On 24 May 2008 in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain) The 22 European Weight Category Championships took place. 125 competitors from 22 countries took part in the event, which was organised by Spanish Kyokushin Karate Organisation.
Kancho Shokei Matsui (IKO President), Shihan Katsuhito Gorai (IKO General Secretary) and Shihan Loek Hollander (IKO International Committee Member) were the special guests, as well as the EKKO Board members: Shihan Antonio Pinero (President), Shihan Ton Von Rijn (Vice-President), Shihan Andre Drewniak (General Secretary) and Sensei Christoph Fischer (Treasurer).
Organiser of the Championships was Shihan Jose Luis Lezkano. Main judge was Shihan Antonio Pinero.
On the day after the championships, a special training open for all EKKO Country Representatives, instructors and students, was lead by Shihan Katsuhito Gorai and Shihan Antonio Pinero. Kancho Shokei Matsui was observing the participants, but could not join the training himself, recovering from his leg surgery.

On May 10-11, in Khabarovsk (Russia), The 2008 Kyokushin Karate Team World Cup took place. Kancho Shokei Matsui (IKO President) and Shihan Katsuhito Gorai (IKO General Secretary) were the special guests.
Winner of the torunament was Russia.

   From April 16 to 20, The 2nd European Team Training Camp was held in Varna, Bulgaria. About 65 fighters as well as about 40 Country Representatives and coaches of National Teams from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland gathered to train together.
   Three training sessions a day were held, both outdoors and indoors. Program was coordinated by Shihan Loek Hollander, Shihan Antonio Pinero and Shihan Andre Drewniak. The goal of this camp was to select the best european fighters and coaches. After the last session, EKKO representatives handed the nominations for the best 16 fighters in four weight categories.

GALLERY

Morning trainings	Special trainings	Strength trainings
Kumite	Nominations	Sayonara

   Bulgarian TV broadcasted two reports covering this event, organiser of which was Bulgarian Kyokushin Karate Organisation led by sensei Hristo Traikov. Sayonara party held in a very friendly atmosphere, closed the camp.

   On April 6, The Dutch Open  Weight Category Championships took place in Papendrecht, the Netherlands.
   Over 100 competitors and almost 600 spectators came to see the torunament, in which following countries took part: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland and Tunisia.
   Organizer was Budokai Dordrecht club, under the leadership of Shihan Jan Vleesenbeek and in cooperation with Dutch Kyokushin Karate Organisation lead by Shihan Loek Hollander.

PHOTO GALLERY

   On March 22-23, 2008 the Ukrainian Weight Category Championships took place in the city of Kiev.
   180 competitors and 2500 spectators gathered at the event, which was a selection for the European Championships in Spain. Several meetings with representatives of clubs and regions had place during this championships.
   Organizer was Ukrainian Kyokushin Karate Organisation led by Shihan Stanislav Blizniuk.

PHOTO GALLERY