By Martin E. Hansen, Member until 2018
Dojo-kun, we can just do that 🙂
Shindenkan is always ahead of the curve when it comes to innovation within the event and development of the students themselves. Over the years, Honbu-dojo has learned that JokoKidz and JokoTeens are often much faster learners than adults, but also that they need constant motivation to maintain the spirit of training. At the same time, it is often seen that JokoKidz and JokoTeens know more of the curriculum than the adults with higher degrees, therefore the new meeting is also an opportunity for JokoKidz and JokoTeens to get one more mark on their belt, and not have to spend half a season from August to x -mas the event without the possibility of graduation. The first special meeting was intended as a pilot project to test the concept (read more about the background in the article "Welcome to season 47; 2014-2015!").
The pilot project was initiated and the framework set by Honbu's Head of Competence and Development and Chief Instructor, Kimu Sensei, and in close collaboration with project manager Søren Renshi and the project group consisting of Martin Renshi and Kjeld Renshi-dai, the new concept took shape during the two months development lasted until the finished product; JokoTeen's special event for 12-15 year olds!
JokoTeens, like other teenagers, like to sleep long, so the special meeting for them was arranged so that it started after the JokoKidz meeting at 12.00 🙂 Then around noon the first JokoTeens started arriving to be crossed in. In total approx. 20 JokoTeens showed up for the event, which they expected a lot from. Similar to the JokoKidz convention, Søren Renshi started by welcoming the special convention and introduced the various instructor teams, which were now reduced due to fewer participants and therefore an optimization of resources. For the instructors, this meant that they were now alone with each of their teams and had to run the role-plays with dojo-kun in a different way, because similar to the JokoKidz event, the JokoTeens event would also focus on dojo-kun. JokoTeens were also not cheated by the "untidy" instructors who, during the initial greeting, showed how one absolutely should not behave in a dojo, but corrected it in a pedagogically correct manner afterwards.
After this, lesson 1 could start, which featured a PowerPoint presentation, where parents were also invited to listen and ask questions. The presentation explained the purpose of the special convention, why it had come to be, what JokoTeens and their parents could expect and much more. It took about half an hour, during which both JokoTeens and parents listened intently and asked good questions or made appreciative remarks, especially JokoTeens think it was good that there was finally an event just for them, where they had the opportunity to immerse themselves . After this, the parents were asked to leave the hall and instead spend a few hours with a cup of coffee and a chat out in the corridors, to come back later for the graduation. The farewell to the parents was of course done with proper dojo-kun, where the parents also had to bow politely before leaving the hall.
Kjeld Renshi-dai was subsequently responsible for a redemptive warm-up, so that the bit of nervousness that the participants had with them subsided. When the warm-up was over, the JokoTeens were divided into 3 groups, each going out to their instructor, who were Søren Renshi, Martin Renshi and Kjeld Renshi-dai. Lesson 2 then became immersion in dojo-kun and kihon. It was a very concentrated lesson, as the teams were not as large as during the JokoKidz convention, but at the same time the atmosphere became very intense and the JokoTeens got a good experience with the various dojo-kun cases, where they themselves got an active role and the instructors also suddenly played roles across the 3 groups, which was quite entertaining and educational.
After a short break, it was time for the last lesson of the day before the big graduation, where the JokoTeens had been told that it's a shame you can dump e.g. if one does not show correct dojo-kun. That is why they were also very attentive in lesson 3, which, like lesson 2, dealt with dojo-kun, based on kumite and the safety aspect that MUST be there, where dojo-kun is a good set of rules to follow while respecting each other . JokoTeens were really good at dojo-kun and you could see that most of them were quite experienced, but also that they had a good experience focusing on dojo-kun, even though it was everyday - and you can always improve.
It was time for a short break with a little in the stomach in the form of water, juice, chocolate and whatever else had been brought before standing up for graduation. On the floor, Kjeld Renshi-dai was now alone, and the judging panel was reduced to Søren Renshi and Martin Renshi. But it was not a worse graduation for the reason, which was characterized by a good focused attitude and atmosphere. The fact that there were fewer people on the floor at a time also meant that there was more attention to the individual and that only made the concentration better 🙂 It was a nice graduation and nice technique and dojo-kun were practiced, so it was a real pleasure to watch and all of course passed their graduation.
Before the JokoTeens left the floor, they had the opportunity to give feedback, which concluded that they were really happy with the new initiative, since now during their own convention they had the opportunity to immerse themselves, got a lot of attention without disturbing noise and a lot of JokoKidz around them. At the same time, it was also a good transition to the adult ranks and training in the attitude required when entire degrees are to be awarded.
