Saturday 26 March 2022 is a milestone in the history of Shindenkan. We held the first spring convention in 3 years, and what a convention!!! Spring symbolizes rebirth, new hope, a new start, warmth and life, but spring can also have a fragility and vulnerability built into it. Corona had resulted in the cancellation of the spring meetings in 2020 and 2021, but now we could finally carry out a spring meeting, and even without restrictions. There wasn't much frailty and vulnerability on March 26th at the Shindenkan Spring Rally! On the other hand, there was an abundance of hope, warmth and life among both participants and spectators, and this resulted in a fantastic atmosphere and energy in the hall, throughout the convention. There was clearly a great pent-up need to shed the inhibitions and restrictions and just give it gas, and it's not too much to say that the Shindenkan and the members really flourished that day.
In the weeks leading up to the convention, there was, as always, hard work with organization and planning, but the atmosphere in the convention management was really good and optimistic. Registrations for both curriculum training and the spring meeting poured in, and it is clear that there is great and broad support for Shindenkan's vision among all members. The final preparations and preparation for the convention the evening before and the morning of the convention day also took place with broad smiles and high spirits, and it is clear that the participants had been looking forward to the convention, because people turned up in good time and were ready to have a bang of a rally. In the local clubs there has also been support, the newly constituted boards have gained many new members, and everyone wants to start again, gain new skills, and raise the general level in Shindenkan, which Kimu Sensei and federation chairman Jens Hanshi-dai also explained for and thanked in their organizational update before the first lesson.
During Corona, we have not been able to train fully and completely together for long periods, but instead we have had to settle for training in partial isolation. There is therefore a need to find a way back to a normal everyday life and a normal training routine. As a help, the Spring Conference focused on confidentiality, security and safety. Familiarity with the rules of the dojo: Dojo-kun, and familiarity with the curriculum. If this confidentiality is in place, it provides increased security for everyone in the dojo, and increased security in the curriculum. This safety is a prerequisite for safety, feel safe with your colleagues in the dojo, be safe in your own ability and in the fact that the technique is the right solution in the situation. With this theme, all the participants had a common thread they could follow through the three lessons of the day. In the first lesson, the focus was on Jujutsu: falls, throws and locks. We started with a focus on correct fall training, as this is a prerequisite for being able to perform throws and locks with complete safety and security. After a refresher on fall technique, there was full throttle on both throws and subsequent locks and takedowns. The participants really went all out, but always with a smile and a helping hand to their colleagues. After all, it's not about winning, but about learning something, and in partner exercises both learn the most if their attitude and approach are optimal.
After a short break, it was time for lesson 2. In the Corona era, we have all been literally and mentally in the box. Lesson 2 was out-of-the-box training, understood in the sense that the program was known techniques from the curriculum, but in a new context. This is enough to shake the most experienced 'warrior', but fortunately there is an educational mindset behind everything in Shindenkan, so first there was the opportunity to program (re-program 🙂 ) the body by a few slow runs, before pace and energy on, and it came, but with big smiles and laughs!!! Then a break was needed, and fortunately the volunteer supporters from Shindenkan's Friends provided coffee and cake so that you could recharge your batteries before the last lesson. Thank you!!!
In the third lesson, theory and practice were to be tested on the real stage. The new basic training we had learned in lesson 2 was now to be put to the test in the face of reality: an opponent. It's one thing to base without an opponent, but an opponent makes it real and unpredictable. Again, it was known techniques, but in a new context, out of the box: Attack from behind, from the side, with the right, with the left. An incredibly instructive lesson, where there was both the opportunity to try different variations of, but where you also had to be on all the time, and there is also a learning in that, after a Corona time where you might have been able to 'hide' a bit .
After three fantastic lessons of learning, energy and high spirits, it was time for what many had been waiting for: the graduation session. A graduation is an opportunity to show yourself and others what you can do, and of course progress in Shindenkan. A graduation is also a celebration for both participants and spectators. First there was competency graduation in Kenjutsu 3, the first kumite course with swords. Kenjutsu 3 is of course practiced and learned in a safe environment, but it does require a lot of training to achieve the familiarity with swords and techniques that provide the necessary safety in handling. Kenjutsu 3 is spectacular and the team of graduates put on a really nice display of sword fighting. After the competence graduation, there was a graduation session for those interested in karate, and here it was really going with lots of spring energy! A great session with many skilled karatekas of all ages!
There was also room for the traditional kata separation race, which really shows the depth of the Shindenkan curriculum.
Congratulations to everyone with new stripes and belts!
After the graduation session, Shihan-kai must always vote before the result can be announced. This left room for the traditional Black Belt Funny Moments with the new Master Motivator Adam Shishó. Adam had found something good from the bag, because once again the mood was high and the smiles were big among participants and spectators, and the voting actually went too fast for once!!!
The spring convention 2022 was a huge experience, a liberation, a discharge of energy, and a much-needed celebration day after 2 years of pandemic. It has been over 2 years since we have been so many happy people together in Shindenkan. It bodes well for the future, and for our Summer Meeting in June!!! Spring has come to Denmark and Shindenkan 🙂 .
