RR camp 11.2 was once again to take place in the center of Malmö. This was the fourth RR camp and for once, I didn't have any expectations for a training camp, which also made me relax more - at least I felt myself.

The time before the transport to Malmö was used for relaxation and fun with my children, who were however more busy discussing small, unimportant things that could bring their minds to a boil at different times. It was as if they were taking turns deliberately provoking each other in a way that would drive grown men crazy if it happened in a bar. But now I'm not the type to let myself be influenced by that sort of thing - at least I thought so myself.

When everyone had arrived at my address and the car was packed, the course was set towards the Swedish. We hadn't seen much of each other all summer, so the conversation turned cheerfully to what we had each experienced. At this camp there was a new member. Namely Claus Shisho who is Chief Instructor at Jokokan Slagelse. He is also the older brother of Martin Renshi-dai which should probably increase the tension in this camp. I was placed in the back seat with Kjeld Renshi-dai and noticed that he was really looking forward to this camp and seeing us all together. I did that too - at least I thought to myself.

After checking in and gathering in the room that was supposed to be our plenum, we got a start on the camp that we probably hadn't expected. Since we had a new member of the Shihan-kait with us, we each had to start by telling about ourselves for half an hour. This had to be done one at a time and face to face to our new member.

I think this was a bigger challenge for Claus than it was for the rest of us.

Those of us who didn't have to talk to Claus, then had to talk together in another room. Before we started the talks, we just had to give each other a hug for approx. 15 seconds. Here it was so equal that the feeling of "Sauna Club" came with the camp. Not because I know about these clubs, but you always have an idea of what this kind of thing is like. Just like when you watch a football or boxing match, where you are always just a little bit smarter than those doing the sport. Well, back on track.

When the talks were finished and we had gone through a minor rearrangement of all the furniture, in the room that was to be our plenum, Kimu Sensei threw the slide show up on the wall and then we were at it again.

I would just like to point out that Kimu Sensei had made sure that everyone was upgraded to the rooms on the business floors. In addition to a very beautiful view over Malmö, the rooms also contained a bathrobe and slippers, which we did not need. To start with, there was a recap from the last RR camps. Which was good for the newcomers, but also for the rest of us who had probably forgotten the content - at least I thought so myself.

One of the initiatives from the last camps was the introduction of the management tools the 5 KPIs. The 4 of the KPIs had been gradually understood and integrated into the schools by most of us, but the fifth, the LU KPI, caused several of us problems to understand. Therefore, it was reviewed, both as a KPI but also the scheme used to measure it. The review gave a much better understanding and insight into the use and better measurement of LU - at least I hope so myself.

In the 2011/2012 season, three new satellite Shindenkan schools will be opened. Dragør, Sorø and Veksø will be the geographical areas where the schools will be located. This will be a unique opportunity for the associated head schools, to have the opportunity for leadership development and the opportunity to minimize the risk of their eco-wheel so that everything can fit together better in a well-functioning machinery. This, of course, requires that you, as a school leader, create a carefully considered and clarified plan for both schools. So when Friday started to get dark it was time for the final task. Namely to make a plan for the main and the satellite schools. This plan was subsequently to be presented to everyone in plenary and they then had the task of commenting on it so that gaps and ambiguities were found and closed. Before we started, we were told that when it was 03.00 we had to stop. Which would give us approx. 3.5 hours of sleep before we had to eat breakfast – that was ok, I thought.

There was also a little extra pressure on us, because we also had to drive half an hour to the gym before three o'clock. Exactly when we did it was up to us, but it had to be done. I had a room with Claus and we got down to business straight away and worked from there until it was around 01:30, then I could feel that my body had to get going because otherwise I would fall asleep. So both Claus and I took the trip up to the 20th floor and set to work on the machines. When we were about to finish I could hear a knock on the door to the fitness room. The first thing I noticed was a man in a bathrobe who was immediately wearing no other clothes. And you know that feeling that you are in the wrong place and perhaps at the wrong time. I don't quite know why, but the word "Sauna Club" pops up in my head again.

Fortunately, it slipped out of my head again when I spotted Martin and Kjeld Renshi – dai's tired and wondering faces. Wondering what the man in the bathrobe was doing in the fitness room so late. But I wonder if he had also wondered what made us train so late at night. In fact, it was a really good workout because it got the energy back and when it was a little after three o'clock, I could lie down with a plan that was finished and complete - I thought to myself.

Friday and Saturday were also used to showcase new and very exciting initiatives within the course organization in Shindenkan. And when we had to present the plan to each other on Saturday, it was with joy in my heart that I got started. I had done approx. 30 slides in my presentation, which was supposed to last 15 minutes, and reached approx. to No. 5 when time was up. I thought I had a good plan myself, and I probably do. But a good plan is far from a bulletproof plan – which I had to admit.

So actually I'm happy with the review and the feedback that came from the others, because it made me think about the vulnerable places in the plan that I have to decide on and have a proactive plan put in place so that the machinery comes to drive on, even if there is gravel in it - which has been a great learning for me as a school leader.

Now, in the previous paragraphs, I have concluded them with my own feelings, opinions, beliefs and hopes for what is described in the text. Which seems to be fine enough. But I also have to admit that this camp took a turn where the emotions and reactions were expressed more than I had expected. Feelings that had been hidden out of the way under a thick layer of Teflon. On the night of Sunday, we had been told to stop work at 05.00 which would give us approx. 2 hours of sleep before we had to eat breakfast. Now it's the case that you don't fall asleep right away, regardless of whether you can get 8 hours of sleep or 2 hours of sleep. And when you don't get that much sleep, you reach your limit where your protection begins to crack and you feel that you are becoming more vulnerable and close-minded. You probably know it from people who haven't slept very well at night and who are then grumpy all day and very impressionable. At this camp we experienced pretty much the same thing. Apart from the sourness and the display of fatigue - because it is a direct ticket home 🙂

But nevertheless, something happens inside you, which you may not be in control of, but which you should not ignore and hide away. This is how I experienced it on Sunday as well, when things that I had hidden away suddenly became crystal clear to me. Reactions and feelings that I hadn't thought much about for most of my life Why they were as they were, all of a sudden it was clear that there was Therefore was it is as it is. The illusion became very clear and my reaction to it became very noticeable - which I'm really happy about.

Now it suddenly became clear to me why and what I can do to change my future and clarify various influences so that I can take better care of myself. I will not go into exactly what happened - "Because what happens in Malmø - Stays in Malmø"