The 22nd Belgian Iaido Championships 2019 took place this Sunday 12 May 2019 in Ninove. Congratulations to all the competitors and thank you for the great job of referees and the organizing Dojo of Raito Ninove.

Here are the competition results:

MUDAN

1. Anseeuw Sander (Agehacho)
2. Van Eesbeeck Laetitia (Raito)
3. Garreyn Steven (KIG)
4. Dessers Stephane (Agatsukan)
   FS. Devis Veronique (Agatsukan)

SHODAN

1. Basu Pramit (Kenhachi)
2. Vanderstraeten Alain (Raito)
3. Brasseur Leopold (Shidokan)
4. Fredericx Jeffrey (Kenhachi)
   FS. Brasseur Leopold Shidokan)

NIDAN

1. Peynsaert Yoshi (KIG)
2. Linssen Jimmy (Shinbukan)
3. Renders Merlijn (Shinbukan)
4. Van Laethem Jos (Raito)
   FS. Marc Simon (Shidokan)

SANDAN

1. Heungens Daan (KIG)
2. Vermeulen Karen (KIG)
3. Pirard Florian (Sakura)
4. Damoiseau David (Brussels Yaegaki-kai)
   FS. Damoiseau David (Brussels Yaegaki-kai)

YONDAN

1. Kim Croes (Kenhachi)
2. Alexandra Vandevelde (Brussels Yaegaki-kai)

GODAN

1. Vandenbussche Jonathan (Agehacho)
2. Pauwelyn Nicolas ( KIG)
3. Vlad Liviu (Agehacho)
4. Yano Chieko (KIG)
   FS. Vlad Liviu (Agehacho)

On April 6th 2019, we commemorated the creation of our Federation. 50 years is an important milestone; different trainings for Kendo, Iaido and Jodo led by Hirakawa, Oda, Kidani and Van Den Broeck were organized in Brussels from Thursday 4th until Tuesday 9th.

“D-day” for the celebration was on Saturday 6th at the “Palais des Académies – Paleis der Academiën” in central Brussels near the Royal Palace.

Two very interesting lectures, proposed by Dr PhD Sergio Boffa & Baudouin Decharneux, took place before the “main course” in presence of His Excellence Hayashi, Ambassador of Japan in Belgium, Mr Rachid Madrane Minister of Sports of “Walloon-Brussels Federation”, Hirakawa – Oda – Kidani sensei, the EKF Delegation, several foreign country Presidents, Kendo-pioneers, sponsoring delegates and of course BKR or VKIJF-members.

The ceremony was the opportunity to hand out the first menjo for Renshi & Kyoshi to some of our members directly edited by ABKF.

We concluded by a reception for all attendees to end this sunny journey…

Thank you all for your attendance and a particular “Thank You!” to Lucia, Claudine, Christine, Laetitia, Thierry, Chris, Marc & Anne, Marco, Luis and Claire² for their hard work …

Pictures are here, but also available at social media…

Reserve the date: Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 3 PM – 8 PM

Location: Palais des Académies
Rue Ducale 1, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Celebration of 50 years Kendo, Iaido, Jodo, Tan & Jukendo in Belgium for ABKF members & Friends.

We propose two conferences to our guests:

‘The Japanese sword during the ancient, medieval and modern Japan”
by Sergio BOFFA, Ph D, Curator in Chief at Nivelles Museum
“Does the practice of the Japanese sword makes us becoming Samurai?”
by Baudouin DECHARNEUX, Ph D, Professor at ULB

Followed by a graduation ceremony to outstanding people who have served our Federation during the past 50 years and “Shogo menjo” to several 6th and 7th dan members.

An informal reception with all attendees, invited Japanese teachers and local representatives will close the event.

Participation fees
Free for VIP. ABKF-members: 5,00€, Friends (non-ABKF): 25.00€

Keiko for Kendo, Iaido &/or Jodo during the celebration period

Kendo:
Thu 04/04: Auderghem (ARA) 19.00 to 21.00
Fri 05/04: Auderghem (ADEPS) 11.00 to 12.00
Sat 06/04: Auderghem (ADEPS) 09.00 to 11.00
Sun 07/04: Ixelles (VUB) 10.00 to 12.00

Iaido:
Sun 07/04: Anderlecht (Erasme) 13.00 to 17.00
Tue 09/04: BYK Uccle 20.30 to 22.30

Jodo:
Sat 06/04: Auderghem (ADEPS) 09.00 to 11.00

All with the presence of invited teachers from Japan and high-level members of the federation and free of charge…

All information will also be posted on the Facebook event page

This morning, we received the very sad news of the loss of one of the founders of our Federation. Mr Jacques Dupont passed away at the age of 83.

He was one of the founders of our group but also the first EKF General Secretary. His contribution to Kendo in Europe was unanimously recognized.

We have lost a great man, some of us have lost a friend. Our profound condolences go to his wife and family…

RIP.