By Pia Bruun, Member until 2012
Excited and expectant, I turned up at Tjørnelysskolen on Saturday 22 May with my con colleagues. I had been looking forward to this course ever since the invitation came. I have previously attended Instructor Course 1 and Instructor Course 2 and found out then how difficult it really is to make the training go smoothly with various distractions, but also how important it is to be able to stay focused and keep the common thread. You don't think about that when you are the one performing the training yourself, and have your own expectations for it.
The course content covered how to become a successful local Shindenkan team instructor with up to 25 practitioners, what responsibilities are involved, and how your results are measured.
Jens Kyoshi welcomed and the plan for the day was shown and told - the stage was set. Definitions in the Shindenkan for instructors were reviewed, including 8 KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). Which created something to think about for most. As an instructor, it is measured whether you perform well enough, precisely set up with percentage targets for the first 4. And the subsequent 4 on leadership qualities. Practical tools have been prepared for the first 4 KPIs, which are understandable, easy to use and read. And here you get an impression of deep professionalism for the task. At the same time, there was a copy of the powerpoint presentation for this course, which was handed out to everyone, so that no one could be in doubt either on that day or afterwards.
After 40 minutes of theory, it was time to try out the director's role with precisely assigned tasks - the stage was set. The first case concerned the planning of training for the team. We were divided into 2 teams, everyone was given a case and 10 minutes to prepare individually to try our hand at the instructor role based on this case for 3 minutes, with the other participants as practitioners. In addition, my team also had Brian Renshi-dai and Kjeld Renshi-dai as practitioners. Søren Renshi-dai was on the other team and Martin Renshi-dai filmed us all. The team was from 10.-8.kyu, it was a requirement that we had to decide on the time consumption, i.e. write down the time spent on each element as well as the training. Four very important elements that the head instructor had stressed that the training should contain were: Dojo-only, at least 1 thing from the law on emergency guardians, explanation of how the team must represent Jokokan "Uppsala" and where the team must participate in the upcoming Shindenkan Summer Convention, and of course carry out a work out.
I can say it very briefly, it was a challenge. In addition to the above, there were also elements of disturbances in the training, which also had to be acted upon, and just like the other times, all performed their roles absolutely fantastic, and especially Kjeld Renshi-dai and Brian Renshi-dai, who should perhaps consider an acting path as livelihood 😉 When everyone had completed the task, there was an evaluation and no one had reached all elements and perhaps had not completed a training to a very large extent either. We therefore had a few minutes to prepare again, and this time set the stage from the very beginning. The second time it went better, there was a higher degree of concentration and adherence to the tasks, except when the whole team was put outside the door, and another time when a student was deprived of his line on the belt..., which tells a lot about where the pressure you can feel in a case like this. But "prizes" were also handed out, which could be felt later in the day (push-ups).
The next task was correct execution of the Shindenkan circle with a partner to give constructive criticism. It was a good exercise, as there was an opportunity to focus on the details.
The last case dealt with administration of the team, taboos and conflicts in the team. The scene was to ensure that the team was informed of some very important messages. And the nature of these messages was not for sissies – deep breathing and off we go... The first few times sitting in seiza, but as the information took a long time, you subsequently found out that it might not even be such a good idea, because how well do you actually listen when you are in pain. On the other hand, it gave a better peace, as no one could move around. It must be up to the individual and the situation to judge.
Instructor course 3 ended with each individual having to write down a SWOT (strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats) on themselves as instructors, which was easier said than done. But also a very effective way of setting it up and putting it into perspective for the individual for reflection and learning. This SWOT was handed over to Jens Kyoshi, who writes his comments, then to Kimu Sensei and then back to the individual…
I wanted to be allowed to write an article about this course myself, and it may surprise me, since I have opted out of another assignment, since I spend a lot of time training and reading in the days leading up to the summer camp, and since I had reflected a little over that, I came to the conclusion that it must have given me so much that I had a need to tell it further. At the same time, I was completely exhausted after the 4 hours, and since it could not be due to hard physical training, it must be because we/I have used myself in a way that I am not used to. And thus exceeded a small limit to.
In short, the Instructor 3 course gave me a deeper insight and a greater understanding of how much it means to – The stage is set.
A big thank you to my Kon colleagues as well as Jens Kyoshi, Kjeld Renshi-dai, Brian Renshi-dai, Søren Renshi-dai and Martin Renhi-dai.
