By Anders and Søren Sjøstrøm Hansen, Members until 2013

It was with excitement that Anders and Søren met at the Black and Brown Belt training camp on 16 December. For Anders, it was the first time he could participate and expectations were high, not least because he had heard a lot about the topic of the last camp and close matches. But also because Kimu Sensei's summons did not give much insight into what the days could bring. For Søren, whose participation was the second time, the expectations were at least as great. As last year's article also shows, such concentrated teaching is very rewarding but challenging. So expectations were high when we bowed to Kimu Sensei at 16 exactly. The atmosphere was high, but waiting for how it was that Shindenkan's toolboxes, "One stroke – one Kill" and the new articles on Jokokan's website about POMW should fit together in today's program. And, as usual, we were left a little in the dark, which those who have been to camp before know by now is more the rule than the exception. This is the part of learning about the ability to let go of control and still maintain focus.

Friday was divided into 2 sessions. The first session focused on the use of Shindenkan's toolboxes for error correction, based on technical understanding and training. The teaching focused on basic foot positions, the connection between positions and tai-sabaki between the positions. The big letdown with Anders and Søren was actually that we thought we had mastered the basic positions, but we quickly found out how important it is to perform these 100% correctly. It gave an understanding of why we have to practice again and again in both ido-unsoku and unsoku 1. The sublime in this session is that the teaching is adapted individually to the individual participant based on the common thread and common mass, whereby optimal learning is achieved. Although this exercise took place for the next 3-4 hours, the time passed quickly and we went through the entire range of emotions from "the feeling of not being able to to the excitement when an exercise was successful". And as we discussed on the way home in the evening – we are not going to make any kind of base without this teaching sitting in the back of our minds. The relationship between this teaching and what was the essence of the last camp's teaching became clear. Correct base increases the chance of "I can't avoid being parried" and not least "I can't avoid hitting" - an extremely good philosophy.

The evening featured group work where POMW was to be discussed. The groups were given some limited Ryugi tasks, which for the "Toolbox" group involved describing the common thread in the curriculum from the perspective of the diversity of the members, as well as creating a "Business case" that could explain current members and outsiders how Shindenkan can develop and prepare the members at different levels in one joint training session – so that everyone gets maximum benefit at the same time. And the last task was to create a 1½-minute display reflecting the first two tasks, which could be understood by the participants and the spectators at the graduation the following day. The discussions offered a qualified exchange of views, the controversial in POMW (especially the justification of firearms in Shindenkan) - and the individual's clarification. The important thing in the task was that we worked as a team, everyone had their say and everyone had the opportunity to influence the presentation and display. When we drove home at 23.00 we were tired but looking forward to the next day.

At exactly eight o'clock the next morning we were assembled in groups to present the Ryugi tasks. The assessment was not only the professional part, but at least as much the presentation and team performance. Kimu Sensei shook up the groups by changing the planned presentations, under the guise that everyone should be equally prepared. Even old seasoned "presenters" had a lot to learn. The most important learning was that we have to be passionate about what we are doing in the now, otherwise we waste the time or the chance to be at the forefront. And if we are passionate about it, profits and ultimate success are created. The assessment was not only the professional part, but at least as much the presentation and team performance. For Anders, as this was the first time with such direct feedback, it was of course an "eye opener", but the conclusion was that this could be used to a large extent for the school as actual "leadership training". An incredibly good experience. And it was naturally up to the individual to take the learning points with them further in life.

The rest of the morning was started with a little warm-up from yesterday's base and then continuation of the last camp's kumite. However, the kumite ended quickly and we were set to practice, practice and practice yesterday's basis - probably in the realization that it was not good enough. The morning went in an alternating effect between kumite and basic. For Anders, it was "a tough game" - he is probably at the point of clarification that Søren was at the last camp. But despite practice and clarification, we were all hit hard and our ability/willingness to not show weaknesses and get back into the game was very different.

The rest of the morning was self-training and supporting the graduates. Among other things. we had the opportunity to do a little Brown Belt curriculum-ryugi-kumite test with full contact kumite.

The event once again fully met the expectations both in learning at the individual level as well as as a group and team. Content and form as well as the challenges were another step up the learning ladder, where the individual is catered for. The common learning points that Anders and Søren took home:

1. Importance of basics – practice, practice and practice
2. Focus, focus and focus.
3. The importance of "being on" from the first second - because otherwise it hurts.
4. What it means to "be good to yourself". Time and time again we have been a little annoyed by Kimu Sensei's recurring response to be good to himself, but it is becoming more and more clear to us what is meant....
5. That Shindenkan is not an isolated activity, but that there is a very large "reuse" effect of the tools we learn in the Dojo in our daily life (both private and work-related).

Just a big thank you to Kimu Sensei and the entire instructor team who make it possible to carry out this type of camp and the subsequent Christmas camp.