On the last weekend of July, in Shirako (Chiba prefecture) Honbu Dojo Summer Camp 2004 was held. 
     According to tradition started by Sosai Oyama, the summer camp has been organised by the seaside, with participation of more than 100 karateka every year. The leading instructor was Kancho Shokei Matsui and assistant instructors were Shihan Isamu Fukuda, Shihan Koichi Yoshida, Sensei Gun Irisawa and Sensei Ryu Narushima. 
     The camp started from training with Kancho, where kihon, ido-geiko and a lots of strength exercises were covered. During the training as well as during his evening speech Kancho said a lot of precious advises based on his own experience. 
     Most of the classes were covered on the beach, where other activities like: sumo tournament, relay race and 12-km marathon run were also organised. The camp finished with Sayonara party, where students performed music and comic skits to entertain the instructors.

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     This year 7 instructors and 181 students including fighters, senior karateka and children took part in the camp. This is approximately 10% of the total number - 1500 Kyokushin Karate members in Norway.

     All the techniques and stances were covered during the training of kihon. Following with kata and the basic fighting training kumite and finished with self-defence including “DimMak” (Death Point striking). Some Ki training, massage course and special self-defence for women were covered too. On the last day the examination took place, in charge of which was Shihan Antonio Pinero.

    
     The Norwegian Summer Camp for the last 11 years has been organised in the south of Oslo by Shihan Lars Hogquist (5 dan). The guest instructor - Shihan Antonio Pinero (7 dan) is very much liked by the students and has been invited for many years.

     On July 14 in Gudermes, Chechenya, Russia "International Friendship Match" between Japan and Chechnya took place. Approximately 5000 spectators gathered in the Boxing Club Ramzan, which was strongly secured by the army and guards.
     Director of International Karate Organisation Kancho Shokei Matsui, General Secretary Shihan Katushito Gorai and Country Representative of Russia Shihan Alexander Ipatov had a chance to meet with Mer of the city as well as with other government VIPs.
     National TV covered the event all around the country and made a couple of interviews with the Japanese guests. Additionaly a short report titled "World Peace thanks to Karate" was broadcasted in Japanese TV news

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RESULTS

      After finishing the summer camp in Cracow, on July 25-28 for the invitation of Czech Kyokushin Karate Organisation led by sensei Jiri Potys 3 dan, IKO General Secretary  Shihan Katsuhito Gorai and current world champion Sensei Hitoshi Kiyama conducted the seminar in Praha. EKKO General Secretary Shihan Andre Drewniak together with Honbu Office's interpretor senpai Andrzej Zacharski also supported this seminar.
     Trainings with approximately 50 participants, instructors and fighters, were held twice a day in: Praha Police Main Department's sports hall "Vysehrad Dojo" and placed in the center of the city "Kosagym Dojo". Shihan Gorai during his classes focused on improving Kihon, described particular stances Tachi and summarized with combining it in Ido-geiko. Sensei Kiyama presented a large amount of fighting combinations, which were received with interest.
      Schedule of the seminar included the sightseeing of Praha's Castle and Saint Vitus Cathedral. Sightseeing of the old town was also easy thanks to fact the guests were accomodated in Hilton Hotel - located in the center of Praha. Sayonara in the restaurant located inside the boat moored on the Veltava River was also very impressive. 
     After the last training, the photo session took place. Japanese instructors praised the participants of the seminar for their involvment in trainings and hoped to meet everybody again in the near future.

photos

     On the week of July 21-25, the annual East European Summer School was held in Cracow, Poland. This year more than 250 participants gathered to train together with  Shihan Katsuhito Gorai and World Champion Hitoshi Kiyama who were invited by the organiser - Shihan Andre Drewniak. Apart from polish students, there were also guests from: Czech R., Latvia, Belarus and Germany.

      The visit of Japanese guests started from the meeting in Sports Ministry, Warsaw. 
     On the next day in Cracow's European Hotel the press conference took place. TV and radio reporters were present during this conference as well as during the trainings.
      Shihan Gorai focused mostly on Kihon and Ido Geiko, finishing with introduction of kata "Bassai-Dai" and "Tekki sono ichi". This kata used to be trained by Sosai Masutatsu Oyama long time ago and this year in Poland was introduced for the first time abroad Japan. Sensei Kiyama, whose classes were welcomed very wormly, presented his Kumite strategy including many of his champion's tricks.
      On the last day of the camp the examination took place, where approximately 100 students challenged for their new grade. The event finished with Sayonara Party where students performed music and comedic skits to entertain the instructors.

Training	Photo session	Examination
Kumite	Sayonara	Closing ceremony

     Directly from Poland the Japanese guests and Shihan Drewniak went to Czech Republic, where another seminar was conducted.