By Claus Hansen, Member until 2017
I think it was about a month before the actual graduation that I first heard about SLUS. Now what is this, I had never heard of this before?
In short, it is a training camp for black belts or "wannabies", which runs before the actual camp. It has obviously been going on for a few years but has been reserved for chief instructors. It is very intensive training and it is with good reason that it has been reserved for chief instructors, but I am getting ahead of the curve of history. I should start at the beginning.
About 3 years ago, I made a promise that I would work towards becoming a 1st dan in Yakami Shinsei-ryu. The purpose was to take over the management of the local club where I was training at the time. It is no secret that there have been ups and downs in the past years. As with everything else in life, you experience times when it just works for you and times when everything seems like a struggle. But nevertheless, the plan held in rough outline. So approx. 6 months before the summer camp started, I actually started the preparations for the final graduation.
I had already sworn after the 2nd Kyu that I would not be so pressured about physics again. However, many things went wrong at the start of the year, all of a sudden I was faced with some challenges I hadn't anticipated, I was also hit by injuries which stopped training for a long period.
When I then got the question, around the time of the spring camp, if I was ready to go up to 1. Dan this summer, my clear answer was No. I didn't feel I had the necessary routine in the curriculum or the physical form I thought was needed. And with only 2-3 months until graduation, I didn't think I could make it. But someone said they believed in me. I therefore had some time to think about it and wavered between doing the experiment or not. But then it happened that I came to think of something I had read in the syllabus. "We believe in you, but you must also believe in yourself". After all, I couldn't really stand up in front of "my" students and say this to them if I didn't live up to it myself, they would quickly see through that. I therefore said to myself "I will do it". nothing about "I'm doing the experiment", I could have said that, no "I'm doing it". However, I'll be the first to admit that I hadn't convinced myself to begin with. But as training progressed, I could see that I was moving and I became more and more convinced that it could be done.
Up to the physical test, there was only one thing I had doubts about and one thing that annoyed me. I didn't show how fast I wanted to be for the bronze circle, would I get under the 5 min that was the requirement? And I showed that I couldn't run fast enough to achieve the world elite level of fitness that we had promised at the spring camp. But one thing was certain, I wanted to do my best to complete and achieve as high a fitness score as possible, then world elite must be next time.
It is only here afterwards, when I sit and think back on the demands that were made of us at the time. That I have become aware of why they had to be so high. We probably didn't achieve world elite very many of us, but I think there was a deeper underlying meaning. I can see here afterwards that the physical surplus I had helped me through SLUS and summer camp without being close to exhaustion. Which meant that I could get even more out of the lessons.
After 2-3 months of preparation, and the physical test over, we are ready for the SLUS course before the summer camp 2011.
What is SLUS, yes, in the invitation it says Black Belt Leader Development Seminar. It also said that it was 17 hours of training spread over 26 hours leading up to the camp. It sounds intensive but also a little bit scary. With a little mental arithmetic, I quickly realized that I would get 6 hours of sleep until the camp. It's too little sleep I said to myself, I think I'll skip it. But one thing caught my eye. When it was clear that sensei would use the time during the seminar to graduate the participants who were up for graduation. This meant that it would improve the student's chances of passing graduation. I've never really been a fan of the kamikaze technique for graduations, which I've been forced to do in previous graduations. Where you have one chance to pass. It was therefore with the expectation that it would be a hard but intensive course that I left for SLUS on Friday afternoon, the day before summer camp. It is not very often that you get the opportunity to be taught by sensei, so you should take advantage of it. However, it was with some concerns about how it would go, would I be able to stay awake, especially on Saturday and what with the crazy thank you test on Saturday, I would be too exhausted to complete the test. Well now not all the worries, you do your best, then no one can ask for more. The only thing that calmed a little bit was a comment from a chief instructor that "it will be great".
Fortunately, we arrived at SLUS, me and a colleague, in good time. I felt a little sorry for those who came late. I could never have done all the arm stretches that were given as a prize for being 1 minute late. The style was set from the start, you just didn't come late without asking for permission to do so and dojo-kun had to be observed. I was a little grateful that we were allowed to help them with the last arm stretches.
As we were now all ready to receive training, we started with a little warm-up. Sensei immediately began graduation with ryugi. It got a little behind me. But what came even more behind me were the questions. What does bujutsu kodosoku kai mean?, I remembered reading it somewhere…, next question you have a team of TG1s, TG2s and TG3s, of different genders and ages how do you choose to run training? ... before the warm-up was over, sensei had asked 10-15 questions and I guess I hadn't answered a single one of them correctly. This is going to be a long camp.
Fortunately, we immediately moved on to something I understood and could relate to clearly, kihon training. There were some new things that I hadn't thought about before. And then it was the other way around, but now remember all the technique ichi, ni, san... Damn, how long is the hall, good thing I didn't "cheat" myself in kihon, so I could focus on the execution without getting tired.
Then on to kumite and testing what we had just learned in kihon. But first sensei demonstrated his skills and what he wanted us to do, hold on how fast he is. How does he behave... Jens Kyoshi doesn't stand a chance!. It seems so unbelievably simple and straightforward. But still so far from what I do.
Now it was my turn to try it out with a colleague, but it didn't really work. Which Sensei also noticed when he came by and gave a "shit ball". I hear what he is saying but have a hard time with it. I continued to fight with it and after a lot of blows and parries I was beginning to sense something. But now I also had a nice pain in my chest and hands. I was sure I would never move my thumbs again. Forget it… ignore the pain and focus on taking the hit. Stand straight, find balance and focus, think about TF3. A few punches right in the sack from sensei also got me on my toes, as he noticed, now I was turned on. Poor fellow colleague, because he was the one who ended up losing out afterwards... Yes, that's how you got him. Finally it's my turn to hit now he must have, well it was over quickly. His turn was finally saved by the gong, it was time for the Syllabus.
After being tossed around the curriculum for who knows how long, we went back to kumite. I guess there were also a few ryugi questions in between. And some students had at that time passed their ryugi test. We continued with kumite a little longer. This time I was much more focused from the start and began to notice things about myself and my colleagues when they and I attacked. A sudden aha experience and insight, which with normal training would probably have taken a year to get. Then More curriculum training. Where am I..., who am I... I was all over the floor and things were running around in my head, but hold on, how cool it was. Suddenly the ryuha training was over, for this time. The great thing was that the syllabus test was over and passed.
It had become time for a ryugi task. We were divided into groups by random drawing. Our task was the common thread in the syllabus. We talked back and forth for a long time but agreed on the common thread, just not how to show it. It was good that someone had bright moments, "Rising star", otherwise we would never have gotten anything down on paper. Next task make a business case on this and choose a representative to present this tomorrow, it was immediately worse. Again, it was good group work, we managed to get a roughly presentation together and we were lucky enough to have someone who presented projects on a daily basis.
Third task, make a practical implementation of your business case. Ok, that wasn't right either. There are many options and how do you show the common thread in the syllabus in 2-3 minutes, so that the audience is not left with an uh, what did they just do. Which we probably risked them doing anyway. But the karate people would like to be able to see it. However, we found our solution and got it to fit fairly well. Now it just had to be rehearsed for tomorrow at the convention. But it was late and training was over, it was time to go home and rest. What I'm not tired at all, ok that doesn't quite fit. I could feel that I had been at work for many hours now.
The worst or best thing about this intensive training was that the thoughts were running around in my head, which meant that I didn't get much rest. I started to feel sorry for myself as I lay there. But then came to think of something I heard. "I recently saw a wild thing and felt sorry for myself. A wild bird will fall frozen to the ground without ever having felt sorry for itself”. The sentence made me think about how good I really am compared to how some people are out in the world. My ordeal would be over on Saturday night, that's how long I could hold out. This sudden "revelation" made my suffering much easier and today I am grateful for the lack of sleep. It has moved my limits for my own abilities, "you are much better than you and others tell you".
It was with renewed energy and courage for today's training that we set off again. I was now marked by the same euphoria that a colleague had expressed the evening before - let me try more of this.
The day started with the presentation of our business case, which we had prepared the day before. Fortunately, no one was late this time. Spirits were high despite everyone looking more or less haggard. The other team was allowed to test their skills in the difficult art of presentation first. If you have not tried to present before, it can be quite borderline-crossing, to stand in front of an assembly and have to "sell" your message. I myself have tried it quite a bit during my studies and in my working life, but I never find it fun. I thought my colleague did an excellent job. I could tell that he was not experienced, but I had never noticed all the things that sensei noticed. It was just before sensei made them appear as a school example of what not to do. I had already learned a lot about what to do just from their presentation. And now it was our turn. My colleague had been given the difficult task of presenting our case and we had the advantage of having seen the others and learned from their mistakes. In spite of that, we also made a number of mistakes and our seasoned presenter was nevertheless "picked down", we as a group were picked down, but we were also praised. Think that nothing more than a few simple body signals are needed to "catch" the audience or push them away. Unfortunately, sensei had spent so much time on us beginners that there was no time for the chief instructors' presentation.
It was time for ryuha and ryugi in the dojo again. Sensei went out of his way again during the warm-up to ask questions about the syllabus. One by one the other colleagues passed until only I was left. I had had the opportunity to read a bit of the syllabus during the previous day and was able to answer a little more questions than before. There were still a few whippers in between despite the fact that I had just practiced them. But I had obviously at long last answered sensei's question satisfactorily, because I passed the last ryugi test.
Now there were only 2 tests left the kumite test and the Amok-TAK test. It was a huge relief, the kumite test was a matter of remembering the things I had learned in Task fighting. Crazy THANKS was pure will and I knew with myself that I had come so far now that I couldn't allow myself to stop no matter what.
But there were just a few cool hours of training that had to be "over". We started almost where we left off the day before, with kumite. I just had to get a few punches between the floor from sensei before I fully woke up. But then I was also turned on and it went much better than the day before. Maybe because part of the pressure was relieved, since there weren't that many tests missing, but also because I was focused and starting to be clear. I was starting to be able to read some of the little signals people send before they attack and started to try and hide my own. Which of course didn't work every time. However, there was one colleague in particular who suited me well in kumite. I could sense for myself how we both moved with each stroke and parry after sensei commented on it. It was super cool to be parried one moment and then get your punch through the next and then do the same to your fellow colleague. But I was about to be beaten to death. It was therefore with some relief, but also some excitement that we moved on to the kumite test. Now what we had learned over the last 24 hours, yes the last year, was to be put to the test.
It was the best kumite I've ever participated in!, at times I was pushed to the bottom and at other times I could sense the advantage I had, the fight waved back and forth. It all came together in a right unit the ryugi training and ryuha training all made sense afterwards. I also learned a few things about myself. I'm not merciless enough and I act like a "bouncing ball" if someone knocks me out.
After this round, we were allowed to witness kumite among those who were up to brown belt degrees. We were allowed to enter the hall for them before they had to start the kumite test. We could stand and watch them with all the tools we had acquired during the previous day. It was interesting to stand there and watch them and think back to when you were standing there yourself. You could see thoughts running through their heads. But could see who had been up before. They had an idea of what awaited and you could see the difference in those who had not been up before. You could read who was nervous and who was hiding behind masks and who was settled. It was instructive. Even more instructive was during even the kumite who had the will. Our job was to cheer them on and encourage them. It means a lot when you are under pressure that there is someone cheering you on, it gives you new strength.
When they had to get the verdict we were sent out of the dojo. Those who had not passed should not be hung out in front of a bunch of "wanna bee" black belts. It's hard enough to be dumped and you don't have to be dumped in front of a large crowd at the same time.
In shindenkan we create winners. We therefore had some time to ourselves before the camp started. I spent time reflecting on the past 18 hours. They had gone surprisingly fast and I wasn't really tired. I was used but no more than I thought I could go the distance. The only thing I was a little nervous about was the last test, the Amok Tak test. I was already dreading how long we would get in each round. I have learned, probably not the only one, that the further up the ranks you get, the more time you are allowed to let loose. But soon there was no time to think about it. A camp had to be set up. And before long we were at it. The camp went surprisingly quickly. Otherwise, I have always thought that the camps took a long time. But this time it almost seemed like it was over before we really got started. All of a sudden it was the brown belts' turn for the Amok tak test. We hooted and cheered them on and before long it was our turn. Now the nervousness returned to full blast in more than one sense, I had gained air in my stomach. Don't practice now, you'll be in soon I thought, and started pacing back and forth like a lion in a cage. I tried to strategize like for my 1st dan but it was difficult when my stomach rumbled. So damn now my name was mentioned, now it's happening. Ok there is nothing else because I have to throw myself into it and hope for the best, live in the moment.
First, sensei gave a short speech about our merits, what we had gone through in the last 24 hours and how we had coped with the physical test. I don't know if the audience was impressed or applauded, I was already shutting down the surroundings and focusing on what lay ahead. It is the same every time with 3 rounds. First punch, then kick and then both. How it was said you are ready. And then it was off. I beat the best I had learned. I have no idea for how long, but I could feel that the pulse had risen well. I forgot to breathe along the way, but my colleague, who was holding a pillow, gave encouraging shouts. I could also hear the spectators but not what they were shouting. It wasn't important either, the only one was sensei's yame. Phew first round over. I was very warm now and we still needed 2 laps. Now it was time to kick, I combined with hiza-geri and mae-geri the best I could. It was tiring to have to lift my legs and in anticipation of sensei yamae I "heard" it. But it was an illusion because when I looked up the others, it was not finished, continued on it again. At long last, that round was also over. And we stood and breathed out, I like an olm bull for air.
Sensei's remark that "now they are warmed up..." encouraged me in a funny way and I was determined not to put his remark to shame. The third round started, this round was going to be long, I knew. But it can't help anything to relax, then time is just added on top of that, I had to give it gas. At one point, however, I couldn't catch my breath and it dawned on me that I had stopped breathing. I therefore focused on breathing and got new energy to punch and kick. I suddenly stopped thinking about everything else and focused only on breathing and punching. It actually felt like I could go on forever. Right until the sweat started running down his eyes. Practice how it hurts, I had difficulty seeing, I couldn't wipe the sweat from my forehead even if I tried, so I had to blink my eyes but then I couldn't see where I hit. I then tried to alternately blink with the left then with the right. It was miserable and didn't work right now it just burned in both eyes. But I let the blows rain down on the pillow and at first I didn't hear that yame had been shouted at all. I had no idea how much time had passed, was that good enough? I heard afterwards that it had lasted 4-5 minutes. But now it was over, I couldn't do more about it, I had given what I had.
I then got the degree, yes and more. I had found out that I could do much more than I had imagined. More than 26 hours had passed since we started on Friday. We had trained for 17-18 hours and I had only had a few hours of rest. I found new sides of myself and learned a lot about myself and others. I had begun to look at myself and others in a new light. It was really the beginning of a "new" life, I wonder if that's why they call 1st Dan the beginning?
At least I felt some kind of rebirth or epiphany and a hunger for more. And then the degree mattered less. It was what I had learned that was important to me. But it is now very nice to put on the black belt, you grow just 10 cm. Today I am glad that I pulled myself together to do it, otherwise I would have missed out on all those experiences. But next time I'll have to make sure I have a proper bed to sleep in, the other thing about sleeping on a couch that's too short just won't do.
