The result was Strat20 with 5 coherent process steps
The process that led to Strat20 and the 5 overlapping execution steps
The content of Strat20 was, in all its simplicity, the rollout of 5 stages of change for Shindenkan's future and its consequences. It was rollout after rollout at a fast pace of "Progression after effort" in the second half of 2015, overlapping with "Financing and Economy after effort" after the general meetings in the first half of 2016. It continued with "Pricing policy after effort", which was adopted by SOPORG and Executive Committee in August 2016 and rolled out in the second half of 2016 (90 %) to the first half of 2017 (the last 10 %), and then came the rollout of "Structure and management according to effort" in the second half of 2016 - as cohesion, common volume and structured management of competence activities - National and local - time for "more fun"! Last, but not least, the rollout of "Development after effort", which truly separated the waters.
Development through stages 1-5
Many of us have been training since we were children and well remember how difficult it was to make the various choices at the beginning, and back then there was not much guidance. Fortunately, there are more of us who make the choice to be part of Shindenkan for many decades or a lifetime.
For us at Shindenkan, it is important that our life cycle at Shindenkan, however long it is, be an enlightened, positive and transparent experience. So that both members and instructors can enjoy training Yakami Shinsei-ryu Karate-do, get really good exercise, immerse ourselves in Kata or Kumite or simply get in good balance with ourselves, our body and mind.
Life consists of choices - options and opt-outs and in Shindenkan there is room for everyone - the elite such as the exerciser, but how can we ensure that everyone in Shindenkan makes the right and optimal choices and gets the best experience in Shindenkan?
We all know that if you want to reach your full potential and be better than average or in the upper echelon, then that's one long cool move. It does not necessarily have to be 95-100% year after year, but can easily be 70-80 % in the periods of your life when your life cycle requires it. The most important thing is to be constant so that the bottom level does not fall, and that you maintain and want to develop at all levels.
The most important thing is that you don't give up, or teach your child to give up, or simply jump over where the fence is lowest and always do the easiest thing for yourself. If you do, you will never be good at anything, but instead learn to give up when something gets too difficult or heavy. After all, everyone wants to be particularly good - better than the others. But very few people have the attitude, the will, the strength, the stamina and most importantly the support to be much better than other people in one or more fields of competence. Unfortunately, people learn the most from things that are traumatic or go completely wrong. But it doesn't have to be that way!
We also know that if everyone followed the above logic, then everyone would be much better off than they are. The people who never implement anything are often also the ones who have something against those who actually implement something. But the truth is that it could just as well be them!
Yamana-Itotani Sensei also started from himself and his own family. Both daughters started at 7 years old with Yakami Shinsei-Ryu and the wife started at the age of 40. All are now black belts in Yakami Shinsei-Ryu of 1-2. dan multitrack and 2-4. than the single track. The only three members currently who have ever passed and completed the physical stop tests for Ayame GOLD for JokoTeens, Adults and Wonderwomen (50+ years) are the three. Many have tried, but only the three have succeeded. The record for the stop test in the stamina pad test has been held since 2016 by the wife (age 54).
Evil tongues have been saying for years that the three were definitely privileged and had come to knowledge and degrees easily, but that was silenced as all records in the Shindenkan are practically held by the three. People now understood that they not only had to pass the degrees with all eyes on them, but that they also had to perform optimally. Some even hoped that they failed! But throughout their lives they have learned to live with it and it has made them who they are today.
Both children have passed their Yakami Shinsei-Ryu training for reduced flare during their crucial high school years. Both got quite good matriculation exams, both won prizes and both are now studying at university. The oldest as a law student in his last year and the youngest as a medical student. Do you really think all this has been easy? That no one has been teenage crazy? Been tired and been extremely busy at work and with your career? No, it's completely like all other people and families.
The difference is not what you opt out of, but what you opt for. Your ever-evolving attitude to life, yourself, your spouse or partner, your children, family, friends, peers, colleagues, strangers, etc. YOU are in charge of your life. But even the strongest can't do it without a strong loving support structure. The Shindenkan is this.
These questions led Yamana-Itotani Sensei to develop Shindenkan even more and do what he always does, through a holistic view and review of all scenarios, to seek input from all sides and levels and again go through all conceivable scenarios to create an optimal and coherent solution to Shindenkan's challenges.
Questions and choices
Can our members understand the path to their next belt? Can our members make the right choices? Are the parents of our young students informed enough? Are Shindenkan's instructors optimally dressed in terms of competence? Are athletes with disabilities after injuries, illnesses or athletes over 50 years of age taken into account? Is the connection between effort and development understandable? What about the economy? Should the schools invest in their essential instructors, who contribute the most to the association? Do students and instructors take responsibility for maintaining their multi-track competencies?
An old proverb says: "You are the maker of your own luck". And there is a lot of truth in these words, especially when you think about taking responsibility for yourself and your own life. But unfortunately this does not mean that you can graduate yourself in a traditional multi-track martial arts system like Yakami Shinsei-Ryu Karate-do, because this requires effort, competence, consistency and the opportunity to learn from an instructor with the degree of Menkyo Kaiden or higher!
What happens when Yamana-Itotani Sensei teaches Yakami Shinsei-Ryu Karate-do, sets the standard for Ryuha and Ryugi, develops a targeted Curriculum structure, teaches courses and sets the standard for Competencies, provides a Training Methodology and prepares a Communication Platform to support the whole ? It all degenerates without Menkyo, Kaiden and Menkyo Kaiden.
In a multi-track martial arts system, stability in level is required and stability only comes from the grade Menkyo and up! Because from Menkyo there is increasing purity, increasing competence and you are an increasing role model! But without Menkyo, Kaiden and Menkyo Kaiden - well, the hero is no match!
What are the issues?
It is always a good idea to start with those who are Shindenkan's local promoters of Yakami Shinsei-Ryu Karate-do even if it is not popular because it exhibits all local chief instructors, instructors and local management. They are Shindenkan's "finest".
But can it be true?
Yes, because Shindenkan consists of the leaders as role models, plus all Shindenkan members, and all the parents of our JokoKidz. Then there are ourselves as local chief instructors, our local associations and boards, ourselves as Honbu's competence instructors and the members as participants. So yes, the issues go around in the same circle and the bottle will point to all those who convey Yakami Shinsei-Ryu Karate-do. So yes, it is always a good idea to start with ourselves.
Yamana-Itotani Sensei always tells things as they are, and people don't always want to hear the truth or deal with reality. This is especially experienced by the head instructors during the annual RRCamps (Ryuha/Ryugi training leader seminars over 3-5 days), and so does everyone who is taught by Yamana-Itotani Sensei, although dosed according to degree and purpose. The POMW course is a longer course where all participants are challenged by Yamana-Itotani Sensei. Firearms and ShindenFight do something special about people's behavior and "nakedness" when reality knocks and all illusions and self-staging come crashing down.
Yamana-Itotani Sensei also said it as it was with regard to the relationship between the association law's democratically elected boards and the trained competence mediator instructors. In martial arts, it is the skills that are decisive for the association, not necessarily the board. Because the truth is that the board has nothing to offer the members if there are no competent instructors who want to contribute their knowledge. This means that it is the competence development of the instructors that is decisive for the association's members and thus the association's development, and therefore it is them that the association should invest in, retain and treat properly!
Multi-track martial arts, everyone wants the black belt
When starting martial arts, most people have a goal of earning their black belt. However, few people are aware of how long it takes to acquire the necessary skills, or how big their efforts actually have to be or what it entails!
The black belt in a multi-track martial arts system like Yakami Shinsei-Ryu Karate-do requires you to master several skills, both unarmed and armed, both distance combat and close combat, and not least yourself!
And yes, yes it takes time because it is about competence in all strands. The fastest manage to get ready in 9 years, most use 12 years, and many choose to use 15 years to get ready. It's just all right! Why? Because you completed the process and became a multi-track martial arts black belt! You ARE something and have PROVEN it! You are therefore not like the 49?, 69? or 99? others who gave up along the way! YOU did it, with the rock solid support structure Shindenkan that never let you down.
You may have experienced failure in your upbringing, childhood, youth or as an adult, but Shindenkan ALSO aims to NEVER fail you when you need it most. That's why the ceiling is very high in Shindenkan and that's why we go to great lengths to help, but you also have to do something yourself, and the first thing is not to let yourself and others down. It's a really good starting point 😊
Questions and dilemmas
How long is your planning horizon?
The dream of wearing the black belt is always present, but regardless of the speed you choose, planning is required. It is our experience at Shindenkan that not everyone who practices multi-track martial arts has planned the next 12 years of their training.
Shindenkan's experience in the period 2009-2015 is that 90 % of our members either could not plan their training towards the next degree or did not. They simply expected this planning to be done for them by their coach or Head Instructor. But there are also 10 % of our members who actively take responsibility for their training and plan it carefully.
After completing the first process steps in Strat20, it is Shindenkan's experience in the 2016 survey that more than 33 % of our members either could not plan their training towards the next degree or did not. They still expected this planning to be done for them by their coach or head instructor. But now 67 % of our members take active responsibility for their training and plan it carefully.
Do you understand what it takes to earn your next degree?
Understanding of graduation options, how and why
How do I get the next degree? The problem is often that parents don't understand it or can't see it through, and thus can't help their children. Likewise, children do not understand and do not know what to do. Parents and children train together, but sometimes the parents get their belts faster and get into a dilemma because they want to train on the same team as their children. This raises a number of questions:
- Why can't JokoKidz, JokoTeens and adults be followed in progression?
- Why are there so many missing one or more courses for their next graduation?
- Why are there so many who do not understand the connection between local and national education?
- Why do so many people hit their limit at the 5th kyu?
- Why is it difficult for TG2 students to understand and manage their own progression path, so that they stop with a sense of defeat?
Can we in Shindenkan do something about the above problems and help so that JokoKidz, JokoTeens and adults can be followed on the progression path? Can we do something so that the members avoid getting into a dilemma with courses? Yes, do the following:
- Take competence courses when they are offered
- Take a course every 6 months up to 7th kyu (it's only two annually)
- Take a course every 4 months from 6th kyu (it's only three annually)
Yamana-Itotani Sensei's solution
Yamana-Itotani Sensei took up the challenge and developed a cascade of 5 process steps in Strat20 which is 100 % designed, developed and planned by Yamana-Itotani Sensei to make your way, my way and the way of all members of the Shindenkan understandable, transparent and up-to-date without compromising the level and standard of a true Japanese multi-track martial arts system.
The 5 process steps in Strat20 are:
- Step 1 – Progression by effort
- Step 2 – Funding and Finance after effort
- Step 3 – Price policy by effort
- Step 4 – Structure and management by effort
- Step 5 – Development by effort
It was this plan that was presented to SOPORG, the Executive Committee, national and local boards and challenged by these and on the basis of this democratic process and challenges, adjusted continuously over 3-5 months. After this, the final Strat20 with the 5 process steps was presented at all local and national general meetings, where it was adopted.
