Sage Arts Unlimited - Student Section - Archives: Staff Contributions - The Wisconsin Martial Arts Camp Experience

Since 1996 I have had one annual ritual, one thing that I would really look forward to at the end of each summer. This includes packing up all of my gear and taking a 6 hour drive through the greener parts of Wisconsin. The journey ends with a winding roller coaster road through the woods and around Lake Owen. I am speaking about Rick Faye's annual Wisconsin Martial Arts Camp in Cable, Wisconsin.

Every year several dozen Martial Artists meet for 4 days to train in a variety of Martial Arts, ranging from JKD, to Kali, from Panantukan to Silat, Thai Boxing to Savate, from Brazilian Jiujitsu to Shooto to CSW, and lessons from many other systems mixed in. For many years this has been the mainstay in my training experience.

Originally started by Sifu Pete Hetrick these camps have been a long-standing tradition in the MKG. Before 1996, some of the camps included major instructors, including Guro Inosanto, Ajarn Chai Sirisute, Bert Poe, Rick Faye and Larry Hartsell.

My introduction to the MKG community actually began in 1995. At the time I was working for my Tae Kwon Do instructor, teaching several nights each week and completely burnt out. Disenchanted with the system I was teaching, I began to look for other training opportunities. When I came across an ad in a Black Belt Magazine, listing a week-long training camp in Wisconsin, I knew that was for me. Back then the camp ran from Monday thru Friday (hence the "Is it Wednesday" joke). I ended up missing that year's camp for work obligations, but I vowed to myself that I would not miss the next.

The following year I drove by myself to this camp, not quite knowing what to expect. My background was in Tae Kwon Do and Escrima, and I had been an avid student through books and videos of JKD and Aikido. The drive up was treacherous, a storm front plagued the last leg of the trip, when I found the road to the camp, it was hard to see the road through the sheets of rain. I was white knuckled and an hour late on arrival, and though the rain had stopped, a steady drizzle rained from the trees and gutters.

Having parked my car, I made my way up the drive to the office to find someone in charge. The first people I met were Dave Kaiser and Big Todd Mayert (standing in background of image below), a couple of other large guys stood around while Dave went through some footwork with a sword in hand. Big indeed, at 6'1" and 220 lbs, I was not accustomed to being dwarfed. I began to wonder what I was in for.

I introduced myself and asked for directions. Dave nodded and asked me what kinds of games I played. I was confused at the time, I did not realize what a profoundly inviting question that was. Soon after I met Pete Hetrick, who was to become one of my closest friends and training partners in that community. Over the next week, I was directly introduced to my shortcomings in the Martial Arts, and I fostered a new passion for this type of training. The camp had reignited a spark that had diminished in my training.

The years since have shared common experiences, but each camp has been unique. Participants can count on no less than 3 training sessions each day, between meals, sometimes four, for those who have the motivation to run or do yoga before breakfast. Thai pad and focus mitt training is a part of every day, and the intensity will increase as the camp goes on. Each day will end with conditioning, that good kind of soreness, and a welcome time at the firepit looking up at the stars. A few hours of each day are reserved for recreation, for which there are no lack of activities.

The best part of the camp is getting to meet the people who attend. Though many are from Minnesota, more than half typically come from different parts of the states, and in some cases, different parts of the world. We have had campers from Wisconsin, New York, Minnesota, Illinois, Washington, Michigan, and other states, and international guests from Germany, England, Scotland, Canada, and Mexico. The students who attend these camps come from all different backgrounds, interests and experience levels. At previous camps I have trained with beginners, with my peers, and with world-class fighters, trainers and instructors.

The people I've met at the camp have made lasting impressions. Old friends, I look forward to seeing them each year. The discussions over meals, stories and laughter, hard work and sweat, this is a great way to recharge your batteries. The amount of information we cover in this time is also truly amazing. I've never left the camp without a few new things to add to our classes.

The camp also encourages new experiences. The training introduced me to the grappling arts, coming from a Tae Kwon Do background, this was a skill I was lacking. Campers also have the opportunity to step up the intensity, push themselves physically and mentally. For many this is a transformation, they learn about themselves and come back with new insight.

This year will be my tenth year training, a personal milestone. I now have students under me who have attended several camps of their own, and are now becoming instructors. I am very grateful to Sifu Faye and Sifu Hetrick for making these opportunities possible. My school and my teaching methods would not be the same if not for these experiences.

With room and food included in the cost, this is still one of the most affordable seminar experiences I have ever heard of. I envy those of you who will be attending for the first time this year - you're going to have a great time. I'll see you there!