By Søren S. Hansen, Member until 2013 and, Jan Vendelbo, Member until 2014
True to tradition, we rounded off the year with the X-mas training meeting in Ny Måløvhal. For us, this meeting was extra exciting due to two reasons. Firstly, the X-mas camp was extended by Kimu Sensei for specially invited brown and black belts starting already on Friday at 16 and then 12 hours of intense training before the X-mas camp itself. Secondly, the camp was interesting as for the first time we stood as instructors with our own student team from the newly started Furesø Karate Club (JFu).
Since the first activity day at Hareskov School at the end of August, when Jokokan Furesø Karate School became operational, we have worked intensively to get the first team ready to meet the rest of the Shindenkan organization and get a taste of the organization's size and commitment. We were very excited about the reaction and effort of our students.
Our students from JFu were even more excited, as they now had to participate for the first time at the Shindenkan Hondbu-dojo training meeting and thus show what they had learned in the first 3-4 months as karate practitioners. We ourselves can remember 8 years back to our first meeting in Greve and the anticipation and also nervousness that was present when, as a newly started student, you have to show your skills for the first time. So naturally enough, our 16 new students, divided into 10 adults and 6 Jokokids, were also excited - very excited. In relation to our first meeting 8 years ago, Jokokan has also had great growing pains. At the 2012 X-mas convention, more than 220 students could be counted from 10th Kyu to 8th Dan and our new JFu students were of course surprised by Jokokan's total size with 10 schools distributed in Amager, 2 x Ballerup, Dragør, Frederiksberg, Furesø, Hillerød, Korsør, Slagelse and Sorø. It was an eye opener in relation to our small team and dojo in the old gymnasium at Hareskov school, a place that Kimu Sensei remembers from his own schooling.
This year's X-mas convention started for JFu at 13.00 with a general welcome by Kimu Sensei to all clubs and students, after which the instructors took over with warm-up and then distribution of the students into TG groups. As a fun idea and to the delight of the many Joko kids, the head instructors were dressed in pixie hats and part of the warm-up was "Gangnam Style", which brought smiles to everyone's lips. The purpose of division into TG groups is to divide students into different belt grades so that they can train and develop together and at the same level. Our new students went to it with full energy and were given the time and opportunity to train and immerse themselves in the various exercises together with the other schools. The training here was sub-elements of basic training, Shihos and Kata.
Subsequently, our students were up to the actual graduation and seen from the sidelines, we could only be extremely satisfied with their efforts. Naturally, all students were excited and there were many on the floor at once, but strikingly it was so homogeneous that our JFU students performed the various exercises and challenges. At the 9th Kyu graduation, there is of course a focus on the basic basic positions and parades, where a clear distinction can be made between a walking Zenkutsu and Kodutso-dachi, plus the correct Té and Uké – hand techniques and parades. Our students did all this well, but the most important thing was that we could see that our students had the right attitude – attitude and commitment to learning. They were focused and purposeful, which is fundamental to good karate execution. It was therefore completely natural and deserved that everyone passed and thus earned the 9th Kyu – Purple belt and for Jokokids between 5 and 14 years 1 line to their belt.
After 3-4 hours of joint training and graduation, behind the big smiles a certain weariness could be detected in all the participants. And most were looking forward to coming home and putting their feet up.
For us as instructors, it was a really good experience. After all the efforts to create the right framework for the training (for which we have to thank Furesø municipality and not least the janitor at Hareskovskolen), recruitment and start-up, we could be happy with the effort and the result. It was especially great to see how far you can get in just 3 months of effort, especially if the attendance percentage is as high as we have seen in Furesø. So we are looking forward to starting up after the New Year.
Black Belt LU Competition (Leadership development of black belts and aspirants (2nd kyu – 1st kyu) or TG4, TG5 and TG6
Before the planned X-mas camp, according to tradition, the Black Belt LU Convention is held. This event is held for Team group 4-6, and starts at 16 on Friday and drive up to the X-mas camp on Saturday. At the X-mas camp itself, the lessons learned are put to the test.
It's always exciting with brown/black belt camps because usually the participants don't know what the theme is or what's going to happen. This time, however, before the camp we had been given the task of training the basic steps in our new kata Koryu Naihanchi, so we could (perhaps) know for sure that this kata was on the program. But how it was related to the topic "One stroke one kill" was not entirely clear. And sure enough, we started with Rygha, i.e. physical training, at our new kata.
Even though the basic steps were in the back of our minds, we soon found out that movements, hamni - cross voltages and discharges were more difficult than that. Nevertheless, we all trained with full Friday energy and put in several hours of training in the same kata. Speaking of energy, this particular kata puts a lot of focus on energy points with the hands touching the Kyusho points of the body. Here (in the long term) energy protection or discharge from the Shimon point of the wrist must be achieved when this passes the body's Inatzuma point (under the lower rib), Ganka point (between the lower rib and nipple), Suigetsu (solar plexus) and Danchu (above the solar plexus) - tachi - ouch. However, we are still at a level where we must first learn to understand these Kyusho points before we achieve a state by touching them.
Very tired and sore in muscles including i.a. between shoulders the leaves of all places, then it was time for a break and a bite of bread. After this it was time for distribution into groups and Ryugi tasks. The evening's theme was "What is the ideal annual training process - for me and the others". Søren Shidoin, Bertrand Shidoin and Jan Shidoin, all from JBA, found the question interesting and were happy with our group division, where we could therefore discuss the question freely based on our daily club and thus our and colleagues' expectations. We looked around and quickly found that the question contained so many facets and answers that we had to limit ourselves in order to concretize an answer for our presentation the next morning.
The following morning started with breakfast and coffee, where Kimu Sensei thanked us for our groups' answers and presentations. Before our training camp, Kimu Sensei had also encouraged us to send him questions about "everything between heaven and earth" about our karate, where all questions were welcome. Kimu Sensei said that he had expected a small handful of questions, but was overwhelmed and pleasantly surprised with almost 80 questions. So many questions testify to the degree of eagerness for knowledge, learning and reflection, but of course there was not time for direct answers to all questions. A perfect base for the upcoming Ryugi session. The morning therefore became a session where yesterday's task was mixed with the essence of the many questions that had been sent.
Several of the questions were marked by the topic "Densho degrees" and how we even achieve the higher level of Menkyo - "know yourself". So the difference between kyu and densho degrees or the difference between martial arts and martial arts. It is of course to strive for the highest, to aim for Menkyo, but when we are told that first Densho degrees such as Shoden, Chuden, Joden and Okuden are "only" Densho white belt level, then there is still a long, long way to go. So I wonder if the purpose was simply for us to start thinking about how we could get to know ourselves a little better. Kimu Sensei's best way to describe our slight irritation at not understanding what was behind it was "a world citizen's dialogue with a local citizen from Gunsømagle". It is difficult to create a constructive dialogue where the parties are on the same wavelength.
But when do you achieve Densho degrees? Immediately, even a 10th Kyu can become Shoden or Menkyo because the question lies in "when you hit the note - then you are there". We have to think about that because what is the tone and when do we know if we hit it and if we ever do? Shindenkan is also about Empowerment – taking responsibility for one's own life, so the answer or the key to the right tone perhaps lies in taking responsibility and immersing oneself in Shindenkan and Yakami Shinsei-ryu to a greater extent?
We were not given the answer and time ran out from our morning meeting. Now it was time to resume yesterday's Kata training. We had to show what we had practiced the day before. It was striking that virtually everyone (regardless of belt degree) did not continue to train at the same high intensity level as the day before. What had happened? Too much coffee or still tired in the morning? The answer probably lay more in the morning's talk and topics that set thoughts in motion instead of purposefully continuing to train at Koryu Naihanchi.
A quick stop with alternative joint exercise – let's call it the chicken, got our thoughts on other tracks and back to the same intensity as the night before. It made us lose control and change our attitude - and we could continue our kata at a slightly higher concentrated level. Kimu Sensei also gave an insight into the various Koryu Naihanchi contexts. There are three Koryu Naihanchi kata where two are created to support the first. So the next few hours flew by as we practiced Koryu Naihanchi 1 & 2 - under the usual detailed instruction and explanation.
Afterwards, it was time to get ready for the X-mas camp where Søren Renshi was assigned tasks to all of us which we quickly and efficiently carried out. The camp started on time at 13 with many happy and expectant students and a good number of guests and families who experienced a well-functioning and active Christmas camp.
After 27 intense hours, the participants were exhilarated but tired. It had been a really good meeting, but the common thread throughout the days was still missing. It was actually only in the evening that the common thread began to become clear. "One stroke - one kill", Koryu Naihanchi as well as the Ryugi session around the densho mindset including "know yourself" could be summed up in three simple words - attitude, attitude, attitude. You must be the leader of your own life.
Thanks for a great X-mas camp.
