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.
News
As always, December was a busy month… We had the 21st edition of the ABKF Winter Seminar for Kendo, Iaido & Jodo. All groups had the opportunity to practice under the guidance of Japanese top experts. This year, around 300 persons from 12 different countries came to Brussels to share their knowledge, experience and make new friends.
Jodo practitionners had a very “basic” seminar with Nishiumi sensei, Kyoshi 8th dan, who stressed the importance of kihon and zanshin in daily practice.
Iaido practitionners got “serious” info in how to get more from iaido than executing physical movements by Kobayashi, Hanshi 8th dan & Uehara sensei, Kyoshi 7th dan.
Kendo practitionners had a seminar which made it possible to feel the importance of “seme” and “timing”. Also Nihon Kendo Kata demonstration was shown by Tahara and Shinotsuka sensei, Hanshi 8th dan. And the traditional kendo competitions were held on the last day of the event for Ladies individual, Team of 3 players & the “open” individuals…
Results of the competitions:
Ladies:
1 | STOLLARZ (FRA) |
2 | DE BACKER (FRA) |
3 | GREIF (SLO) |
3 | TEXIER (FRA) |
Team:
1 | CNK 1 (FRA) | |
2 | Kenseikan (BEL) | |
3 | BELGIUM 2 (BEL) | |
3 | CNK 3 (FRA) |
Open:
1 | Haeke (Belgium) |
2 | Nakabayashi (France) |
3 | Takeuchi (France) |
3 | Montessinos (France) |
Fighting Spirit prices were handed out to:
Pollet A. (Belgium) – Dutescu M. (Romania) – Van Laecken S. (Belgium) – Bensaid A. (Belgium
Special ANA-ticket to Japan went this year to:
Wesley Haeke (Belgium)
As the result for the first “Kyoshi” exam in Japan organized by the All Japan Kendo Federation in english, our friend Emilio GOMEZ (7th dan Kendo) from Butokukan dojo in Brussels passed successfully this test last November.
Results for the ‘Renshi’ exams Kendo/Jodo in Japan organized by the same Federation, our friends Carroll Tange (7th danKendo) and Naoko Hamada (6th dan Kendo) from Meibukan dojo in Jette and Albert Van den Broeck from Taikikai dojo in Sint Pieters Woluwe passed also their test successfully last November .
Congratulations to all three members of our Federation!
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
Our National Team had the opportunity in their preparation towards the nextcoming World Kendo Championship to train under the autority of Jean Pierre Labru, former captain of the French National Team. His knowledge and input was highly appreciated by the current members of the team and those who were present at this seminar.
Thanks for this very nice seminar, Jean Pierre!
Great results for the Belgian Team at the 18th European Iaido Championships 2011 in Andorra !!!
Two days of seminar with 22 countries represented and more than 200 participants, everybody in the team so happy to meet all European Iaido friends and receive the teaching of 3 great sensei: Kawaguchi sensei, Kusama sensei and Kamikokuryo sensei all Iaido 8th dan Hanshi.
An intense individual and team competition with great results: 1x Gold, 2x Silver and 3x Bronze medals. Shodan Gold for Valentin and Bronze Rowan, Nidan Bronze for Tom, Sandan Bronze for Jonathan, Yondan Silver for Yuki, Godan Silver for Michaël + Examination success with 2 new nidan for Valentin and Rowan and sandan for Tom. In the Team competition Belgium (Valentin, Jonathan, Michaël, Yuki) won the Bronze medal …
You will find (not yet) all the detailed charts and results on the EIC 2011 website
Congratulations everybody and let’s continue to train hard. Gambatte !!!
On a sunny saturday, the ABKF Technical Committee gave the “kyu” members of all Belgian dojo “rendez-vous” in Ghent for the annual (free) seminar. The weatherforecast, this time, did very well predictions which made many of our beginners doing other things than Kendo.
About 60 persons enjoyed the seminar and had an introduction to the new “Bokutoh Training” which our delegates to the annual “Kitamoto” (J) seminar were drilled in. Maybe in the next future this part will become a part of examination, so be aware of this training method.
At the end of the practise several persons were granted ikkyu before joining the free practise with the members of our National Kendo Team which organized their BBQ afterwards in a location close to the hall… This group prepares actively the selection for the team which will represent Belgium at the next World Kendo Championships and try to find solutions to sponsor their participation in this hugh event.
If any of you,readers, have ideas… contact the members of this group!
Within a fine and combative spirit the Belgian Jodo Team has won:
In mudan category:
Vermeulen Karen – a speciale price for outstanding prestation
In Shodan category:
Vervack Valentin – Gold
In Sandan category, again a Belgian Final with:
De Block Marjan – Gold
Vandenbussche Jonathan – Silver
In Rokudan try-out competition: Van Den Broeck Albert – Gold
Congratulations to all participants and Belgian delegation!