By Karsten Nielsen, Member until 2016
Since I thought that the taskfighting 3 course had been a mega cool one of its kind, I couldn't be more excited to participate in shindenfight. I expected it to be very much in the same style as TSK 3. This would give me the opportunity to work even more with the work areas that had arisen during the TSK 3 course.
An area that I became extra aware of, and that I have worked on a lot between the courses, is Taisabaki. For me, it is very much about the intermediate positions (Neko-ashi-dachi, Kake-dachi) that were tested during the entire Shindenfight course. I discovered that it's not the single detail that makes a good parade, it's the amount of detail. It won't be the world's best parade if you remember Hamni, but forget to stay at the same height, and vice versa.
On the shindenfight course there was a motto that read "Go straight and get beaten, go to the side and be the best"
and I could feel that as the course progressed I became more aware of how to avoid difficult situations by moving away from the direction of the opponent's attack. This was also attempted during the free fight in the form of Sankaku kihon. Although it was very difficult to make it work, it was a nice feeling when it happened.
There are several things that I think have improved from time to time during the course. Among other things. Have I gotten better at throwing away my everyday thoughts/problems before entering the dojo. I learned that on the course because it requires my full attention to avoid being hit. Another thing that has also been strengthened through the shindenfight courses is my mental attitude.
On the course, we constantly work with the idea that "I can only hit" when we attack and also "I can only parry" when we defend ourselves. I also feel that I have gotten better at setting myself up for battle in general. The right setting comes faster, where before I could get hit a few times before I got really focused. This also works the other way around. When I face my training partner, there is more intensity in my attacks, from the first blow.
The setting was something that was heavily focused on during both courses. Subsequently, I have thought a lot about how the setting helps me, in relation to karate training, and feel myself that my technique has become sharper. As written, in the syllabus, you must try to use Yakami as a tool in your life. Therefore, I have thought a lot about what attitude I bring when I am at work, in the gym, with family, with friends, etc.
When I play darts against my father, the setting is "I can only hit". Regardless of whether I hit or not, it is the right attitude as it makes me more focused and concentrated. It gives me a greater opportunity to hit the target than if the setting was that I "just" play darts with the "old". The same applies
At Shindenfight, as part of the training, we had a fight against several opponents. It was something that I thought was very problematic on Tsk 3, but which also got better during the shindenfight. At the beginning I had no control over anything at all and it was a bit scary to be stormed by both Lennart and Claus, who both seemed to have big Christmas lights in their eyes. It was always possible to face the fear.
Usually when I usually get startled, my heart starts beating very violently. The last time I got a scare was in the evening on my way home, in the form of a loud sound from a cannon shot. Afterwards, I thought a lot about that scare, because I didn't react as I usually do. Instead of being scared right away, 2-3 seconds passed during which I looked in the direction of where the sound was coming from. Only then did my heart begin to beat faster. Why I reacted like that I have no idea? I hope it's because my attitude is changing so that you are more ready even when you don't expect it.
