Kagami Biraki - the opening of new year in Honbu Dojo took place on the 11th of January in Metropolitan Hotel, Tokyo. Punctually at 6 o 'clock in the morning 130 karateka came to participate in the first training of 2003 year lead by Kancho Shokei Matsui. After the training everybody gathered in the hall next by to listen to the speeches and celebrate the start of new year.
     Kancho welcomed everybody very kindly and thanked for attending the Kagami Biraki. During his speech Kancho reminded that this year is special, because it is a year of World Championships and is also the 10th year after Sosai Masutatsu Oyama's death. After the speech Kancho handed the diplomas for the students of Honbu Dojo, who had the best attendance in the last year.

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     On 15-16 February 2003 the 20th French Weight Category Championships were held in Paris. 30 participants and 3000 spectators attended tournament which was played  in Elisabeth Gymnasium.
     The winner of light weight category became Christophe Leroy from Saint-Ame. The middle weight category which was occupied by best French fighters was won by Gerold Sergius from Guadelupe. In heavy weight category, due to technical advisor's decision combined with super heavy weight category, Fabrice Fourment from Boulogne-Billancourt confirmed his leadership again.

     On February the 15th a renewal of EKKO General Secretary's Office has been finished. The newest computers, laptops, printer, scanner and digital camera has been bought. Two rooms has been prepared for professional work of General Secretary, his assistant - webmaster and two other office workers.
     The funds for the renovation and new equipment has been given by a private sponsor from Poland.

Office address:
EKKO General Secretary
ul. Kremerowska 3
31-130 Kraków
tel.      +48 12  634-08-49
tel./fax +48 12  634-13-38
fax       +48 12  632-59- 73
e:mail: general.secretary@europeankyokushin.org

We speak: english, russian, japanese and polish

     A real feast for kyokushin fans was held on last Saturday. On the 22nd of February, in Tokyo's Nippon Budokan the Ichigeki Event took place. Following kyokushin stars were present: Alexandre Pichkunov, Glaube Feitosa, Ryuta Noji, Garry O'Neill and others. More than 6000 spectators came to see the fights.

     Two european fighters has been invited to participate in the event: 2001 Middle Weight Category World Champion - Emil Kostov from Bulgaria and 1997 Light Weight Category World Champion - Piotr Sawicki from Poland. The second one however could not confirm his attendance in Tokyo.

Karate One Match Fights Results:

Riyuji Isobe - Brazil vs Tomohiko Matsuoka - Japan (draw)

     The first and probably the most spectacular One Match Fight. Both fighters presented an excellent technique, speed and determination. Although Isobe tried his amazing ushiro mawashi geri many times, he did not manage to reach Matsumoto. After all the match was equal and so the judges decided to announce the draw.

(winner) Emil Kostov - Bulgaria vs Hiroyuki Kidachi - Japan

“The revenge for the World Weight Category Championships Osaka 2001”

– this is how the match beetwen Emil Kostov from Bulgaria and Hiroyuki Kidachi from Japan could be named.

 

     In the first three minutes fighters were trying to read each other’s mind. Their punches and kicks were reasonable and calm. While the first round was rather equal, in the second round after Kostov’s powerful gedan mawashi geri Kidachi felt down and Bulgarian’s advantage started to appear. Kidachi’s punches seemed not to impress well prepared european fighter. When in the final round Kostov’s advantage was more and more visible he made the Japanese fall again after his inner low kick. The spectators, seeing their fighter beeing in trouble, started shouting: “Ki-da-chi, Ki-da-chi”, but it did not help. After all there was no wazari or ippon, but Kostov’s strength advantage
and determination made the judges had no bigger problems with showing him as a winner.

    
Asked about the forthcoming World Openweight Category Championships Kostov said: “I can’t answer now. There is still about 9 months to decide. I don’t know yet if I will fight in November. So far the most important for me were the World Weight Category Championships in 2001. I won and I am satisfied. But I will think about it...”

(winner) Ewerton Teixeira - Brazil vs Tatsuya Kato Japan

     The third One Match Fight between new rising Brasilian star – Ewerton Teixeira and Tatsuya Kato from Japan was also very interesting. Both fighters seemed to be equally strong. Teixeira however known from never giving up showed stronger spirit. Finally Kato lost after receiving genten ichi for grabbing the opponent.

     On the first weekend of new year , 4 - 6 January the annual Winter Camp Mitsumine 2003 was held. 188  Kyokushin karateka from Japan, Korea, Chile and Poland participated in this event which was organized by the IKO Kyokushinkaikan Honbu. 

     The leading instructor of the camp was Kancho Shokei Matsui. The assistant instructors were shihan Yuzo Goda and shihan Isamu Fukuda. Japanese national team preparing for the 8th World Open Category Championships participated in the camp.

     During the whole camp Japanese television was present, preparing the review from this event. Additionally the team from Korea came to make the Kyokushin promotion video to be broadcasted in their country.

photos & report