Official opening of Jokokan Ballerup Karate School

On 25.05.2003 there was the official inauguration of Måløv's new sports hall and in this connection Jokokan Ballerup Karate School, as one of the new users of the beautiful barefoot hall, was asked to make a demonstration.

We had trained well for this show with a new concept and felt well prepared and on Friday 23.05.2003 we were to have a dress rehearsal and for the occasion we were allowed to come to the new and fantastically beautiful premises in Måløvhallen. Kimu Sensei was also present and was, as always, incredibly helpful with good input for both execution and intensity, and last but not least, full of good humor.

It was not without some excitement that I, the night before, thought the show through – and played it like a movie in my mind’s eye, to be sure that everything was well thought out and would work optimally. I agreed with myself that everything was in order and that we had both time for a good warm-up and that I would have time to give a “pep talk” to the show team before we went on.

Finally the day came and I got up with a good feeling that everything was well planned. My family and I drove over to Måløvhallen in peace and tolerability, yes actually in good time, approx. 1 hour before we had to go on. And yes it went exactly as planned, the first person I meet is Kimu Sensei.

But then the plan didn't work anymore because the first thing Kimu Sensei said was: "There has been a mistake. The program was brought forward, you are due in fifteen minutes."

Yes – There is nothing as good as a good plan. So it was about rushing down and changing clothes and then quickly going in and warming up with the others. My “pep talk” was cut down to three quick sentences: “Is everyone here?”, “Is everyone ready?” and “Here we go!”

People were crowded in the "Barefoot Hall" to hear the official inauguration of the Mayor of Ballerup, filled with a speech from the Mayor of Prague (Ballerup's European twin city), then the Project Manager, the architect and the representative of the user group spoke and then again the Mayor who introduced Jokokan Ballerup Karate School and left the floor to Kimu Sensei, who eloquently and relaxedly introduced Jokokan and Yakami-ryu and created a free area on the floor where the demonstration would take place and then it was time...

With a burst of well-disciplined effort by Jokokan's entire display team, we as a team performed a very nice display at a high level and in a very intense proximity to the audience - This fully describes the feeling I was left with after the display.

I could hear from the audience, friends and supporters that the general perception of our performance was that it had gone quite well. As one of the veterans, Kjeld Nyrup – the new Shihan at Jokokan Frederiksberg, remarked: “There is nothing like last minute changes to set you up for an extra performance…” And as Thomas from Jokokan Skælskør Karate School, who was also on the performance team, said: “I am impressed with the performance we delivered myself”.

Marianne Hansen and Per Vedel from Jokokan Slagelse Karate School had turned up to support Jokokan Ballerup Karate School from the audience and, together with Jokokan's Personnel advisor Connie Holm and both young and old from the Bjarkmann and Iversen families, they helped hand out the specially made advertisements for the spectators and to Ballerup's mayor...

On behalf of Jokokan Danmark and Jokokan Ballerup Karate School, I want to say THANK YOU to the Demonstration team for their efforts.

I am already looking forward to the upcoming exhibitions because the performance delivered by the exhibition team shows the breadth that has come in Jokokan Denmark and emphasizes the new spirit and pride that is sprouting in Jokokan Denmark - this is the spirit on which we must build our future