At this time in 2010, there was a thick blanket of snow across the country. In December 2011, there was no prospect of snow at all. The temperature was around 9 degrees and the sky was covered by a thick layer of clouds, which ensured that the sun could not be seen in some places. It all sounds very depressing and very dark. But despite this, there was light and happiness ahead in the form of a training camp reserved for students from YSK 2.kyu and above and with Kimu Sensei as Honbu's chief instructor. There were 18 students registered for this camp.
The same type of training camp had been held in the summer of 2011 with a focus on kumite. That camp was also the culmination of a spring that stood in the spirit of TF 3 and Shindenfight. You can read more about this in the articles on the website.
The camp that was now at the door had a focus on kihon – correct technique and connection between kihon-kumite and kata. One cannot perform and understand one if one cannot perform and understand the previous one. It's like a staircase, if one step is missing, it is difficult to gain power and speed up the stairs to the next step. That is the missing steps create gaps that do not provide understanding and learning.
There were 18 brown and black belts registered for this training camp (Ed. All single track black belts). The focus of the camp was, as previously mentioned, technical training or, in other words, correct technical training. How does the body fit together functionally in order to perform correct technique. And how should and can you move correctly to get the most out of your technique.
At the camp this summer, a few managed to get prizes awarded even before the camp had started. This time people were in place and ready on time, so no prizes were awarded. On the other hand, the camp and the content were a prize in themselves.
There is no doubt that all the participants had their brains filled with knowledge and insight into how techniques are connected in a way that made it a true Christmas present that was awarded 14 days early. At the same time, all participants were pushed to their limits on different levels. Some may even have exceeded their own limits for what they thought was possible to do with the body, in order to get correct technique.
Like everything else in Shindenkan, correct technique requires a correct and solid foundation – in this case we are talking about leg positions.
What is a correct heisoku-dachi, musubi-dachi and heiko-dachi and how are they related? What about Kiba-dachi, Shiko-dachi, Kokutsu-dachi and Zenkutsu-dachi? How are they correct and how do they fit together? And how does it all fit together and what are the advantages and disadvantages of the various positions and are there any at all?
All these questions have somehow been in the back of the participants' minds all along. For some, the words "why and how" have been a driving force in their training and curiosity. The answer to all these questions and many others came continuously during the entire camp – step by step as always. And in a way that was clarifying, coherent and a great inspiration for self-training for the next several years.
You cannot build on top of a foundation that is not solid and constructed correctly. History shows it again and again. You also cannot build correctly if the foundation is not designed for the right purpose. There is a difference between building foundations that must be stationary but flexible and foundations that must be flexible and mobile. And it is precisely here that the different leg positions come into their own.
The leg positions are created to be used at the right time and place. That is with the right purpose and function. And so that it is not a lie, they are constructed in such a way that if you stand deep in the leg positions, you will actually find more answers about the function, context and purpose of them.
Isn't it just fantastic to be able to train something as simple as orders and then at the same time get answers to a lot of questions that are surely filling up the minds of all practitioners of martial arts?
When it is now suggested that leg positions are simple, it is not quite correct. They are simple to talk about and think about, but when it comes to action, it is not so simple after all. And yet, because there were several of the participants who found out during the camp that they were capable of more than they themselves thought. And once brain and body connected with each other, it all sort of made sense and became a little easier to carry out.
With the foundation in place, it was time to build on top with Tai-seigyo – body control. This was for the purpose of performing the Koryo Naihanchi kata. Of course, it is also something that can and should be used in all other techniques, but during this camp it was for Koryu Naihanchi.
Koryu Naihanchi is about "one strike - one kill" and if you can't use your body correctly, then "one strike - one kill" becomes only words and never action. For people who do not train in Shindenkan, tai-seigyo can be totally incomprehensible and remind a bit of electric boogie from the happy 80s. But for those who train in Shindenkan at a certain level, tai-seigyo is a "must" to understand the coherence and execution of the techniques.
If you imagine that you can create all the links you need, then you have a small idea of what Tai-seigyo is all about. If you then imagine that all these joints can be made movable, then the idea might even become a little understandable. But to move on from there, you have to also be able to do it and then you find out that your body is actually a wonderful creature that can do much more than you think it can. And this applies in all directions and in all possible and impossible ways.
If you then find out how to get the movements in these parts to connect or even set each other in motion, then things can happen that you probably didn't quite expect. But again, it's not enough just to talk about it and think about it. You have to act and you REALLY have to act to make Tai-seigyo an integrated and effective part of you.
As mentioned earlier in this article, kihon-kumite and kata go together like a straw. So of course it had to be tested whether the kihon could be performed in kumite. It is nice that you can get immediate consequences for your actions in a way that is instructive and very clear.
In Shindenkan, we have various kumite exercises that immediately show whether your actions have a noticeable consequence or not. Noticeable does not mean that it hurts, but that it can be felt - there is a clear difference if you are aware of this.
Kumite in Shindenkan is not about scoring points or about hurting each other. It is about learning about how one's body and mind are connected and about what consequences one's actions can have. It was also clear during this lesson that thought - words and action are connected. If one is missing, it may have the wrong or perhaps no effect. And then the next step on the stairs, which is kata, can only become a series of movements instead of an expression of a deeper and effectively executed fight.
As the camp drew to a close, we actually found out that there is a bit of history in this camp as well. Back in 2001, a Christmas training camp was also held, reserved for students from 2 kyu and up. That time there were also 18 participants and out of the 18 participants there are four black belts left who have continued their training and development. The biggest development between then and now is that the subsequent association's X-mas camp in 2001 had a participation of approx. 50 students. In 2011, the association's X-mas camp had a participation of 200+ participants. So even small amounts can make a big difference if you follow a staircase with the right steps.
