By Karsten Nielsen, Member until 2016

The brown belt graduations in the Shindenkan consist of five step tests. Only when these three tests have been passed have you received your new degree. The three main tests, which consist of a physical test, a syllabus test and a competition, also function as stop tests. The tests test one's strength, fitness, technique, psyche, will and endurance, among other things.

The physical test
It was Saturday 13 June, and the nervousness had announced its arrival when I stood in the changing room at fitness dk in Slagelse. I'm always a little nervous, as it's "now or never" and you have to give 110 percent if you want to pass the first stop test in the graduation process. Before we started to warm up, we had a quick trip on the scales so that the exact weight could be recorded.

During the warm-up I also tried to prepare myself mentally, by thinking carefully about what I had to go through and by saying to myself "come on, you can do it". We had agreed that Claus was the first to go through the 3 bronze circles, followed by a 12-minute run. Then it was my turn and finally Mads.

My body felt much heavier than 69 kg, under the bronze circles, and if there hadn't been a clock inside the treadmill, I would have thought I had been running for more than 20 minutes, not just 12. When I finished the test, I could I see that it looked about right with the distance and time. It was great to pass the physical test and I felt more prepared for the syllabus test because I had just been confirmed that my fitness was fine. (Ed.: 3 x Bronze circle: 7 min. 51 seconds and subsequent Cuba test; 2,600 m (13.0 km/h))

The curriculum test
For most of the way towards Måløv Hallen, I wondered if we were going to go through a lot of the old syllabus, or if it was the new syllabus that would be the focus. I later had to admit that it wasn't the smartest idea in the world, as a lot of emphasis was placed on both parts.

During the syllabus test, we were run through very differently, from 9 kyu's syllabus to 3 and 2 kyu's syllabus. We had to do everything from unsoku with tsuki, to shiho level 2 and 3. This was then spiced up with a lot of kiai, and this helped to make the atmosphere intense, right from the start.

After we had shown a lot of things from the syllabus, we had to show parts from the task-fighting course, and we were also asked to wear gloves and mouthguards. It was very nice to do the task-fighting part, and you could see how people's eyes were still full of concentration, even though a lot of training had been done from the syllabus. As time went on I got more and more tired, but my concentration was still there.

In the end it was said that we should have kumite. This was free kumite with recommended 50 percent power, switching opponents when Kimu Sensei said so. The free kumite was very interesting, intense and educational, as you could see your own and others' reactions in a fighting situation.

When we finished kumite, we were lined up in a line and Kimu Sensei asked if we would prefer feedback as a group or one by one. We ended up being sent out of the dojo, and then back in, one at a time. The feedback from Kimu Sensei was very positive for me, although I have to take a little better care of myself when we have free kumite.

The summer camp
It was now Saturday 20 June, the day after the syllabus test, and although my body was very tired, from the moment I woke up, I was determined to give 110 percent today. I felt that the syllabus test and the physical test had gone well, so I wanted to do everything to make the camp a success as well.

At the camp, we were divided into team groups, which divide people according to degree, so that you train together with others, at the same technical level. We started by doing a lot of fall training, including forward roll fall, backward roll fall, front fall, backward fall and side fall to both sides. During the fall training we were asked to find a partner. The challenge was then to do a forward roll after we had been pushed in the back. In the same way, we were challenged by each other in the other fall techniques.

After a while with fall techniques, it was time for kata. We started with kata Ten-i, where emphasis was placed on deep leg positions, as well as setting and rhythm from shiho level no. 2. When kata Ten-i, after a while, looked reasonable, came the next big challenge. Now we had to do it all over again, just in reverse. I had never tried this before, but it went surprisingly well.

In the end, 8 of us, who were for brown belt graduation, had to go through "go crazy training". This took place by us being placed opposite an instructor who stood with his batting pad in front of him. After that, Kimu Sensei said that now we should hit the pillow until he said stop. After that, only the legs had to be used and finally both punches and kicks.

It is incredibly hard to have to go through the "go crazy training", so when well over 250 people started applauding the 8 of us who had occupied the center of the hall, I was very happy - it meant a lot to me. When I'm struggling with myself and have no more energy, it's great that there are so many people clapping and cheering. It really helps me through.

My 2nd kyu graduation means everything to me. A brown belt graduation is a good experience which is totally worth it and which can clearly be recommended. I always look forward to going to training, and always feel good about myself when the training is finished. I enjoy training karate and I will do everything I can to become 1st kyu.