In Shindenkan, we practice multi-track martial arts with room for everyone who wants to. It is something we are all proud of and it is something that is unique in the martial arts world. Unique because there are very few martial arts organizations that can offer this to their members and unique because when you, as a new member of a local Shindenkan school, are introduced to the multi-track martial arts system, there are many things to consider and think about. So what do you do as an organization to give new and existing members a greater understanding of it all?

As the unique Grandmaster Kimu Sensei is, you meet the members at eye level and take them on a journey. A journey that can take them all the way if they want it to. The SST convention 2017 was the second time it was held following the original concept, which is about introducing the participants to Shindenkan as an organization and Yakami Shinsei Ryu Karate do as a multi-track martial arts system not only in speech and presentation, but also in action through training of some of the many track.

The SST convention also presents the Honbu-Dojo instructors that the participants will meet at courses and conventions, at the same time it also provides reassurance for parents, adults, JokoTeens and JokoKidz as they get face to face with the instructors and the instructors face to face with the students - this in mutual respect and in the best Shindenkan spirit.

New members and their parents may have a lot of expectations and questions to which they want answers, and here it is that the SST convention gives them a fantastic opportunity to get answers to the questions and to have an expectation vote with themselves and with Shindenkan. SST event leader Jens Hanshi-Dai took the participants and the parents present on a journey through a presentation of Shindenkan, which world you enter as a member. After this review, the participants are divided into adults and Jokokidz/JokoTeens. This is done as the subject that was now to be worked on had to be played for the participating Jokokidz. It was about Dojo-Kun – ie. how to behave in a Dojo.

All Jokokidz and Jokoteens went through a lesson where the instructors' acting skills were put to the test. During this lesson, various Dojo-kun rules were reviewed visually so that the Jokokidz present could relate to it with their own eyes and respond to the questions that were asked. It was a thoroughly fantastic collection of Jokokidz and Jokoteens who were all super sharp on what to do in different situations. At the same time, of course, the adults also got an overview of Dojo-kun and they also had the opportunity to ask questions about the entire presentation.

After the lesson, it was time to convert all the energy into concrete training. First the participants went through MBH to warm up and then a KataFit1S was performed. And what concentration was present. It was absolutely fantastic to see how not only the adults but also to a large extent all the Jokokidz and Jokoteens performed KataFit1S with focus and calmness.

From there it was on to Ju-jutsu 1 and Ju-jutsu 2 and again it was fantastic to see all the participants go to it with a good attitude even though it was something they had never tried before. First fall technique and then throw technique. Not something that is completely easy, but despite that, everyone throws themselves into it with courage.

In Shindenkan, training is done with and without weapons, so the participants at the SST event will of course be introduced to the sword, which is one of the core skills in Yakami Shinsei Ryu Karate. Here it was absolutely fantastic to see how everyone grew with the task. It's probably something a lot of people dream about when they start martial arts and I'm pretty sure it's something new members look forward to after the SST convention.

The last skill the participants were tested on was pad training. That is punching and kicking techniques on pads performed with correct technique - correct distance - and correct contact - the THANKS principle. At this point, there was no doubt that everyone was in a fantastic mood and even though the participants had been at it for a long time, there was good energy and there was again a lot of punching and kicking on the pillows.

Thanks must go to all the participants for a fantastic multi-track effort and thanks must also go to Kimu Sensei for letting us in the directing team be part of this brilliant set-up.

We are all looking forward to the next SST meeting, where there will again be the opportunity to try out a multi-track effort - with room for everyone who wants to.