By Helene Grønfeldt, 4.kyu Yakami Shinsei-ryu, 3.kyu Bujutsu Kodosoku-kai Jikitai Karate-do, 3.kyu Bujutsu Kodosoku-kai Gensei-ryu Karate-do
Another subject has been added to an already long school schedule as a student in Shindenkan – Chinese martial arts and martial arts. According to the invitation, we are to immerse ourselves in tai chi, hsingi and pakua for three months and thus gain insight into Chinese martial arts and martial arts. It is an important tool for understanding Yakami Shinsei-ryu - as stated in the invitation.
It is Kimu Sensei who has taught, and on the first day of the course I expected a long and wordy introduction. After all, that's how we often do in Shindenkan - get a thorough explanation. However, I was surprised when we threw ourselves into practical exercises relatively quickly. And to that extent it was about immersion! We had to start all over again by learning how to clench and unclench the hand (it takes a lot of practice to do it right) and find the right starting positions - which are not the same as in our regular karate.
Day 1 of the course was spent with what on the surface were simple exercises in going back and forth while hitting. But of course it wasn't that simple! Because if you want to be really effective, the whole body must be used and the right muscles must be tensed. Three hours flew by and I was both physically and mentally flat when I got home around lunchtime that Saturday. It took many pages of notes to myself to remember it all!
The second course day was dedicated to partner exercises. Oversimplified, it could be described as exercises in walking around in circles and pushing each other's hands. It doesn't sound particularly combat-like, but when done right, it has an enormous effect. Kimu Sensei showed this, among other things, on the head instructor who was used as a guinea pig. I was lucky enough to have a training partner from another local school, and it also gives the training a very special dimension, that you are facing someone whose behavior pattern you do not recognize from everyday life. And then you become approximately high the times when you really make the exercises work together.
The last course day was a repetition of the first two course days. Although we had trained quite a bit locally – and many had undoubtedly also trained at home themselves – there was still a lot to get out of the rehearsal. Now we had time to think about the details and try it a little more, just as Kimu Sensei added even more details to the techniques.
The course ended with the theoretical part, which I had been waiting for on the first day. We were explained the background of why we also have to learn Chinese martial arts and martial arts in Shindenkan, just as we saw clips of the techniques we had trained being used in practice. And that was almost the biggest eye-opener for me. Seeing how relatively simple techniques could be incredibly effective against an opponent was both inspiring and impressive.
Overall, I think it has been a very inspiring course, just as it is great to be taught by Kimu Sensei. On a daily basis, we have really talented chief instructors and instructors - there's no doubt about that! But there is an additional dimension to the training when it is Sensei who teaches. For example, when you see him bring the usually untouchable chief instructor to the ice with a few fingers. Phew - I'm not the only one who thinks it can be a bit difficult.
So, all in all, another subject for the school timetable, which gradually leads the mind to full-day school. I have learned about yet another dimension in martial arts, and hopefully in time this will also rub off on my karate.
