By Jokokan Denmark

Dear Jokokan members, friends and supporters,

As is tradition, on behalf of Soke Sensei Tonegawa, I would like to thank all Jokokan members, friends and supporters for another fantastic year. The year 2001 has in many ways been a defining year in the history of Jokokan Europe, including Denmark. In addition to the fact that 2001 marked our 10-year anniversary as a federation and umbrella organization, there are also many landmark events to remember. Events we have learned from.

What we probably all remember best is the extremely negative that led to something very positive; The embezzlement case against our former federal treasurer amounted to DKK 55,000, which ended in a settlement where the former federal treasurer was forced by the circumstances to accept all of Jokokan's demands unconditionally. Jokokan showed that a clear position, taking a stand and unity could satisfy that justice was done and all money was returned plus costs almost on the anniversary of the start of the case.

However, the case managed to have the boring effect that we had to postpone Soke Sensei's visit in 2002 to 2003, as at that time we did not know whether we would have to go into a protracted criminal case against our former federal treasurer. The case also had the direct effect that we realized the situation required a restructuring of Jokokan's organizational structure at the time. What we needed was a faster and better organizational structure that could respond and coordinate efforts and activities in Jokokan. A new Federal Board was therefore established in July consisting of chief instructors and a representative board consisting of instructors and one locally elected non-instructor from each Jokokan school.

At the same time, a chairman and a deputy chairman were elected for the board of representatives, who must represent democracy and function as the board's closest sparring partners.

The working board then divided all current and future activities into areas of responsibility, each of which was given a board member as responsible manager. Through long, hard and numerous board meetings throughout the autumn and winter, the board laid the foundations for the completion of the board of representatives' five-year plan. It has been hard work that has led to many frustrations, discussions, external and internal change processes; and I think the working members of the board deserve a kind and grateful thought or two from all you Jokokan freaks. But now we are ready to take off in 2002!.

The first instructor camp in June also marked the transition to a more individual training and leadership development of Jokokan's instructors. It was a very tough training camp, where especially the psyche and the instructors' limits were exposed and tested. Which the subsequent party in our new house can also testify to - it ended at 09:45 the following morning in brilliant sunshine, headaches for most and in a brilliant Jokokan mood with a big smile on his face. Who can!, Jokokan can!. The autumn camp in Yakami Gensei-ryu Karate-do, hosted by Jokokan Skælskør, also marked a total change in style from a managed federation event to a managed local federation event, where the local Jokokan club could market the event in the local area. Which it must be said that the host club Skælskør did brilliantly. Three newspapers and a large part of the city can testify to this.

The same was also the case during the Christmas training at Jokokan Slagelse. An event that also had its 10th anniversary. Quite a few Slagelsenians had found their way to the Vesthallen, where declarations and applause for Jokokan's show team and camp participants marked a tribute to the high level. Jokokan's show team was for the second year in a row at Jokokan Frederiksberg's instigation and excellent initiative participating in DGI's annual BUDO event. Once again, the show team delivered a spectacular and impressive performance, which many senior BUDO instructors complimented again this year.

Soke Sensei, Iversen Shihan and I say thank you for this year's great effort, and wish you and your families a very merry Christmas and a very happy Jokokan New Year.

From all of us to all of you

Kimu Yamana Bjarkmann, 7th Dan
Kaicho Jokokan Europe,
including Denmark

Jens Iversen, 5th dan
Country Manager, Jokokan Denmark