Graduation article Summer 2025
Why do we write articles and publish them on the website?
This is (approximately) how one of the Ryugi (theory) questions for this year's graduates sounded. When you are going to graduate to brown or black belt, there are a number of stop tests that must be passed. First, you must pass 2 physical stop tests, which consist of a KataFIT and a fitness test. This is to ensure that you are in good physical shape for the rest of the graduation. Then of course there is a Ryuha (syllabus) test, where you show that you have mastered the syllabus to the given degree, but then there is also a theory test.
The theory test has traditionally been 20 questions in 20 minutes consisting of background knowledge in the syllabus handbook. This year, background knowledge in the syllabus handbook only made up 40 % of the test, the remaining 60 % consisted of knowledge from the website – www.jokokan.com. The 40 % from the curriculum handbook are, for example, being able to remember Shindenkan's values and learning principles, as well as knowing the meaning of words such as - "Shindenkan" (the true and essential budo teaching with room for everyone) and "Shinsei-ryu" (the one who carries the true and united will in the heart of the original budo path). And why should you be able to do that? The higher belt grades are to function as role models and are often instructors, and therefore they must of course be able to answer questions from new members. And when you start karate, many people want to know what the unknown words actually mean. In addition, you must be able to explain how the organization works democratically and about the competencies that have roots more than 1000 years back in time, and this is described in detail on the website.
And why do we write articles for the website? In school, at work or in society, knowledge and insight generally equal power and therefore one can experience that knowledge is withheld and reserved for a few. But is that how we want it to be? No, in addition to the fact that one's degree obliges one to disseminate it, we also all have an interest in experiences being passed on so that others can be inspired by them. In this way, I myself have had great pleasure and benefit from reading other people's articles, and that a lot of knowledge is freely available on the website.
So how has my graduation to 1st Dan Sr. been?
In the years I have trained in Shindenkan, I have seen very few people move on after achieving their first black belt. Everyone always raises their hand when asked if they want the black belt and the first question you get from others is always “What belt do you have?” If you have the black belt, there are no more questions. Maybe there are no more? But I want more. And that is why I have been focused on going straight to 1st Dan Sr., if possible. And fortunately, that has been possible.
The physical demands, which are the first hurdles, have been about the same this year, and I started the season at the physical level I was supposed to end up at. Was that a good plan? Not necessarily. My hypothesis was that it was better to stay in shape than to let it drop and then have to fight my way back up. Because I generally think that fighting to stay in shape is tough. But it also takes a toll on the body to keep my shape very high for a long time. And for me, it has now been the last 3 years of graduation. So that meant that my shape suddenly became difficult to maintain just before graduation, even though I trained as usual. So the lesson is that I should probably start lower and then try to peak closer to graduation.
So the curriculum has of course been larger, but most of it was something I already knew. Fortunately. Because our curriculum is generally large and it can be difficult to both maintain and learn new curriculum. And the curriculum is not just a curriculum. So you may think you know Kata Ten-i and therefore don't need to spend more time on it but would rather learn something new, but if you have participated in the SB-BB training, you know that there is MUCH more to the Kata than you immediately think. And that applies to EVERYTHING in our curriculum. Sub-elements are constantly unfolding and becoming something different and more than they were before. With greater understanding and a common thread through the curriculum, layer after layer unfolds for us. And it is a super exciting journey to be on. A journey and development that I really want to continue.
So how have I developed this year?
I have been able to nod in recognition of much of what has been said in the teaching at the SB-BB team. It has fitted in really well with the way I perceive the world, myself and the training, and I have found great joy in this recognition and coherence. Because then life becomes a whole rather than compartmentalized. Being able to see purpose is quite essential for me, but I am also fully prepared that the purpose may not reveal itself to me right away, that it is a process that both takes time, requires trust in the teacher and humility for the task.
One specific thing I have become more aware of over the course of the year is my contact with my body. I don't feel my body unless it shouts very loudly, so I need to work on being more sensitive and being physically aware of myself. I am mostly in my head, meaning I overthink things, which makes what I do very controlled and compartmentalized, and sometimes therefore extremely bad. The more of a whole I have been able to be, the better it has been for me. But I have difficulty finding the right balance. If I don't divide things into individual parts, how will I be able to work with the parts? And if I constantly work with one thing at a time, how will it ever become a whole?
A point of work for me has been to go from thought to word to action. It is a bit of a risky process. Thoughts are (perhaps) duty-free, while actions have direct consequences. So do I dare to take a bigger risk? To fail perhaps, but also to succeed. It is a continuous process that I am far from finished with. But in some points it has been realized. Privately, I have reduced my time at work to have more time to train, take care of my family and myself, and have time for studies that inspire me. And a few years ago I told my theory partner that I was going for the 1st Dan Sr. degree. It has now been realized. From words to action.
And it's just been a good graduation for everyone. those from the SB-BB team who came through the eye of the needle. All achieved exceptional results, which they have fought for and with focused and steely will have purposefully pursued. This shows that the level has increased, quite a bit. Congratulations to everyone on the very nice graduations and thank you for the teaching, help and support along the way from our fantastic coaches.
