Shindenkan's largest project investment to date for nearly 50 years

Project Old Modern Warrior – POMW – a 36 month project progress

By Kimu Sensei, early 2014, Chief Instructor Shindenkan Competence and Development Center – Honbu-dojo

My way through the POMW project, part 2; Why? And how did the POMW project come about?

In Shindenkan, we work with strategy and action plans with room for everyone – the elite as the exerciser.

Since 2005, we have also developed an internal association leader training, which is targeted at Shindenkan's voluntary and unpaid association leaders.

It is not so different from a practically targeted business manager education, but it is targeted at associational life and the lack of management rights, and Shindenkan's needs through the democratically adopted strategy and action plans.

Because it is association work, it does not have to be ineffective, directionless and unprofessional.

If this is the case, it will become unproductive and the voluntary and unpaid voluntary leadership forces will quickly become demotivated and lose the desire to make an effort for the members and society.

This is something that often happens in voluntary association life, where democracy must prevail and be followed, but can often have difficult conditions if association leaders have to stand up for something they cannot vouch for or are tasked with extra work by members through general meetings, where proposers themselves do not want to contribute, and destructive disagreements and divisions therefore become the result.

We at Shindenkan would like to learn from the mistakes, but still pay tribute to democracy in its most effective form through empowerment. And that's why we also have a motto that says; "Any idiot can learn from his own mistakes, but a true leader learns from the mistakes of others". – especially also since more time is freed up for what is the passion of all Shindenkaners; Yakami Shinsei-ryu Martial Arts!

Therefore, the national general assembly decided to set up this internal leadership training and tasked the Honbu dojo's competence center to develop and implement this. It also fitted well with the fact that the successful 2000-2005 strategic plan was replaced by 2005-2010, where there was a lot of focus on making everything more efficient with fluid transfer of knowledge and experience, and sharing through close TEAM work locally as nationally.

The success of the strategic plan meant that in 2012 Shindenkan had 12 member associations and around 1,100 members.

In the period 2000-2010, Honbu's competence center worked hard to develop and complete all the KYU competence modules, which made visible and revealed the values of the 1,000-year-old multi-track martial arts system; Yakami Shinsei-ryu. It made it practically more accessible and understandable for practitioners as readers, and much easier to handle in the local schools with the hustle and motivation of a modern world, thus Shindenkan's motto; "Space for everyone - the elite as exercisers", could also be adhered to in pure practice.

POMW – the first baby steps in a democratic sports organization

A public high-ranking municipal employee once expressed astonishment as to why "..we didn't just quickly knit a course together, as the course would stand unchallenged within the Shindenkan organization, and therefore just had to have a user quality that was satisfactory".

We have heard that line of thinking before – also internally at Shindenkan. But we simply can't!

First, it would go against Shindenkan's value set. Secondly, it would be cheating and deception, and we do not cheat and deceive people, and especially not our own members, thirdly, it would be short-term, and fourthly, you do not do this to a world cultural heritage that is over 1,000 years old old.

Therefore – all competence development and visibility takes place in Shindenkan after graduation and competence procuration, as has been the case unchanged for at least the last 600 years, when a systematization of documentation took place, in order to keep the system intact and ensure continued development.

In 2010, I announced to the general assembly and the federal board that I had completed 18 out of the 20 KYU competency curriculum courses after 8 years of work, and the last two would be completed and handed over by the end of 2011.

After that, I could tackle all the DAN competence courses, which are generally 2-3 times longer than the KYU competence courses, and estimated to complete one DAN course per year.

In 2010, I announced to the general assembly and the federal board that I had developed a very controversial idea to practically explain and demonstrate differences and similarities between the modern and ancient warrior.

Why?

All over the world and Denmark as well, there are many people who question the value of modern martial arts training in real situations and its usefulness.

It ranges from questions like "How would you parry a lightsaber?" to "Any person with a shooter can shoot a martial artist, so why do martial arts?" to "Who is the best and will win?"; a modern elite soldier? Or a modern samurai – a dedicated experienced traditional Martial Artist?”.

There are many questioners who immediately associate traditional martial arts with self-development and can well understand the value of this - because in these Facebook, branding and selfie times, who would openly proclaim that self-development is hyped and cannot be used for anything in this modern world and time?

And there are also many questioners who immediately associate traditional martial arts with self-defense and can well understand the value of this.

And there are also many people who can connect traditional martial arts with self-defense and self-development through increased self-confidence, self-esteem and trust in one's own abilities in a situation to avoid or come out of it reasonably unharmed, physically and mentally.

But there is no one who connects and finds a connection between the modern warrior and the warrior of the old world, since the modern warrior has a firearm and the ancient warrior a sword, which must be said to be reasonably advantageous for the modern warrior - with a limited view .

But if you now ask yourself the question, what exactly is the difference between the ordinary soldier and the elite soldier, then people become more doubtful.

Today, the equipment is almost the same, but then the difference must be; the multi-track competence training, the tasks and the person behind them.

Therefore, there is no doubt in my mind that the main difference between the common soldier and the elite soldier is;

The person behind it – a much stronger psyche and will to complete, an above-average creative intelligence and a need for adventure and testing oneself.

Perspective to the world of martial arts

Most elite soldiers have an average service time of between 4-7 years, officers a few years less, after which they either transfer to more regular service or take a job in the private sector.

If we then put this in perspective to our own world; Martial arts and martial arts, there can be an interesting connection, since Yakami Shinsei-ryu's 1,000-year-old statistics say that the difference between an ordinary warrior and an elite warrior is distinguished between two steps.

The first is up to JODEN, 4th dan Yakami Shinsei-ryu, 5th dan BKK, primarily the structured multi-track competence training and challenges, and secondary self-development – get to know yourself, weaknesses as well as strengths. According to modern statistics, this takes an average of 15-20 years, and statistically throughout almost 50 years of Scandinavian history, there are less than 10 people out of tens of thousands who have achieved this.

And until this culminates in the transition between martial arts to martial arts, at the second stage; denshograden MENKYO, 6th dan Yakami Shinsei-ryu, 7th dan BKK, where it is primarily self-development that is decisive, and secondarily the structured multi-track competence training and challenges that make the big difference. According to modern statistics, this takes an average of 15-30 years, and statistically throughout almost 50 years of Scandinavian history, there are less than 3 people out of tens of thousands who have achieved this.

The Japanese martial arts grandmaster Minouchi Sensei has precisely described this connection and thesis in some of his books and writings; That the person behind it, the multi-track approach, makes the big difference in the long run.

Thesis; If it is appropriate that the decisive factor is primarily the person behind the weapon, which is also timeless and independent of technical development, social norms and country of origin, when is there a coincidence between comparable professional skills - between the old elite warrior and the new elite warrior?

Considerations and Choices;

Professional competence;

The basic professional training for elite soldier takes about 2 years, with only 3-7 % of the applicants passing, whereas the basic professional training in Yakami Shinsei-ryu for SHODEN takes about 10-12 years, with less than 1 % of the applicants passing.

A fully qualified professional education cannot therefore be directly compared - but the person behind it and the ongoing self-development can, on the other hand.

If the multi-track approach is then decisive for the results, it will be interesting to compare when, in time, a Yakami Shinsei-ryu practitioner will learn a modern professional competence at a determined standardized measurement level, which can be directly compared with direct practitioners of this professional competence or these professional competences .

Since the professional skills of the modern elite soldier are many, but the person behind it – the attitude comparable to Yakami Shinsei-ryu, according to Minouchi Sensei's thesis, there must be a simpler professional skill, which is also designed simple, so that the primary and decisive factor behind, is the person behind it – the attitude.

My solution to this problem is shooting.

As it is a relatively simple professional competence in its basic form. A basic form that is purposefully designed to be as simple as possible, so that as many people as possible can participate, with effective results in a relatively short time.

Since it is very difficult for us to get active elite soldiers to stand up on our terms, but we already have a lot of experience with civilians, soldiers and former elite soldiers who stand up on our terms, we therefore find ourselves in the opposite situation; We'll get to them.

Since the shooting sport is both a civilian and a military basic professional competence, this will fulfill our purpose, as there is a clear connection to our need and purpose in terms of proving Minouchi Sensei's thesis.

Clarifying questions:

• How will a Yakami Shinsei-ryu practitioner achieve the same professional skills as civilian and military practitioners according to a recognized international standard? That is according to the civilian as military conditions and standards, and not according to our own?
  
• From what degree will a Yakami Shinsei-ryu practitioner with acquired attitude achieve the same professional competences as civilian and military practitioners according to a recognized international standard? That is according to the civilian as military conditions and standards, and not according to our own?

This means that the goal is according to the civilian like military conditions and standards, and not according to our own, but the process to get there will or can be different, as Minouchi Sensei says that the attitude of the individual practitioner, like the attitude of instructors is very different, and dependent of the individual practitioner's degree as an instructor, and this culminates in the degree MENKYO – Master of all the Martial Arts.

So the main question that testing the thesis must answer and indicate is based on the most important thing is the man behind the weapon and the man's training behind;

1. The shooter's inner clarification and attitude is the most important factor for learning to shoot in the shortest possible time with the most optimal results, if these also receive the most optimal learning process and structure with the optimally correct shooting technical essence from the world's best pistol, rifle and long-range shooters.
2. The inner clarification and attitude of the shooting instructors is the most important factor for learning to shoot in the shortest possible time with the most optimal results, if these also receive the most optimal learning process and structure with the optimally correct shooting technical essence from the world's best pistol, rifle and long-range shooters.
3. In order to get such a complete picture, it will be extremely important to get both the civilian and military angle, as the attitude and life experience behind the shooting are very different. There is a big difference between points and trophies, and life and death. This will necessarily also have a great influence on the depth of the inner cognition, since the military shooter who has not got PTSD or something else is forced to relate to the human target he is shooting at, and not like the sports shooter, who has to relate to a cardboard or metal disc.
4. The best starting point to answer and prove Minouchi Sensei's thesis would be that neither Shindenkan shooting instructors nor shooters should have any shooting experience in their luggage, apart from "Tivoli, bachelor parties and special events". Because in this way, it could be "measured cleanly" and everything would be according to the project's merits, process and goals.

There was no doubt that if the Federation Board and General Assembly decided to approve POMW – Project Old Modern Warrior, it would be the largest and most resource-intensive project the Shindenkan has ever undertaken.

In addition, the project would be totally "unsafe", since no one in the Honbu dojo competence center of degrees above black belt had any experience with weapons, but only had Minouchi Sensei's thesis to lean on and prove, as well as his own multi-track competences in man behind, - so it was actually totally ideal!

This would therefore be a complete "from scratch" project, where success or total failure could only go to Shindenkan and Minouchi Sensei, or the complete opposite. A so-called bang or fall project without any prerequisites, and also the most expensive and longest project ever in our history for almost 50 years in Denmark.

An ultra high-risk project which could damage Shindenkan's credibility and background if the project did not significantly demonstrate Minouchi Sensei's insight, thesis and 1,000 years of history and experience.

Most people would probably have declined due to the project's high risk, since Shindenkan had absolutely no prerequisites and was 100 % dependent on outside competences, which would not necessarily be good for Shindenkan.

But at the same time the 100 % optimal and ideal starting point for demonstrating Minouchi Sensei's thesis;
It is the person behind it that makes the biggest difference, and their training background and process.

Shortly before the general assembly and the federation board meeting in 2010, the only two Honbu instructors above OKUDEN had enrolled in a shooting association to try to gain some experience in shooting. It was approx. 6 shootings in three weeks, during which we did not become very much wiser.

I will get into why later, but the general meeting decided, on behalf of the federal board, to follow Kimu Sensei's presentation, to investigate the project more closely, so that a concrete project plan could be drawn up and thus also a cost estimate.

The project manager behind it should be Jens Hanshi-dai, as he was OKUDEN HIDEN, and thus close to the densho degree MENKYO – Master of all the Martial Arts, which Minouchi Sensei said was the ideal degree to prove the thesis. Kimu Sensei was to be steering group chairman and chief project developer.

Thus adopted, the project simply had to be built up so that it could be launched if the federal board and the general meeting gave permission for the project and timetable with the associated budget.

Unfortunately, Jen Hanshi-dai's private life went into an open storm, which two years later resulted in a divorce. The federal board therefore recommended to the general meeting in 2011 that the steering group chairman, chief project developer and Honbu's chief instructor, should "step down" and take the position of project manager, retain the position of chief project developer, but the steering group should be taken over by the federal board with the federal chairman as steering group chairman.

Since Kimu Sensei was the only other option if the project were to come to fruition, and he wanted to support his own idea and project, he accepted the assignment. It was therefore unanimously adopted by the 2011 general meeting for a provisional 5-year period until the end of 2015.

The POMW – Project Old Modern Warrior project was born, and Kimu Sensei now had to run the biggest project venture ever in 50 years of Scandinavian history on both posts, – at the same time as his normal key function, as chief instructor and chief developer for Shindenkan's competence center; Honbu Dojo.

For GF2013 in connection with the optimized organizational structure for larger martial arts organizations such as Shindenkan, it was decided by the General Assembly that future development projects should be most optimally, agilely and efficiently managed and approved by the inter-organizational coordination committee; SOPORG – Shindenkan Operations & Organisations, which consists of the association chairman, association vice-chairman, Honbu competence center's chairman and deputy chairman, as well as an additional member elected by Shindenkan.

Shindenkan has learned from the mistakes of other associations, and thus tried to build a bridge between organization and system under the umbrella of democratic associations.

From barren soil to lush and fertile long-term soil – The dynamic learning and structured process

Kimu Sensei prepared a "road map" and validation process, which briefly consisted of the following;

1. Research map – Concept framework – Minouchi Sensei's theory
2. Contextual framework – Limitations, philosophy, application, relevance
3. Research proposal – Objectives, process, assumptions, programs, relevance
4. Literature selection – systematic review of literature and relevance
5. Introductory theory – Literature summary and theory
6. Initial theory evaluation – Pilot synopsis and theory formulation
7. Research thesis Research methodologies - test proposals and methodologies
8. Data processes – Data collection and analysis
9. Research results – Results, validation and acceptance/rejection
10. Final re-evaluation – theory development and literature review and evaluation
11. Final conclusions – conclusion and contribution to the sport of shooting and Shindenkan.

Eg. brainstorming POMW – what should the project answer from various questions?

• The POMW project has its main point of departure within Martial Arts and Minouchi Sensei's theory about the man behind the weapon. His inner clarification and attitude is the most important factor for learning to shoot in the shortest possible time with the most optimal results, if these also receive the most optimal learning process and structure with the optimally correct shooting technical essence from the world's best pistol, rifle and long-range shooters.
• The POMW project also tests the practical part of the above thesis;
• That a Yakami Shinsei-ryu practitioner from TG3+ can easily learn the modern warrior's basic shooting skills and understanding in 2-4 months according to the POMW shooting technical manual, but the modern warrior, conversely, cannot learn Yakami Shinsei-ryu's basic skills and understanding in 2-4 months .
• Why? The short, essential answer; Setting and trust.

Questions answered in random order that arise in the wake of the project description and purpose;

• POMW Shooting Technique is logically structured and is based on the life experiences of the world's best civilian and military shooters in shooting, as well as thorough studies through nearly 200 books on the subjects, as well as practical experience gathering at 4 POMW levels. But:
• How quickly do you lose your highest match skill level? What percentage do you lose over time? Is there a linear function or is it a parabola?
• But how much maintenance do you need as a shooter in relation to Yakami Shinsei-ryu to keep your level of competence and muscle memory? Is relearning linearly increasing or is it suddenly explosively increasing?
• How important is a shooting instructor for the shooter's understanding, skills and results? Does the same apply to shooting as to martial arts? How important? Before, during and after, as well as maintenance?
• Shooting instructor vs shooter - what are the differences and what are the similarities? And how should each training course be structured so that it optimally follows the purpose of the POMW project.
• Thesis; "If you can shoot technically correctly with a pistol, you can also shoot a rifle, but not the other way around".
• What is a complete shooter? What are the differences and similarities between pistol, rifle and long range rifle? How are the training courses structured so that they optimally follow the POMW project's purpose.
• Mechanically, there is not that much difference between pistol and rifle shooting, except that pistols have a shorter barrel length than rifles and therefore have a shorter effective shooting distance, but technically there is a logical difference. Under basic shooting, rifle shooting has three points of support where a pistol has either one or two. If the significance from the barrel length is also added, it must be concluded from a sporting point of view that it is easier to learn to shoot with a rifle than with a pistol. From a military point of view, a pistol and a rifle have very different basic functions, which, however, have mostly overlapped since the 70s based on new needs and realizations.

The more structured questions that emerged, both before and during the project, the more adjustments had to be made. There were many adjustments at the beginning and very few at the end. This, of course, goes hand in hand with skill development, experience and increasing professional competence.

The POMW project was decided in advance by the general meeting, should be "As far as the wings can carry, where it still makes sense for the POMW project".

This quickly meant that the borders were extended from Denmark to Europe and to the rest of the world, including the Far East and the USA. POMW very quickly became a global and international project.

The answer to why is very simple. It became clear very quickly that Minouchi Sensei's thesis proved to hold water, and Kimu Sensei therefore quickly expanded and adapted the purpose of the study to the actual conditions and reality.

It could be very exciting to investigate "how far down the ranks" in Shindenkan we could go, before the effect from the Yakami Shinsei-ryu training no longer contributed and was an advantage for the POMW shooter, cf. Minouchi Sensei's thesis.

The General Assembly 2012 was of the same opinion and very excited about the POMW process and the preliminary results, so POMW project manager Kimu Sensei's proposal, with the support and decision of the steering group SOPORG, was unanimously adopted.

The expert advice from shooters and shooters' associations had advised in 2010 that 15 years to POMW basic competences would be probable. This meant 5 years each for pistol, rifle and long range. That turned out very quickly to be very wrong.

In 2011, the POMW project duration was adjusted down from 15 years to 5 years and at the same time adjusted up from local to continental project and competence level. In 2012, there was another downward adjustment from 5 years to 3 years, and another upward adjustment from continental to international elite project and elite competence level.

In 2012, POMW really began to attract international interest, and POMW was contacted about collaboration and learning processes. It has continued and increased until today in 2014, even though the POMW project was officially completed on 31.12.2013. We have turned down both large and small offers, as Shindenkan's main craft and main passion is and will be our 1,000-year heritage and system; Yakami Shinsei-ryu. POMW is now part of our mandatory KYU competence curriculum, and voluntary DAN competence curriculum. It has been a fantastic journey and process, which we view very positively - but unfortunately there have also been quite a few bumps, jantelov and unnecessary counter-work along the way here in Denmark. But we can all be proud of the project's results - and whether others will benefit from this or not is entirely up to them. But one thing is for sure; Minouchi Sensei's thesis has been proven to that extent and all Shindenkaners will benefit from this.

This article belongs to a series of concluding POMW articles, and will answer questions such as;

How and why did the POMW project come about?

How was it built and how did it proceed?

Which experiences were the most educational – both positive and negative?

Retrospective; Is there anything during the process that can be made more optimal or efficient?

The influence of the surroundings, the influence of Shindenkan and the influence of the participants on POMW

And other questions