By Jokokan Honbu
110 Christmas-happy Jokokaners aged from 6 to 62 completed the Jokokan association's 14th training camp, well seconded by around 40 spectators consisting of grandparents, parents and siblings.
In 2004, the Jokokan Ballerup karate school added premises to the version, and a huge amount of work was put into the function as hosts. The association would like to thank JBa's joint committee, with Bo at the head, for a good and constructive cooperation with the association's joint committee, which obviously resulted in a completely superb and successful event in the usual high Jokokan standard.
The Christmas theme this year was that Santa had once again asked Jokokan to help save Christmas. In previous years, it had been the greatly increased competition from Post Danmark and Deutsche Post as well as the greatly increasing Christmas stress. Many had forgotten that Christmas is, after all, an expression of the cause of the heart - the best in man. This year there was a "Santa's challenge" in the form of Julemaneo from Kilimanjaro in Africa, instead of Greenland's Santa Claus. So once again Jokokan had to call the real Santa Claus to the rescue and save Christmas - on top of that 20 days before the TV's Christmas calendar.
But once again, luckily, it worked out. Christmas was saved again this year to the great happiness and jubilation of especially the 59 JokoKidz.
This time, Kimu Sensei had planned the training in such a way that all participants were divided into four homogeneous, but mixed teams from all Jokokan schools, which rotated around in turn in four activity areas. At each Yakami-ryu Karate-do activity area, 2-3 smiling and committed teams of instructors were ready to teach the activity. Each instructor team consisted of a school head instructor, seconded by at least one other active and experienced instructor.
The activities were; Kihon (walking base) and Senkai (turns in 4 directions), Ippon-kumite (arranged freestyle match) & punching pad test, kata (Pinan 1), as well as Ukemi (fall technique), where an extra experienced instructor was posted, as an extra safety - and safety factor for both participants and I-teams.
Then it was time for Jokokidz's graduation, which delivered a very nice performance to the pride and glory of Christmas for all parents, grandparents and siblings present.
The adults must wait until December 18, 2004, when the last federal graduation of the year takes place in Greve.
After a well-deserved bath, it was time for the Indonesian buffet, complemented by drinks and candy bags from Jokokan's sponsors. There was plenty of time for fun and conversation between the schools. But many also moved down to the room, where an interactive karate game was set up, where the participants could test their reactions and fighting skills using a large screen and a camera. There were many who had a good sweat.
On behalf of Jokokan's Supreme Grandmaster, Soke Sensei Tonegawa, as well as Jokokan International's board, we wish all members, friends, supporters, website readers and sponsors a very merry Christmas and a very happy and auspicious New Year.
With thanks and gratitude for a remarkable and successful year for Jokokan, we look forward to welcoming you all next year 2005, as well as to a lot of new Jokokaners.
FROM EVERYONE IN JOKOKAN TO ALL OF YOU – MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!
