From July 27 to August 1, 2026, the shores of Lake Geneva once again vibrated to the martial rhythm of our school. Like every year, the Oshukai Reims Champagne dojo traveled to Thonon-les-Bains to participate in the grand international seminar of Shorin Ryu Karate and Okinawa Kobudo organized by Oshukai. A week of intensive training, reunions, sweat, and exchanges, but also decisive moments with the traditional grading examinations. If there was one lesson to take away from this 2026 edition for our dojo, it would be summed up in one word: Kime.

The Spirit of Decision and the Power of Repetition

Often translated as “focused energy” at the moment of impact, Kime is not just a physical concept. It is above all a state of mind. It is total commitment, the firm decision to go for it without restraint or hesitation. But this Kime, this spark of lucidity, does not come out of nowhere. It is the direct result of dedication and tireless repetition. It is because the practitioner has repeated their movement a thousand times, fueled by the demanding nature of dojo training but also by the silent rigor of their personal practice, that they can express themselves with complete confidence on the big day. This year, three representatives of our dojo, starting with our teacher himself, took the exams. They went in prepared, serene, strengthened by their countless hours of practice, and all three returned with their new ranks.

Three Journeys, Three Lessons in Perseverance

• Sensei Théodore Lê (7th Dan Kobudo): Passing the 7th Dan is a monumental milestone in a practitioner’s life. Our teacher’s achievement of this high rank perfectly illustrates what a lifetime of repetition yields. It is silent mastery, absolute consistency, and dedication elevated to an art form. By subjecting himself to the trial of the examination, Sensei Théodore Lê proves by example that a guide remains, above all, an eternal seeker on the path. An immense source of pride for our school.

• Louis Dupont (2nd Dan Karate): Louis’s success is a tremendous victory over himself. A long-time practitioner whose commitment and experience are well established, he nonetheless had to deal with the intense pressure inherent in grading exams, which had led him to take his time before stepping forward. This year, Louis made the choice of mental Kime: he made the firm decision to go for it, managed to keep a cool head, and perfectly channeled this tension to fully express his karate. A superb lesson in control and lucidity.

• Rodolphe Prom (1st Dan Karate): The strength of the return. Earning a black belt in Karate after a break of nearly 30 years is a rare accomplishment! His martial return, initiated 5 years ago through Kobudo (in which he earned his 2nd Dan two years ago), finds a new resonance here. Rodolphe’s journey proves that it is never too late to return, and that rigorous repetition erases the years of interruption.

The Kime of the First Steps

This ability to fully commit is not reserved solely for advanced ranks, however: it is expressed from the very beginning of one’s practice. This 2026 edition was thus marked by the first participation of Élodie, a recent student of the dojo and newly promoted yellow belt. Choosing to immerse oneself in a week of intensive international training alongside practitioners from all backgrounds is a true form of mental Kime. A courageous and formative step that follows in the footsteps of the one taken last year by Gérard, another of our members, proving that the spirit of decision and personal involvement are cultivated from the very first steps in the dojo.

The Rank Evolves, Responsibility Grows

They left confident, they returned with new ranks. For Rodolphe, the belt takes on a new black hue for Karate. For Théodore and Louis, although it remains visually the same, it gains even more depth. For all three, crossing this new milestone means higher expectations and greater responsibility. In our discipline, the euphoria of success quickly gives way to a much more grounded reality, and that is the beauty of our art. A new Dan is not a finish line or an endpoint; it is merely a milestone on a road that never ends. Earning a rank does not exempt us from the basics; on the contrary, it gives us the duty to dig into them even more deeply. This increased level of expectation comes with a fundamental role within the dojo: the higher the rank, the greater the responsibility to show the way. Advancing on the martial path is not only about perfecting oneself, it is also about becoming a true reference point for others, and ensuring the transmission of this flame and commitment to those who follow. As the new season begins, we will therefore have to put on the karategi once again, bow to the dojo, return to Kihon, and continue polishing the stone. Since true progression never relies solely on classes, it is indeed the indispensable alliance between dojo training and personal practice that will forge the successes of tomorrow. With humility and determination. The work continues. Congratulations again to our three promoted members!