By Karsten Nielsen, Member until 2016

Finally, it was time for x-mas camp, and like so many times before, I could hardly wait to get going. I think the training camps with the many Shindenkaners are always fun to participate in and when I heard that this time we would break all previous records, in relation to the number of participants, the joy became even greater. In addition, I felt like a lucky ass, since training camp for me already started on Friday, instead of Saturday.

I had arranged driving with Claus Shishu in order to be in good time and we arrived at Måløv hall 20 minutes before the start time. It is always good to arrive in good time for the black belt training, so that you don't have to waste time with push-ups.

I had always thought that it would be a very technical camp and it turned out that it was also true. Therefore, leading up to the camp, I had trained a lot of Koryu Naihanchi, which I think is very difficult, because of the many details. My expectations for this training camp was that we would be doing kata, for the majority of the time, and I had wondered if it would be the pure kata marathon. It wasn't a kata marathon, instead we did a lot of kihon (walking base), which I thought was really cool. I thought it was really cool because they really went into depth with the details, e.g. that the elbow and knee must be followed.

At the camp we also did a lot of tai-seigyo exercises, these are exercises that train one's body control, which is also used in Koryu Naihanchi. The exercises we did, in relation to body control and walking basics, are something I have to practice every day. I'm sure it will be fun because it's very interesting. When I have gotten better at it and use it in general in karate training, I have no doubt that I will get better, and some new aha experiences will appear. We also trained Ido-unsoku at the camp, and it was at least as detailed as everything else we had trained. In Ido-unsoku, we did partner exercises where we tested how the different positions had strengths and weaknesses, in relation to balance.

In the evening we were divided into groups. In the groups, we were given a task that we had to answer together. We were told that it was important that everyone contributed to the task. In addition, we were given a time limit, as there was one more task waiting afterwards. The second task had to end with a demonstration, which had to be shown the following day, for all participants + spectators. The whole process of what we had to do, as well as rehearsing the display, was great fun. Maybe because I was with Anders, Margit and last but not least Jan – who I now think is as crazy as myself. But it's no problem because even though there was work, we had a good time. I still smile when I think back to all the crazy ideas that were tried and either worked for us or didn't.

By the time we finished the show, it was getting late and it was time to drive home to rest. I was very tired both physically and mentally, but there were simply so many questions running around in my head, so when I finally had the opportunity to get some sleep, I couldn't sleep. I had to just try to find answers to some of the questions, just one last time and I felt that there was something in the first task that I had overlooked. So I went to the website to see if there was anything there that could help me. After an hour I found what I was looking for in the new articles on POMW.

The next morning we had to present the group work we had done the day before. One thing that I am gradually learning when it comes to training with Kimu Sensei is that there are no coincidences and that should prove to be true this time as well. There is always a lot of learning during the presentations, so the best thing to do is to prepare and be open and receptive to corrections. Even though we had prepared in the group, it wasn't right, because it didn't go as we had planned.

After the presentations, the training continued, all the information you had received the day before, you now had the chance to work with something more. For my part, that was needed so that I could have a little more time to work on the details. I have learned so much in the 2 days that there is nothing to say that I was mentally tired when the camp was over.

During the presentations, I have learned that there must be more communication in the group, and that my preparation must be better. I have also learned that my technical skills can be much improved and that it requires hard work. I know I need to practice more tai seigyo and that I can't control everything, even if I want to sometimes.

At some point during the morning, the brown belts who were due for graduation appeared. Here I had the opportunity to see if some of the work areas from my last graduation had improved. They were and when we had been with the brown belts for a short while, the training continued.

As the clock approached 12:30, the first students began to appear, as time went on, more and more Shindenkaners arrived. It was great to see so many people and my thoughts went out to the newcomers who were at their first training camp.

In a way, it was also my first training camp. It was the first of its kind where I had to teach. This was good for me as it revealed a lot of new areas of work. I am very happy that I had the opportunity to teach - it has given me food for thought. That, and seeing the "old" instructors in action, has made me reflect on the way I teach.

In addition, you have to remember that just because the motto for TG 1 is "smile you've just started a journey", it does not mean that it is forbidden to smile later, or during the rest of the journey.

Thanks to everyone, for a great camp.