On Saturday 26 March, Shindenkan's spring meeting was held! With almost 80 participants and instructors on the floor, Højagerhallen was the setting for a communally educational and fun event. For some it was the first time they had experienced a convention in Shindenkan, while others have been to many. For everyone, however, it was a good experience, with learning, challenges, togetherness and laughter.
The event is national level training, with the best coaching resources Shindenkan has. There is a common thread – a circle of learning – from the Honbu dojo, to the national level and on to local schools. At the convention, the learning circle was used again, for the first time after Corona.
Kimu Sensei and federation chairman Jens Hanshi-dai opened the meeting with a brief briefing on the situation after Søren Nielsen's departure. There have been new boards, with quite a few new members, which shows the broad support in the local clubs. It is very positive and bodes well for the future.
The new 'master motivator' Adam Shishó set the mood with Shindenkan's beat song, which everyone learned, including the spectators. With that energy in the body, it was divided into 2 groups – white and purple in one group and colored belts in one. As usual, Jujutsu is part of the spring meet, with training in falls, throws and locks. On both teams there was good energy and room for instruction. For those at their first or second event, it was clearly a great experience to be in a larger group, with athletes from other clubs. It is precisely the strength of the rallies that you experience being part of something bigger.
After Jujutsu, Kihon (basic) was trained, with the dispute where Sanbon henka was to be performed as basic and as Shiho. The experienced team in particular was challenged because it is very familiar, but in a different way than usual. It is obviously a bigger challenge than one would think. It was also run as kumite, to the side and with the back, with a focus on intensity and will. Challenging! Kimu Sensei was around talking to both parents and spectators and giving concrete instruction.
Shindenkan's friends had provided cake and coffee, which was much needed!
Graduations took place first with a demonstration of Kenjutsu 3. It went well; no damage and with precision and power. For those experiencing Kenjutsu 3 for the first time, it's always something special - after all, they are hitting each other with the swords! The competence graduation itself took place with everyone set on the floor, divided according to belts. The syllabus was reviewed by Jens Hanshi-dai, with good use of Kjeld Renshi and Christian Shishó as models. There for good energy and high kiai.
The penultimate highlight of the day was after the graduation, where Kimu Sensei and the instructors vote, where master motivator Adam Shishó was responsible for the Black Belt funny moments. It's about fun, in a good way, where you get together across clubs and grades. It was made 'kluddermor', where the adults probably thought they could beat the children. It didn't quite work out that way, and the children were clearly the best at entangling themselves in and out. Despite accusations of cheating and biased judges, the children were declared winners.
The participants at Kenjutsu 3 passed their test and can now participate in NKT and OBC. A number of lines were also graduated, some even got more lines and new belts. Congratulations to all graduates! After a long day, there was a proper farewell, with applause for all the graduates and for the spectators for good order, and the support for the athletes on the floor.
Thanks to the event manager Michael Shishó and his team, for the great effort in preparing the event, the execution on the day and all the practical details.
