By Michael Nørgaard, 4.Kyu Yakami Shinsei-ryu, 3.Kyu Kodosoku-kai Gensei-ryu Karate-do

It was with some anticipation that I showed up on Friday evening at 5pm for the first part of TF3.

The invitation stated: ….RYUGI (theoretical) presentation…videos….practical testing….freestyle and street fighting….no weight classes….some contact will/may occur

It was the continuation of TF1 and TF2, but in a more realistic and educated form!!

TF1 and TF 2 were each a challenge, so TF3 could only be even more exciting...!

We started with Ryugi, the theoretical part, presented by Søren Renshi and Martin Renshi-dai. It was clear that they had spent energy on giving us the best approach to TF3. And it succeeded.., the two have an enthusiastic, but at the same time very clear approach to the material.

We got a review of sports karate versus close combat, supported by videos, both from tournaments and via surveillance videos from "real life"

It was clear, from the outbursts heard from the participants, that the "real life" videos in particular made an impression.

The review of the development of sports freestyle over time, and the subsequent group discussions regarding this development already suggested that there was more than just "technique" in this course.

Video from MMA fights made an impression on everyone. This was really about fighting until there was a real winner!

Here it is not necessarily the one who is technically best founded who wins, here it is clearly the attitude the fighters meet with that is absolutely decisive for the outcome of the match!!!

Food for thought…

It was practice time and everyone was eager to get started.

A thorough review of necessary safety equipment was carried out by Søren Renshi, who, according to his own statement, had not himself tested all types of equipment J

Everyone got a taste of what it meant to be "hit", when first Søren Renshi and then Martin Renshi-dai delivered a blow to the body of each participant, naturally protected by a safety vest. We thereby got a sense of how we reacted, both physically and psychologically, to a powerful blow. Before the "adrenaline rush" set in protectively.

Now Søren Renshi and Martin Renshi-dai set the scene by demonstrating the exercises we had to go through.

Each exercise was carefully reviewed, both in slow and fast versions, after which we had to practice these with a partner. First 20% (TWENTY PERCENT), then 40%, 80 % and 100 %

Different attacks, high/low single and double, and different parries, inside and outside.

For each exercise, the importance of Tai-sabaki and attitude was clarified (be 100% present).

When you attack “YOU CANNOT AVOID HITTING” (the express train is coming!) and when you are attacked “YOU CANNOT AVOID STAYING AWAY FROM THE ATTACK OR PARRYING”

It wasn't just a single time that we were strongly admonished that we must not have really listened when we were asked to be "present" and perform our attacks, parades and Tai-sabaki as if we REALLY meant it .

My experience of the importance of Tai-sabaki was really put under pressure, and my bad habit of "going to the side" when attacked was fortunately quickly discovered and commented on several times. Thank you…

I really have something to work with here!

I just couldn't move fast enough and desperately tried to find the reason for this.

Only on the second leg did I discover that I was only using my front leg to move with. It was a completely different experience to use the power of both legs for Tai-sabaki. It gave a sense of a much more fluid movement.

In the second part of the course, the exercises continued, with higher intensity and an even greater focus on attitude.

This second part, however, started differently "refreshingly" by drawing reality even more into the course.

The starting points were the Danes who had been taken hostage by pirates, and "what if your family was attacked"

Should one help or "observe"?

Freely translated: “Make a decision and take the consequence”… “Be present” … “Attitude”!!

In the second part I was really challenged on presence after a long week. It's so easy to come up with excuses like "it's Friday night after a long week" etc

I think I succeeded in "being present", but everything can be better.

Thank you for a really good course.