By Søren Jensby Nielsen, Member until 2022

The official program and course syllabus for POMW I-III year 2019 is now over, and it is time to reflect on process, progress, benefits, but above all on personal experiences and learning. But before I do, I'd like to take a step back and think about the background to POMW as I understand it: Who are the best soldiers of all time, and how do you decide this? A perhaps a little too theoretical exercise in the eyes of many, but Minouchi Sensei believed that the answer is straight forward: That weapon technology has changed over time is irrelevant, because it is the person behind the weapon that is decisive. Or, more precisely, the human disposition to learn skills and use these skills in a sharp situation. At this year's POMW team, we had to show that with our multi-track training and SETTING, we could quickly acquire one of the central skills of a modern elite soldier: the ability to shoot quickly, accurately and without hesitation at an international expert level. The chosen weapon is, as in other POMW teams, the pistol, because if you can hit with a pistol, you can also hit with other firearms, as Kimu Sensei put it. Previous POMW teams have paved the way for us and shown that it can be done. But we also had to show it. Minouchi Sensei's thesis falls to the ground if the approach doesn't work every time! And did it work? Others can tell about the overall status of the team, but for me personally, I am impressed with how accurately we could hit with the 22 at 25 meters, and I am also very satisfied with how quickly and accurately I ended up being able to shoot with 9 etc. with fast transition towards different goals. So I am very satisfied! But is POMW just about learning to shoot? More on that later.

POMW is divided into three modules, I-III. POMW I starts with a theoretical review of Minouchi Sensei's thesis as well as weapon development through the ages. Then you train with an air pistol at different distances and against 1 or more targets. At POMW II, we are on the shooting range at Hanebjerg, and the focus is on caliber 22 with initial exercises with 9 mm. The POMW III is focused on 9mm with both area shooting and transition between multiple targets. Just like on other courses, there is repetition between the modules, but the difference is that you are responsible for the repetition 100% yourself, and because of the compact and intense POMW course, it is recommended to dry train at home every day. The course is structured logically, and even though the POMW is a huge piece of equipment, it all slides smoothly and seems confident and ultra safe. You can tell that they are experienced instructors who have tried it before, and are not afraid to spend time and effort to ensure that we, the new shooters, have as safe and good an experience and training as possible. Huge thanks and respect for that!! At POMW II and III we were divided into three teams, mixed between new and experienced shooters (POMW also acts as OBC for the earlier teams). That way, you either shoot, charge or pause. As I said, it worked really well. But enough about the practice! Here, almost a week after the last POMW day, I have had time to reflect and digest the proceedings. Here are some of my impressions:

• POMW is a single tracked course, but therefore there are still a lot of common features with other YSK courses, and also with life in general!
• Kimu Sensei and the chief instructors have spent a long time training and researching, probably making mistakes along the way, and have extracted the essence to be able to present it to you. Take advantage of it and learn from their mistakes!
• Focus on the essence and the process instead of the result, and the result will also be the best. Don't let your ego and pursuit of results rule your actions.
• Be good to yourself. This means, among other things, to prepare optimally (eat, sleep, drink), take care of your dry training, but this also means sticking to the points mentioned above! Then you give yourself the optimal opportunity for learning. If you have a bad shot, use the break to reflect on why, then return to basics and follow the process. Easier said than done when you are a feeling person, but this is where the attitude is tested.
• The advice above actually works! Like many others, I want to control and win, but the first time we shot at 25 m it dawned on me that you can't actually see where you hit. Therefore, you have to just throw your ego overboard and focus on the process, because it is the only thing you have to rely on. And it went really well, much better than I had imagined, and it was really liberating. There is definitely some learning to be had here!
• I had the same experience later in the process: I unfortunately had to report to POMW IIB when I had to travel with my work. I got a waiver to attend POMW III and when I showed up jet-lagged and with no chance (I thought) of passing the course, I had thrown away all nerves and expectations and just thought about having a fun few days: Result : 100% in black on first firing. Here I realized what Kimu Sensei means when he says "Remember to enjoy it".
• Setting means everything (Minouchi Sensei). If you want to shoot well, take care of your dry training and focus 100% on delivering good shots with the right process, every time.
• Besides the fact that POMW is about shooting, it is also different from other YSK courses in other ways. You spend a lot of hours with the team in a rather intense process. Everyone wears a 'POMW uniform' which gives a sense of community, but at the same time there are no belts, just discreet signs to mark who the instructors are. It provides a different atmosphere where it is easier to mix between degrees, without negatively affecting safety. At the same time, we are all dependent on each other in terms of setting up the track, cleaning up, loading each other's magazines. I think it has been a very pleasant experience and believe that it has strengthened the unity in Shindenkan across schools and grades.
• On the other hand, there are clear parallels to YSK (and anything else would also be strange): The shooting process is reminiscent of elements in Shakuasei, the breath is, as always, paramount, Jebe must be used, you must be forward-looking, your attitude must be that every shot counts and like in jojutsu it is very obvious if the base is not in order.

POMW is highly recommended. It's one of the most developing courses I've had, it's cozy and fun, and, well, you also learn to shoot, which is actually pretty cool! But just like other development courses, private and at work, it requires that you are ready and willing to learn, that you put in the necessary effort, that you meet every time with the right attitude, that you are constant and disciplined in your approach, in short, that you are good about yourself. The instructors come with the framework and basis, but development comes from within. If you are not present, it will be "Garbage in - Garbage out". Now the challenge is to take the personal learning into everyday life and training.