By Jokokan Honbu
This year's instructors' camp was also the culmination of a long graduation process with targeted preparations since August 2007 for nine Jokokaners; 5 school head instructors and 4 school instructors, 6 of whom passed the eye of the needle and were nominated for the graduation course
The annual instructor camp is the culmination of the entire season's black and brown belt training, where all instructors are challenged primarily to their mental limit, but often also physically.
There is never anything secret about the purpose and techniques of such a camp. But all participants most often end up in the lonely inner struggle, which, however, in the long run will bring them forward towards new horizons, self-insight and understanding. This was also the case with this camp, which all participants consider at the same time as the toughest they have experienced psychologically so far.
Despite the very good form of all instructors, everyone was pushed physically beyond all limits. Most people think that the physical test was a "Sunday excursion" compared to the I-camp.
This, in combination with the psychological pressure, had a reinforcing effect, where everyone fought to the best of their ability and survival, where everyone still had to meet all the quality requirements that graduates must for a Yakami-ryu graduation course. An instructor camp consists of both "hard" and "soft" activities, all of which must be met in order to pass.
The overview of the graduation test process
All instructor graduations take place over five stages, which are also final exams:
Physical test - which ensure that the graduate has the necessary physical form for the graduation process and mental process discipline, as determined over time.
Syllabus test - which ensure that the graduate has the necessary skills and knowledge according to the level of requirements and responsibility in Yakami-ryu techniques, toolboxes and philosophy.
Theoretical thesis test - which ensure that the graduate has independently formed images and opinions about the given key subject or free key subject.
Shiai – freestyle – which ensure that the graduate can use technique and psyche, and gain self-insight under extreme pressure and realism during full-contact combat with a minimum of restriction rules.
Graduation course and teaching - which ensure that the graduate can integrate, understand, and communicate knowledge and technique with skill and overview under all conditions to other people of all ages.
The physical test was held on June 6, 2008 in the TEAM Danmark center, Nautilus in Ballerup under stricter mutually agreed requirements and self-selection.
Location: Nautilus centre, Ballerup. Conditions: 27 degrees Celsius, humidity outside 70 %. Indoor: 90+ %
The overall average estimated minimum health score is approx. 60+.
Comments:
- Weighing: Weight, age and fat percentage
- Bronze circle 1: Same for all, maximum 5 minutes for all three circles
- Race: Either 5, 8 or 10 km at a speed of 12.0, 13.5 or 15.0 km/h. Rise 0%
- Cycling: Distance converted to watts based on weight 69 kg & 214 watts corresponds to 100 kg & 310 watts, and 73 kg & 328 watts corresponds to 100 kg & 465 watts
- Circles 2: Final subsequent circles depend on the choice of speed for a given distance
It should be noted that the contents of the circles and minimum requirements can be seen on Jokokan's website: Physical requirements. Everyone passed without problems and in high spirits.
The thesis
The thesis consisted of a fixed task, where the graduates had to independently investigate the following with the understanding and execution of other systems;
” The will to victory in thought, word and deed – body, mind, spirit – in the world of reality. Assess your outer and inner leadership and say what your goals are and what you will do to achieve these goals?. Read Kipling's poem “IF”.
Yakami-ryu has the mindset and philosophy that it is not maximally conducive to be closed in a "cheese bell", as this often creates judgmental, intolerant and less knowledgeable instructors, as the world out there is very big. The graduates' thesis was between 8-30 pages, depending on the degree level.
All theses were of very high quality and became a great "eye opener" for all the graduates, even though it had been a great challenge for everyone, as the thesis was "for oneself" and it is difficult to deliberately lie to oneself. All passed.
Yakami-ryu shiai – freestyle
Yakami-ryu shiai freestyle is held when the graduates are physically and mentally at the limit of their abilities. This is because all defenses are gone and only the "raw material" – the true knowledge of good and evil, stands unprotected and free. This, of course, where the graduate fights for his own survival at the limit of his own ability and inner struggle.
The purpose is not the "Macho - show-off" aspect", although this is as close to full contact "Street fight" between top-trained elite sportsmen. The aim is self-insight, which can be actively used in later life. The graduate cannot lie to himself and all his "colleagues", as everyone can see the cash settlement, physical and psychological reaction.
There is only one way forward; either the graduate sees himself for better or worse and uses this self-knowledge and insight actively and constructively in life, or the graduate stops in one way or another; either by saying stop, looking into other systems with less demands, or recognizing that the peak has been reached and enrolling in Yakami-ryu level 1; Room for everyone.
The I-camp is always a Yakami-ryu stage 2 & 3 camp, where there is not room for everyone and the requirements are much greater.
It should also be said that Yakami-ryu shiai is only used for instructor graduations and is therefore a small part of Yakami-ryu step 2.
Therefore there is a CLEAR PURPOSE and PROCESS in the design of Yakami-ryu freestyle, as the rules must support this and lead towards the goal, and in Yakami's case it MUST logically support and facilitate the transition from system 1; Yakami Shinsei-ryu karate-do for system 2: Hassei Yakami-ryu Karate-do and beyond – physical, psychological and mental attitude.
- The "life or death" experience, where the combatants experience their own limits, limitations, physical and psychological reactions under extreme and constant pressure, thus an inner self-realization can take place and boundaries are moved to the constructive and life-affirming future.
- The most effective and fastest way to do this is the “50/50” floor fight. With the right rules, it becomes so primitive that primal instincts such as "survival", "recklessness" and "mercilessness" are awakened, and often it is the most ruthless who "wins" and not the "decent and nice".
- A 100 % correctly deployed technique will work just as well on a 10.kyu as a 5.dan, a monkey as an orangutan - that being a knock-out tsuki/geri to the head or stomach, strangulation, lock or the like.
The difficult part is simply getting this inserted, when no space or instruction is given for it. A 0.2 second hesitation is enough to miss the chance.
Learning goals: This physical and mental attitude must be transferred to every training and teaching – every time and in both Kihon, kumite and kata.
- Short term: Create realistic and experienced martial artists. Secondary: to brand and create respect for the Jokokan association and its practitioners, and get ego satisfied.
- Long term: Through self-realization with "life & death" experiences, to create the basis for the choice and responsibility for a transition from martial arts to martial arts practitioner.
With the above, Jokokan Shiai IS created to:
1. Instructors from the degree 3.kyu to 3.dan Sr. (“OKU KYU”, Shoden and Chuden), this is necessary and realistic. Wha. rules and limitations, self-recognition, choice and responsibility are fostered
2. Instructors from the grade 4.dan to 6.dan Sr (Joden – Okuden), this is hardly realistic and should not be!, as correct mental attitude and “mercilessness” are constant and a real fight is unlimited in nature and not limited by rules, – and a match should be decided quickly and efficiently.
3. Instructors from the grade above Menkyo, this is totally unrealistic, as a match will always be decided within 1-2 seconds, maximum 5, most often 0.
The first group fights within all their skills and toolbox, pushes boundaries and learns. It IS realistic and has a purpose.
The other two groups will struggle with increasing limitation of their skills and toolbox, inhibiting boundaries and learning. It has NO purpose and IS completely unrealistic.
This year there were a total of 50 matches with very high intensity. A side effect was 23 full technical knock-outs of 3-5 seconds duration, 14 technical knock-outs of 2-3 seconds duration.
It should be noted and emphasized that Jokokan Shiai as above described is ONLY from system 2; Hassei Yakami-ryu karate-do practitioners, and not for system 1; Yakami Shinsei-ryu Gensei Karate-do practitioners, where there is a full kumite/freestyle test course, which includes protective equipment, semi-contact and voluntary choices under own responsibility.
Summer camp and morality
However, this was no more serious that all instructors with a smile on their faces could be active participants and instructor team teachers at this year's summer camp for everyone with 150 active participants on the floor. Which, by the way, is another Jokokan characteristic, that we do not make unnecessary fuss over things and matters that are not serious or that we cannot do anything about. We try very hard to live up to our mottos:
1). We do as we say and say as we do
2). One for all and all for one.
3). You can do much more than you or others impose on yourself by limitations.
4). Humility for the task and being more is more important than seeming.
5). Self-realization under extreme 100 % pressure without illusions for the creation of your future on all levels
The 2007/2008 season also marked the implementation of the first step of the 2010 strategic plan, chapter black belt instructors; distribution of active instructors in Kaidenkan and Shindenkan.
Shindenkan is for everyone – the elite as the exerciser. Kaidenkan is “by invitation only”.
The following six instructors were subsequently invited to teach at Kaidenkan. Others in the Shindenkan where they have the opportunity to qualify for an invitation to the 2009/2010 season. The Kaidenkan invitations are valid for one year at a time until 2010.
Graduation result
It was a great pleasure that the following graduates passed. Jokokan Honbu-dojo wishes the following graduates a hearty congratulations:
Jens Iversen
Chief Instructor KYU
Jokokan Ballerup
6th dan, Yakami Shinsei-ryu karate-do (Honbu 1)
Instructor Honbu dojo 4 Personal: Kaidenkan by Invitation 2008 and appointed instructor Honbu 1 and assistant instructor Honbu 2
Soren Nielsen
Chief instructor
Jokokan Amager
4th dan, Yakami Shinsei-ryu karate-do (Honbu 1)
4th dan, Kodosoku-kai Gensei-ryu karate-do
Personal: Kaidenkan by Invitation 2008 and appointed assistant instructor Honbu 1
Martin Hansen
Chief instructor
Jokokan Korsør
4th dan, Yakami Shinsei-ryu karate-do (Honbu 1)
4th dan, Kodosoku-kai Gensei-ryu karate-do
Jokokan Korsør Personal: Kaidenkan by Invitation 2008 and appointed assistant instructor Honbu 1
Kjeld Nyrup
Chief instructor
Jokokan Frederiksberg
4th dan, Yakami Shinsei-ryu karate-do (Honbu 1)
4th dan, Kodosoku-kai Gensei-ryu karate-do
Personal: Kaidenkan by Invitation 2008 and appointed assistant instructor Honbu 1
Brian Jessen
Instructor
Jokokan Battle
Jokokan Holbaek
3rd dan, Yakami Shinsei-ryu karate-do (Honbu 1)
3rd dan, Kodosoku-kai Gensei-ryu karate-do
SHODEN Hiden, Hassei Yakami-ryu Karate-do
Personal: Kaidenkan by Invitation 2008 & Titular Renshi-Dai
Rune Larsen
Instructor
Jokokan Ballerup
2nd dan, Yakami Shinsei-ryu karate-do (Honbu 1)
2nd dan, Kodosoku-kai Gensei-ryu karate-do
SHODEN, Hassei Yakami-ryu Karate-do
Personal title: SHISHU, as well as Kaidenkan by Invitation Probation 2008
Jokokan Honbu-dojos and the Jokokan Federation wish all Jokokaners, supporters, friends and readers around the world a very good autumn holiday.
