After the two seminars in Mexico earlier this year we have got many questions about this intelligent, tall, strong, studied Viking from Norway Shihan Wilberg. So, we asked him some questions to find out something about him.

Who is Shino Wilberg?

I was born in Drammen, not far from Norway’s capital Oslo, January 1982. I have always been interested in the combat arts, both traditional martial arts and the more modern military fighting sciences. I have a great love for outdoors life, cooking, teaching and watching good movies, and reading awesome books. I also ride motorcycle, ride horses (when the opportunity presents itself) and I love tattoos. I have studied sports sciences from high school, to university level, specializing in becoming a teacher, and on the master-level, studying sports psychology and sports politics.

Tell us about your Martial arts carrier.

I started my martial arts career learning muay thai from my cousin at his home, before starting to study Bujinkan Ninjitsu in 1993. After 6 months I started studying judo, something I have continued studying, and teaching to this day. While practicing judo, I got the opportunity to study aikido for a period. While in high school I practiced a bit of Capoeira. Later I had an opportunity to study Brazilian Jujitsu for 6 months. While in high school I started getting more and more interested in self-defense, and thus started analyzing all I knew about martial arts, to eventual, in 2009 have the World Personal Marital Arts Federation (WPMAF) recognized the Mizudo Combat system, Mizudo is Japanese for “The Way of Water”, While I was in Mexico for the WPMAF grand seminar in Acudo Ryu. During this seminar I attained my 1. dan in Acudo Ryu and 1. Dan in Atemi Judo. While studying at Telemark University College, I started studying Jujitsu, and eventually attained 3.kyu green belt in the Jujitsu Norway system.

In Norway I give seminars in Acudo Ryu and Mizudo, and together with Sifu Thomas Hoy Jr. we founded the Norwegian Acudo Ryu Association. Since then I have spent a great deal of energy sneaking Acudo Ryu into every situation where I have had the opportunity. Eventually I started applying the philosophy of Mizudo on traditional Acudo Ryu, and the result is a sub-style called Combat Acudo. In February 2015 I went to Mexico again, to hold a few seminars in Acudo ryu and Mizudo, and test for my 5.dan in Acudo Ryu, and earning the title of Shihan. During these seminars, I unveiled the Long Wû kata, the first pure Acudo Ryu kata ever written. During my stay in Mexico I had the privilege of studying Dux Ryu Ninjitsu under Sensei Alejandro Hugo, 3.Dan for a week.

Earlier this year I was contacted by a gentleman by the name of Anders Falck, an old friend of Doshu Nils Volden, who asked me for some assistance in his development of a new kempo system called Sun Kempo. I went to Trondheim in Norway to visit him and worked with him this summer.

As a fighter, I have not that much to show for, as I fight in de senior +100kg category in judo, and there have not been many people I have had the possibility to train with, so I have focused on being a sensei and a referee, until I made a comeback as a fighter in 2012, winning the Norwegian cup in my category that year.

As this e-interview is being conducted, I am the leader and chief Instructor of my judo club in Norway, and I am working towards attaining my 2. kyu Blue belt in jujitsu, and next year taking my 3.dan exam for judo. When it comes to weapons, I am mostly self-taught, with the exception of the Viking sword and shield. I have practiced with the bo, jo, nunchacu, katana, longbow, escrimasticks, and kobutan, as well as some modern firearms.

What skills and experiences would make an ideal Martial artist?

In my opinion, the skills and experiences needed to become a great/true martial artist are more of the philosophical nature. I think that a true martial artist will never stop working on perfecting his/her techniques, never forgetting the basics, and are not afraid to try new avenues. It is vital that the martial artist studies with a sensei/sifu/master that he/she is comfortable with, and have the virtue of patience in his other training.

It is important that you as a martial artist are humble enough to realize that First, violence is NEVER the right answer, that being said, sometimes you have to choose the lesser of two evils, and if you have to use violence, kick ass and don’t lose. The second thing to realize is that we as martial artist are not bulletproof, we are humans, all it takes is one slip-up and then you are fucked. Third and the most important point: We as martial artists, as warriors, have a responsibility to be good role models in everything we do, because we are trained in techniques and tactics that at its core, are designed to kill your opponents.

My advice to everyone is:

Never stop learning
Stay humble
Be kind
Be proud
Show respect to your sensei/ sifu/ master
BE PATIENT.

What is the single largest problem within martial arts today and how should we solve this problem?

The single largest problem within the martial arts today, is that they have strayed too far from their origins. They have been “Sportified”. The solution is to go a bit more back to the roots, so that the individual student can have the possibility to decide whether they want the “sportified” version, or the sometimes more hard-core versions, closer to the combat arts they were developed from.

What have you enjoyed most about Acudo ryu?

The cool thing about Acudo Ryu, is how adaptable it is as a martial art. The adaptability is the greatest strength of Acudo Ryu, as it can be benefitted by everyone, regardless of their background.

Another thing I like about Acudo Ryu is that it has a clear connection with the healing arts, and at the higher levels you learn a few simple healing techniques. As a martial artist, trained to inflict pain and injuries to your opponent, it is I thing always a good balance to also study healing arts, be they modern or traditional.

What constitutes success within martial arts for you?

Success in martial arts for me is mastering new skills, learning more about the things I already know. If I do not continue to move forwards as a martial artist, then there is no point in continue to study the combat arts. For me, results in competition are not important. If I can have a positive influence in the lives of my students and fellow martial artists, and they do well; that is success for me.

Tell us about your martial arts qualifications?

I started as a sempai when I was 14 years old, attained my instructor level 1 (trener 1) license from the Norwegian Judo Association (NJF) in 1997, and continued to become a sensei, and eventually I became the head sensei in my club.

I have for a variety of reasons been at different clubs, and now I have come full-circle, as I am now back in the same judo club I started in, back in 1994. I now hold an instructor level 2 (trener 2) licenses from NJF. I also hold a national “level A” refereeing license in judo, the highest refereeing rank at national level. Outside of the martial arts, I have a Bachelor degree in sports, educational theory and health, as well as an associate degree in western medicine. At master levels, I studied the fields of Sports Psychology and Sports Politics. I am in the process of completing my thesis, where I look into the civilian outlook on martial artists throughout newer history.

This constitutes a good understanding of how to teach martial arts to a variety of ages and ambitions.

Do you continuing educating yourself within martial arts?

The study of martial and combat arts is an ongoing one. As a judoka, I am always trying to develop my understanding of the GoKyo, and learning new katas. As an Acudoka I am always striving to learn more of the theory the style is founded on, and becoming ever better at the Shaolin Qinna Kata, and I am currently working on two books about Acudo Ryu, One is titled ” the Science of Acudo Ryu” and the other “The katas of Acudo Ryu”. It is important to realize that you will never be done studying martial arts, whether you specialize, or study multiple arts.

Can you tell me us about the team you train with?

Here in Norway, I always find ways of introducing acudo ryu in my judo and jujitsu classes, and I teach acudo ryu in private lessons, working on building a group of people that can help me expand the NAA. They come in every size, age and gender, with their previous experiences in martial arts ranging from zero to quite a lot.

What can you tell us about your special technique?

My special technique is an adaptable attitude. I don’t like to waste energy, so I stay relaxed and respond to what my opponent does. That being said, after 21 years as a judoka, I am partial to grappling, and joint manipulations.

Who previously held the position as President in NAA?

The Norwegian Acudo Association as it stands today was founded in 2010 by Sifu Thomas Hoy Jr., Hanna Evjen, and me. I was elected as the first president in the Norwegian Acudo Association.

What are the next steps for NAA?

I am currently working on activating NAA, and expanding the world of acudo Ryu both in Norway, Scandinavia and the rest of Europe. As a part of this, I am working on formalizing the gis to be used in Acudo Ryu in Norway (that would be two; one for fight training and -tournaments, and one more suited for kata and teaching of the meridians, inspired by wudang uniforms.

I am also structuralizing a system for licensing instructors, similar to what they have in the judo federation, wish is really good. This is to ensure that every acudo ryu instructor have been through a quality control. Eventually I am hoping that I can recruit enough masters and establish enough dojos that NAA can grow into a professionally run organization.