing on Bali. Roy also was completely fond of Bali, but further stays were postponed, because he could not train here, he thought. Now Willy has planned to spend holidays here on Bali with his whole family this year. All right Willy, come and see!!
In the mean time we have welcomed here at the Bali-branch of Mejiro Gym the Amsterdam club-members Tamir Schabracq and Kamiel Lindhout, together with their friend Jochem von Meyenfeldt. Jochem and Tamir are very busy having a good time here. Faithful visits to our classes at dojo Aora form the healthier part of that. With a sincere “OESH” they say hello to the readers!
From left to right: Kamiel, David, Jochem, Frans, Tamir and Ubu.
History: At the time I arrived here in 2007 kickboxing was taught in jalan Oberoi at dojo Aora owned by judoka Claude Thouvenel (Fr). The classes were managed by Roger Segond von Banchet who has been living in Bali for more than 20 years. Before he came here, kickboxing had been knocked into his head by Fred Royers in Arnhem. Already soon afterwards, Roger and I made a deal that I would substitute the classes in case he was not able to do so by circumstances. In June 2009 dojo Aora moved to jalan Nakula. Claude started to wield the sceptre there together with Ubu Tjong (NL). As he was very busy working, Roger saw himself forced to hand the shinai over to me.
Ubu Tjong: Together with his wife Loes and 3 kids Ubu also settled down on Bali in 2007. Ever he had been kickboxing for some time at the gyms of Lucien Carbin and Johan Vos, but he felt himself more challenged by a completer form of fighting. Since 2003 he was being transformed with that purpose at sportschool Kops established at the Weesperzijde. Next to several forms of wrestling he was busy with MMA and grappling. Next to wellknown sparring partners as Bert Kops, Jordan Radev, Bogdan Christea, Kamran and the Leurs brothers, he also practised with Peter Aertsz and René Roozen. On Bali at dojo Aora he met Niko Han, a black belt in Brasilian Gracie jiu jitsu. As this discipline meant a new completion to his ambition to master complete fighting, he was totally able to express himself in that. When his trainings base was threatened to disappear because of closing down in 2009, he joined with Claude. Due to his all-round talents Ubu is able to substitute in all disciplines at the gym in case of absence of one of the teachers.
David Eagles: David is an Australian who stayed on Bali since ‘96. He is married to a
Balinese and has 2 kids. Dave is taking care of the kickbox classes on Wednesday,
where I am teaching on Tuesdays and Fridays; he has been teaching here since 2000.
He learned the secrets from the Australian John Will, a black belt Brasilian jiu jitsu
and pencak silat champion.
Niko Han: The German/Indonesian mixed Niko started Brasilian jiu jitsu at the Gracie academy, Los Angeles in ’96. Next to that he has been practising wrestling and boxing in order to get an allround arsenal. Niko has experienced the development of MMA in the USA from the very, illegal beginning and trained in Las Vegas with the best MMA fighters. He is intrigued by Gracie jiu jitsu, as small, light men/women have the possibility to control bigger people. Nowadays Niko lives in Bali permanently, but returns to the USA for training sessions on a regular base.
Dojo Aora: At the new location we got a gigantic hall at our disposal with a mat of 200 m²; well equiped and illuminated. 6 long kickbags are hanging there and gloves and leg protection are available for those who don’t have them (yet). Further there are, next to a sufficient number of kickcushions and pats for even the most crowded classes, also two dummies where you can enjoy yourself with on the tatami. The stereo is used during a lot of classes (I am an ardent advocate of that) and a mirror wall creates the opportunity to critically observe one’s own performances.
Finally ladies and gents can change and shower in seperated dressing rooms, after which the (non-alcoholic) thirst can be quenched at the bar, the tables or on the gigantic relax couch.
The members: Kickboxing on Bali has merely grown out of the swaddling-clothes. This means that there hardly is anybody who can boast on worth mentioning ring experience. Don’t forget: Bali is a holiday-island. Except for a single person the members are recreationists whose only aspiration is to work out in a healthy way. This reflects itsself in the members. Most of them are either holiday-makers who for the opportunity like to physically experience what in fact is kickboxing. Or these are expats who would like to work on their physical condition in their spare time. Still there are a few youngsters around 17 years of age, who have some more aspirations than that, for the time being. Next to that we have relatively many women who attend the classes.
Upon sparring for most people counts: first gear, kicking and punching to the body only, so not to the head yet. The number of members changes constantly, as people tend to go back home after their holidays. In this way it is very difficult here to be constructive as a teacher.
The disciplines:
kickboxing Mejiro Gym style by Frans Visser (Tuesdays and Fridays); Australian style by David (Wednesdays)
Brasilian jiu jitsu Synergy Gracie style and MMA-kids by Niko Han
Judo for adults and kids resp. Claude Thouvenel and Siswanto (Ind)
Japans jiu jitsu by Rod (Austr)
Capoeira by Noko (Ind)
Yoga by Tui (Nieuw Z)
Hip hop house dance by Kamau (USA)
Aikido by Robin (Ind)
Costs for each class: Brasilian jiu jitsu Rp 150.000 (± € 12,-); other disciplines and free training Rp 50.000 (± € 4,-). Eventually there are also possibilities for a 10 times membershipcard.
Opening times: Daily from 9.00 ‘till 22.00 h. Free training is possible every day at anytime during opening hours, as the tatami is divided into three parts which are never occupied at the same time.
For those who think they can do their advantage with fitness, it should be
mentioned after all, that fitness-centre Hammerhead Gym is situated on the
floor above dojo Aora. It is operating under the name of Ade Rai, who is a former Indonesian world champion bodybuilding. Votaries are able to wear themselves out daily from 7 – 21 h (Sundays from 9 – 17 h) with weights and cardio equipment for Rp 50.000 (± € 4,-).
Timetable for classes at Dojo Aora:
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sund |
9.30-11.00 yoga |
|
|
| 9.30-11.00 yoga |
| whole |
|
|
|
|
|
| day |
16 -17 Judo kids MMA kids |
|
| 16 -17 Judo kids | 16 -17 MMA kids |
| free |
17 -18 Judo adults |
| 17-18 Hip Hop House | 17 -18 Judo adults | 17-18 Hip Hop House |
| trai |
17.30-19.30 Synergy | 18–19.30 kickboxing | 17.30-19.30 Synergy | 18-19.30 Jap jiu jitsu | 17.30-19.30 Synergy | 18-19.30 Aikido | ning |
|
| 18–19.30 kickboxing |
|
|
|
|
19.30-21 capoeira | 19.30-21 Jap jiu jitsu | 19.30-21 Aikido | 19.30-21 capoeira | 19.30-21 kickboxing | 19.30-21 Jap jiu jitsu capoeira |
|
On March 2nd, 2010 from 12.00 ‘till 14.00 h, Royce Gracie is teaching a masterclass Brasilian jiu jitsu in dojo Aora. Royce is the second son out of three of the worldknown Gracie family, and all around is said that he has never lost a fight. Here on Bali his brother Royler has already been giving masterclasses two times before. The Gracies love to come here, because they can completely relax. The combination relaxation/training is magical, as they can bath themselves in anonymity; this in contrary of the situation in Brasil. That’s why they have planned to come here more often.
Address: Dojo Aora, jalan Nakula, Kawan building 2nd floor, Seminyak, Bali.
Mobile phone: +62(0)81337.008638 (Ubu) or specifically for kickboxers +62(0)81337.605596 (Frans)