It’s hard to know how to summarize the Horsham PTCCI camp 2026, it’s been a total of four days with conversations, training, food, love and beverages. There are so many impressions during these days that it usually takes a while to process them all.
I wrote about Horsham in October, that it almost feels like a second home, and after each visit that feeling grows even stronger. There’s not a lot of spare time during these visits, but we always manage to explore some new things. This time, me and Saar, on Friday afternoon after some rest from traveling all night, randomly walked into the duke’s square, which was an old cemetery, somewhat overgrown but with beautiful big sequoia trees and filled with wildlife. In the depth of this cemetery there was this bench in “the garden of peace” where we just sat and talked for some time. A carefree moment of serenity, that will stay with me forever. Nothing remarkable, but very special. It’s moments like these that makes traveling so fun, you never know what situations or places you will end up in if you go there with an open mind.
The camp, which is built on workshop sessions by different teachers and themes, began on Saturday at lunch. There are two different workshops at the same time that goes on for 1.5 hour, a 15-minute break and then on to the next. The first day had 2 cycles of workshops before we ended, freshened up and gathered for the famous pizza evening. Laughs, joy and stories of our style are always just as good as the pizzas but this year’s extra ”side dish” made the evening even more special and memorable! Thank you for that chef Alex!
Second day of camp, Sunday, was the longest day. I went up at 6.30 for some Qi Gong and Nei Gong. Unlimited proper English breakfast at 7, showering and packing and then a 20-minute walk to the venue. The camp began at 10.00 with a total of 4 cycles of workshops during the day. The weather gods were with us and England showed its best side with the most optimal temperature to practice outdoors. A joint dinner at a Turkish restaurant in the evening where we maxed out their serving area with 40 hungry and thirsty practitioners. Grilled meat over charcoal can never go wrong, but this was even better than that and I made sure to help the others out to clear their platters.
Monday, the last day in Horsham. Morning routines pretty much the same except that the unlimited breakfast saved a few pounds from me still being stuffed from the Turkish restaurant. Two cycles of workshops this day and we finished the camp off with everyone participating in the Wudang short hand form. When everyone began the applauds a tiny sense of sorrow started to fill the room, but Peter quickly brought the joy right back when announcing that we will do it all again next year.
I can’t say thank you enough to Barbara and Peter for not only organizing this crazy camp but also for their royal like hospitality and generosity. I feel so spoiled and thankful every time I come over! Thank you Saar for all the moments we get to share and for giving me the opportunities to grow as martial artist and as a person. Thank you to both all my old friends and new friends that I had the joy to meet during this camp! And the biggest thank you, to my family at home for supporting me on this wild and crazy martial arts journey!
A video compilation will be up on my youtube channel within a few days.
All the best!
/Karl
