After a long break due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the European Kendo Federation was again in capacity to organise for Kendo and Iaido the high-level grade examinations.
For Kendo, the examinations gathered 86 candidates for 6th dan and 39 candidates for 7th dan on the next day of the EKC in Frankfurt. Our federation was happy to see the results for its members by welcoming three successful candidates:
– Koenraad FRANCOIS (Seishinkan) – 6th dan
– Simone FORESI (Yu-Hi) – 6th dan
– Kensaku MAEMOTO (Wakakoma Kenshikai) – 6th dan
And for Iaido, only two weeks later in Budapest, a high-level seminar followed by examinations gathered 30 candidates for 6th dan and 15 candidates for 7th dan examination. Here as well our federation may welcome four successful candidates:
– Luc DEFRAEYE (Koomyoo Kai) – 7th dan
– Guy LONCELLE (Butokukan) – 6th dan
– Liviu VLAD (Agehacho) – 6th dan
– Nicolas VAES (Tsuru Kai) – 6th dan
Congratulations to all of you for this wonderful achievement!
After a long time of not doing kendo because of Covid 19, we finally had again a European Kendo Championship in Frankfurt. As the new coach of the Belgium team, together with our new manager Ismail Bozok, we can say that this year was more then a great success.
Our first goal was to get a team back to the dojo. A team that would be ready for this EKC, but also for the future. I wanted to get a team that could work together as one team. This goal was reached by the help of many people coming to the team training. I’m really happy with the effort they did for that.
From then on we could really prepare for the EKC in Frankfurt. With a mixed team of experienced members and new members, we went to the event with a really nice vibe and full of energy. For us, manager and coach, it was a big challenge since it was our first time doing this. But i can say we managed well. Because the team did really great!
The juniors fought strong as a team and individual. They where really nervous but fought really hard. As a reward we got a fighting spirit for Takeshi Boffa. For the ladies team, they had very strong opponents and couldn’t get out of the pool. But they took there revenge on the individuals! Not only do we have a third place for Lisa Van Laecken, but Freija D’hont is the EUROPEAN CHAMPION!!!!
For the men, they fought really hard and got in to the quarter finals, where they lost against the strong team of Poland. But again they also got there revenge the next day at the individuals and fought very strong. For that we got the third place for Kensaku Maemoto!
Again as a coach i am really proud of the team for there effort and results. It was not an easy job, but a job i really liked. I started to train with the team when i was twelve years old, became a fighter for the team and now to be coach is a great experience. But this adventure doesn’t stop here. I’ve learned many things during this EKC, where we need to improve to become even stronger and better kendoka. We can only do this with the support of others.
The 23rd Belgian Iaido Championships 2022 took place this Sunday 22 May 2022 in Louvain-la-Neuve. Congratulations to all the competitors and thank you for the great job of the referees and the organizing committee.
The subscriptions for the Belgian Iaido Championships on 22nd of May 2022 are closing soon! Deadline is 08/05/2022 (end of this week!). Event info: https://www.abkfevents.be/seminars-events/bic/
The invitation email was sent to the official ABKF email of every dojo, please inform secretary@abkf.be if you have not received this invite!
Please find the following information, shared by EKF, in regards to the upcoming EKC in Frankfurt:
in addition to the traditional little blue book, the Provisional Shiai and Shinpan Rules will be strictly applied. As a reminder, the link to the video is: https://youtu.be/vh16yyWhzXY
Please watch it carefully again so that you will be comfortable with it and then you can still participate with the aim of the best ippon. I wish you all the best with your EKC preparation and first please take care and stay safe!
please be aware that this Sunday we have the national training and the referee seminar. The national training is not a national team training, but an open keiko for all iaido practitioners.
The referee seminar is mandatory to be selected as a referee for the Belgian Iaido Championships. We also need iaidoka to help at this referee seminar for the shiai geiko.
Last weekend, the 13th of March 2022 the Belgian Kendo Championships for Dan grades were held in Braine l’Alleud. After having to postpone the championships for 2 years, we were finally able to continue our events and championships. Thanks to the dojo I Shin Den Shin and the BKR for the organization of this championship, the day was a success with nice kendo and happy kendoka.
Last week the mail has been sent to all official ABKF Kendo dojos with the information for the Kendo Dan Championships. This was sent to the official ABKF email address of each dojo.
Any dojo that has not received the information, please contact the ABKF Secretary and President as soon as possible.
Due to Friday’s “Codeco” of our government, it was necessary for ABKF to adapt again to the organization of its 2021 edition of the Winter Seminar. Besides the fact of trying to keep the health of participants correct, we also try to maintain as much as possible the organization of the examinations in good circumstances for all.
Due to the nature of the practice of Iaido and Jodo, this hasn’t had any impact on the already decided modifications taken last week. Only the moment for the Jodo exams changed a little but if everyone (Jodo) is present at the sports center from the start of the seminar, no big issues are foreseen.
Candidates for any exam who haven’t paid their inscription fees at 12/12 will be removed from the lists. Be aware of that!
The biggest changes are for the kendo related part of the seminar:
To avoid too large groups in training, we ask those who are not directly involved with any kendo exam to refrain to join the sports center. Of course, any junior attending the exam that day can be accompanied but in the limits set up by the government (2 persons). If any member is driving for other examination related member, he can join the practice since spectators are not allowed by the government.
To allow a secured ventilation of the hall and avoid large rows, we have decided to split the exams in different sessions preceded by a training of +/- 1 hour to have a safe warming-up of all candidates. This training is free of charge. Those who already paid for the seminar will be refunded by bank once the weekend is over. Please read carefully the new schedule for Sunday and please avoid to arrive too early (kendo 4th & 5th candidates) or leave late (kendo ikkyu to 3rd dan candidates) the sport hall.
Kendo schedule:
ikkyu to 3rd dan candidates: training from 09h30 to 10h30 and exams starts at 11h15
4th & 5th dan candidates: training from 13h00 to 14h00 and exams starts at 14h30
Face masks are mandatory when entering the sport center and during training. Only chirurgical or FFP2 masks will be accepted during practice. Chirurgical masks will be available at ABKF desk for free.
When wearing “men” in kendo, instead of a face mask, the use of a specific plastic “face shield” (minimum lower part) is the only option to avoid wearing the face mask. As soon as the “men” is taken off, the person is supposed to wear again its face mask.
Follow all instructions given by our staff members. In case of no respect, instructions are given to evacuate the “trouble makers”. Please make the job for everyone easy…
For Jury and staff members, ABKF will provide a FFP2 mask.
In case you would like to cancel your participation, please inform us as soon as possible by sending an email to the ABKF President, Secretary & Treasurer. We will refund your payment as long as the request arrives before 17/12/2021.
