We are the fourth generation in Denmark and Europe since the foundation in 1967 of SST. Fourth generation means officially recognized and appointed by the SST in Japan, and not self-proclaimed by the local association board or the local "new karate town king/queen".

In 1986, SST's organization was in total ruins and internal discord. Just one decade earlier, Gensei-ryu Karate-do, together with Kyokushinkai and Shotokan Karate-do, was among the biggest martial arts in Denmark. The Danish Karate Federation's (DKF) national team, led by Shotokan, was among the four best karate nations in the world in the following decade.

In 1997, two later Shindenkaners achieved 2 x WC bronze during the World Championships in Japan. Sportingly, it was a glorious medal season and a relatively carefree time. Then, as usual, there was politics and ego in the elite effort. It takes so long to build up, but very little time to tear it all down again. And several of the main systems split up into various political sports federations, so quickly that most gave up on following. As a result, standardisation, critical mass and elite investment were lost, and Denmark has therefore never since reached the sports karate level of earlier times. On the World Karate Federation's (of which EUKF and DKF are members) official rankings in October 2019, Denmark is number 44 after Botswana, but before Senegal. Before, it was a decisive criterion to be a highly graduated member from an internationally recognized competence-giving martial arts system to become a member of DIF or DGI special association boards or committees. Today, anyone who has the interest, will, time and inclination in accordance with the Associations Act can be elected.

It is really boring for Denmark when Karate-do is a recognized Olympic sport just since Tokyo 2020, but very good for the democratic association law. It just rarely results in medals and that is one of the main goals of a competitive sports association. So it pulls in different directions and needs clarification. There is a very big difference between sports karate after the Second World War and traditional cultural-historical martial arts and martial arts. Even at the top, the results were achieved through a general competence level of 3-5. dan black belt, regardless of karate system. It was enough for sports karate, but far from enough if it was a culturally historical martial art over several hundred to a thousand years.

In 1986, as mentioned, SST's organization was completely split up and in ruins. The only option was to start over with the construction. It was the long tough move, which could only be done through seeking out and building this ancient martial art competence from the main source itself; SST and the other traditional grand masters in Japan and China. So it was decided at the Shindenkan General Assembly, as it has since been decided every year since 1986. Everyone was happy, but such a decision required funding, and Shindenkan did not have that money.

The General Assembly then decided that the only option was to seek financing investors who could cover all these educational expenses in Japan and China, after which these expenses could be reimbursed. The only problem was that there was never enough money to reimburse all these outlays, and the pile of outlays kept getting higher and higher. The General Assembly recognized and adopted the previous year's outlays and future budgets for the next outlays, every year since 1986, i.e. for 34 years (2020).

The effect of the decision and execution meant that the level of competence increased explosively and the goals were achieved, and more! Shindenkan went from national to EU competence level, and further to international competence level. It was unheard of and never happened before!

The international statistics say that one in one million martial artists actually obtain the "Apprentice's Certificate"; Denshograden Menkyo Kaiden "Master of all the Martial Arts", which is an internationally regulated top standard for more than 600 years. Dan degrees, on the other hand, are free and non-standardised. In principle, the local board can assign the local karate or judo master 7-8 at the village's street level. dan, yes for that matter break the frame and create a new standard of 25. dan, even if this is just brown belt or has first black belt degree in a recognized international system. There is no national or international legal authority that prohibits this. However, the awarded degree can only be in the village's or the local karate/judo master's own martial arts system, otherwise it can be sued by lawyer and court.  

INespecially in the last 10-20 years, there has been a moral shift in the Densho system, driven by economic and business interests. It began in the US, spread to Europe and now also in Japan with a handful of martial arts systems. However, the Japanese Densho degrees of Menkyo, Kaiden and Menkyo Kaiden follow the international rules for honorary degrees. They can be achieved after at least 30 years of training under the same Japanese Grandmaster, organization and system. However, it is new that Japanese grandmasters give Densho honorary degrees, as this is usually only reserved for dan degrees, but Japan is also changing. However, all recognized systems are registered with the central team and various ministries – honorary degrees are not registered.

There are different ways to distinguish a genuine Menkyo Kaiden certificate from honorary certificates and outright fake certificates. It teaches real Menkyo Kaidens and higher when they graduate to Sodenke Menkyo Kaidens. European and American densho degrees, you can now also buy online (“Tick the purchase box”), like a black belt with 25 stripes or a Ninja grandmaster belt with stars and stripes . 

It is like with many academic titles which are not protected either or just ARE protected titles. You can't protect yourself against unscrupulous scammers who want your money so they can earn more themselves on a performance pay scale. Especially not when there is a demand for this. It's like heels who buy stolen goods. 

Martial arts victims are easy, as it is impossible as a novice to distinguish. But if something is too good and easy to be true, and you can become a "professor" without being taught, studying or going to school, then something is probably wrong. The more you know, the more you can distinguish between the real and the fake product name. Analogy; who wants to be treated by a bogus specialist if you have a life threatening illness? Or a side street seller who wants to get his hands on your pension or savings? Wrong choices can have consequences. Some don't care, but most don't if they want to gain real martial arts skills from an ancient Japanese martial arts system. In the old days, you didn't care, as fake degrees and skills could cost you and your lives, but today there is virtually no risk, and therefore many are tempted to deceive and be deceived. But that does not mean that it is true. Especially not if you want to be a role model for you, your children, grandchildren or other people.

It is only people's conscience, morality and self-awareness that sets a limit to this behaviour, and it has been strongly decreasing throughout the last 10-15 years. Studies have shown that this mainly only happens outside cities with less than 20,000 inhabitants, which often do not have as much of a national or international orientation. It also fits very well with what Shindenkan has experienced since 2004.

In 1996, the Shindenkan achieved the ultimate result of the National General Assembly decision since 1986: that one Shindenkan practitioner became the first to achieve the ultra-rare Menkyo Kaiden degree. The Japanese graduation now placed Shindenkan at an international level of competence. Analogy; Menkyo Kaiden can be bravely compared to the rare act of becoming a Nobel Prize winner. It gives prestige, recognition and places the performer and his university/research institute in the international competence top league, the international Elite division. All students want to be taught by a Nobel laureate.

In the year 2000, the same practitioner achieved the even more rare; Gokui Menkyo Kaiden rank, which statistics say one in eight Menkyo Kaiden typically achieves. The Japanese and Chinese graduation now placed Shindenkan at the absolute international top competence level, which meant that this practitioner now received invitations to teach in Japan and China, and international top practitioners of master and grandmaster rank now applied to come to Denmark on training stays to be taught of this Shindenkan practitioner. Only a few accepted, as the practitioner also had to attend to his daily work and teach Shindenkan.

When the same practitioner in 2005 achieved the very rare given degree - Inka, which statistics say that much less than one in ten Gokui Menkyo Kaiden typically achieves, the international "Insider" exploded Japanese and Chinese attention to this practitioner and indirectly Shindenkan. Shindenkan was seriously on the international recognition radar, but it didn't stop there, because the practitioner continued his ascent and path. Shindenkan had scored absolute international jackpot of its national general assembly decision from 1986 and every year since for 34 years (2020). There was just one problem – quite a lot is outlay financed. There is nothing wrong with that, since all normal people also finance their house with loans when they have to build their lives, future, dreams and existence. But it is certainly less risky for the bank than it is for a sports organisation's private spenders, as we have called them. But in the end, it's about making a difference to society and other people through actual actions, through the long haul. Humans rarely make a major difference without considerable risk, which can normally be expected. In Shindenkan, we are many smaller as well as larger spenders who passionately want to make a difference.