By Martin E. Hansen, Member until 2018

Let's start by saying, for the sake of all outsiders, we are not insane or mildly demented in Jokokan because we meet once a year in the spirit of Christmas and train elf martial arts and neither are the instructors who pretend to be Santa's master apprentices and teach us the unique art of pushing the postmen down from the roof when the big Christmas punch is set in………

The seriousness shone out of Kimu Sensei's eyes when he told about Santa's secret martial art that only very few knew about, 40 Jokokan students swallowed it raw and nodded in appreciation, 4 Jiu-jitsu students did not understand a meter, and wisely chose to move to their own rooms.

The warm-up was done in a traditional way, but slightly influenced by the whipped up Christmas spirit and it eventually had to take over from the always serious Jan Shidoin, who was in charge of the warm-up, and kiai was replaced with Santa Claus laughter hohohoho……In order not to make the confusion too big, the kihon training was limited to a small square of three by three steps (Zenkutsu-dachi), because now we shouldn't get too cocky. A very good training in gnome martial arts at the beginner level, but it doesn't end there, because being a gnome is also about praising yourself. That's why shouts of joy were introduced when you had done well, the air quickly became thick with self-praise "YEEEEESSS……hohohooooooooo".

The next exercise on the program, which is essential for any fighting elf, was falling technique, because in the event that you are on slippery ice or meet a postman on the roof of a 3 km high house, the latter probably the most likely, it is nice to be able to take care of yourself. Forward roll falls, side falls and back falls are indispensable when saving yourself and again not to forget „YEEESSSSS… …..hohohooo‟. No real pixie without close combat, so the next step was conquering the roof ridge, where we trained Uchi-uke with subsequent takedown in shoulder lock, all balancing on a straight line. Should it now become a difficult postman we then trained wrestling, where all students got a chance against their instructor and it must be said that we lost our breath a little. For a moment we thought Sensei was showing signs of weakness, when a tomato red Per Shidoin was tumbling around on the floor in an unrecognizable grip, but alas he was just showing one of the topics of the day „you should also be able to give, when you have the ability‟ and ended the commotion with a „Per-united-with-a-tatami-mat‟ technique, „do your own mats smell good Per???‟

The whole Christmas session naturally ended with a small graduation, where all candidates passed, including Jens Shihan, who could finally erase his Ho degree and turn on a sweaty Santa hat, and consider himself a real Santa Claus (for next year, he's probably got a long white beard, the white stink is already visible in the hair red.)

The Jokokan student of the year also had to be nominated, and after voting in an adjacent refrigerator-cold room, the choice fell on Tina Lemming from Jokokan Slagelse, who received the walking trophy for training diligence, good camaraderie and for adding an extra glow to Jokokan Slagelse. The competition was tough and great praise was given to Jan Roysen from Jokokan Skælskør for his always big smile, diligence in training and working on time. Not to be forgotten, an instructor was also nominated for the cup in order to show diligence in training and be a leading example in federation work and community, this is the one and only, Shidoin Martin Hansen from Jokokan Korsør (thanks for the nice words Lars, I almost needed one of Tina's Kleenex). The day ended in style in nostalgic rooms when Jokokan Slagelse's old dojo, now transformed into party rooms, formed the setting for this year's Christmas lunch. Here it turned into a pleasant evening with the usual robber stories mixed with Christmas beer, soda and lots of coffee. Slagelse thanks you for the great support, and everyone is looking forward to next Christmas and not least the Soké camp in the summer of 2003.

Let's end the little Christmas story by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. To all of you out in the world and the Far East, who so intensely follow Jokokan Denmark's activities, a merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you and your family, we thank you for your increasing interest and hope to meet under common banners one day for Christmas training if in dry !!!!