From February, the final countdown for our team members has started. Since several months, this group prepared themselves to join the biggest event organized by the International Kendo Federation, the World Kendo Championships… This tournament is taking place every three years and will be held in Novara, Italy, next May.

The Belgian delegation is composed of 7 Men & 7 Ladies assisted by their Delegation leader, coach & manager.

Delegation Leader:  Daniel Delepiere (ABKF President)

Coach: Nobuo Hirakawa & Serge Hendrickx

Manager: Marc Nameche

Men team: Carroll Tange, Wesley Haeke, Peter D’Hont, Stefan Van Boven, Geert Van Dort, Sean Van Laecken & Celest Vinck

Ladies Team: Lisa Van Laecken, Maaike Steyaert, Arsenia Corcoba, Rachel Buysse, Ans Van Eupen, Annick Pollet & Alexandra Snoy

On February 11th, these members had some shiaigeiko & commun training with the members of Düsseldorf Kendo Club and advice from Yasue sensei, “local” 8th Dan and Yukio Shimizu, 7th dan from Köln Kendo Club. Next trainingsessions will be the seminar under the guidance of Hirakawa sensei from Feb 20th to 26st. Other shiaigeiko are also planned with our friends from The Netherlands in April as well as the last seminar before the WKC from May 14th until departure…

During last winter seminar, the coach of the Belgian team, N. Hirakawa received the first training wear from the sponsor, Robin Van Daele, owner of Electro Direct. This equipment will become the official wear for the next three years for our kendo team.

This year, we had the BKKC held in Grugge on Saturday 26th of November. The local dojo Isshin Dotai was celebrating its 20th anniversary and invited all Belgian beginner kenshi to join them for a long but wonderful journey!

About 120 participants, 20 referees, 10 motodachi and many audience did their best.

Results in all categories are following:

Category A (Technic 5 to 9):

1st Gallant – Kojika, 2nd Haeke – Kojika, 3rd De Blonde & Decottignies – Butokukan

Category B (Technic 10 to 13):

1st Blansaer – Kojika, 2nd De Blander – Kenseikan, 3rd Carlier & Van Hoorbeke- Kojika

Category C (Technic 14 to 17):

1st De Byser – Kojika, 2nd Vanden Dunghen – Butokukan, 3rd De Wilde – Kojika & Dens – Kendo Club Charleroi

Category D (Technic 18 up):

1st Nunn – Isshin Dotai, 2nd Lossieaux – Yu-Hi, 3rd Gallant – Kendo Iaido Gent & Hadermann – Seishinkan

Category E (Shiai junior up to 13):

1st Van Laecken, 2nd Roubedou – Kojika, 3rd De Tavernier – Kojika & Takagi – Wakakoma Kenshi Kai

Category F (Shiai junior 14 to 17) :

1st D’Hont – Kojika, 2nd Cox – Seishinkan, 3rd De Neef – Kenseikan & Leeuws – Kenhachi

Category G (Shiai – Men 18+):

1st Soberon – Kojika, 2nd de Gresem – Isshin Dotai, 3rd Ben Mokkadem – Butokukan & Delaplace – Kendo Club Charleroi

Category W (Shiai – Ladies 18+):

1st Scheers – Meibukan, 2nd De Leenheer – Nobara, 3rd Van Steenberghe – Kenseikan & Moyson – Seishinkan

Team tournament (Shiai):

1st Kenseikan, 2nd Kojika, 3rd Butokukan & Seishinkan

Fighting Spirit prices (All categories):

Bierkens – Meishinkan, Boving – Meibukan, Himbrechts – Kendo Iaido Gent, Cox – Seishinkan, Windels – Kojika, Duriau – Meibukan Liège, Vandegaer – Kendo CLub Charleroi, Saelens – Kenseikan & Dobbelaere – Kenseikan

From December 2011, our National Kendo Team has the opportunity to be sponsored by Electro Direct bvba for at least three years. Welcome !