Summary of 2015 and season greetings

Dear Friends,

At this very special time of the year I would like to summarize what we did in the past 2015.

It is only 2 years ago when the New Era of Traditional Karate-do started but our achievements show that we are very strong and powerful global organization. I would like to thank you for your support, assistance and hard work in the development of Traditional Karate-do worldwide. In the 2015 we organized a lot of very prestigious events with a great success.

WHAT WE DID IN 2015!

INTERNATIONAL KARATE SEMINAR WINTER GASSHUKU 2015

February 4 – 8, 2015, Stara Wies (Poland)

On February 4 to 8, 2015 International Traditional Karate Seminar Winter Gasshuku 2015 took place at the Japanese Martial Arts and Sports Centre Dojo – Stara Wies in Poland. The seminar was conducted by the special guests from China – Sifu ZHENG XIAORONG and Sifu CHEN RONGHUANG, who come from Ving Tsun (Yongchun) in the Fujian province – the place where are the sources of karate. During Gasshuku they demonstrated prototypes of kata, which karate originated from. These trainings gave a unique opportunity to travel into history.

8th TRADITIONAL KARATE WORLD CUP ORLEN 2015 3rd INTERCONTINENTAL KUMITE CUP
June 5 – 6, 2015, Stara Wies (Poland)

The 8th Traditional Karate World Cup ORLEN 2015 took place on June 5 to 6, 2015 at the Japanese Martial Arts and Sports Centre “Dojo – Stara Wies” in Poland. In this great event competed a superb collection of elite traditional karate athletes from 11 countries: Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and USA. 12 top men’s and 9 women’s traditional karate athletes were nominated by the national federations and selected by the WTKF Technical Committee.

The significant traditional karate event was honoured by the attendance of Mr Lech Walesa – former President of Poland, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, legend of “Solidarity” who took the honorary patronage under the competition. The following delegations attended in the meeting with Mr President Walesa: Japan Karate Association (JKA), World Koshiki Karatedo Federation (WKKF), World Traditional Karate-Do Federation (WTKF) and representatives of national federations from all over the world.

President Walesa visited Dojo – Stara Wies second time. Six years ago, he officially opened the center. He said: “Once, during the second day of August strike, journalists asked me what we’re doing here, I replied that I wanted to build in Poland another Japan. Dojo in Stara Wies is an example of the fact that this idea is perfectly realized.”

As well, Mr Witold Stepien, Marshal of the Lodzkie voivodshiptook took the honorary patronage over the competition.

The competition proceeded at the very high technical level.

The 8th Traditional Karate World Cup ORLEN 2015 took place in conjunction with the 3rd Intercontinental Kumite Cup, which was attended by the kumite teams from Brazil – current world champions, Pan-American and Poland – the Host. The winner was team from Poland. Brazil team took 2nd Place by beating Pan-American team.

During the tournament the representatives of Japan Karate Association (JKA) and World Koshiki Karatedo Federation (WKKF), as well as Tetsuhiro Hokama Sensei (10 DAN Gojuryu Karatedo Hanshi), President of the Okinawa Gojuryu Kenshi Kai Karatedo Kobudo Association, and Masakazu Hashimoto, Special Advisor of WTKF Board of Directors, presented a very special demonstrations.

54th AAKF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND INTERNATIONAL CAMP

June 26 – 27, 2015, WASHINGTON DC (USA)

The 54th AAKF National Championships and International Camp on June 26-27, 2015 was hosted by the JSKA International in the Washington, DC area, convening almost 200 participants that included top Traditional Karate contenders, domestic and international officials, and judges in an environment of learning, hospitality, and social giving. The championships were preceded by a three-day International Camp that featured training and lectures led by instructors from the United States, Poland, Brazil, and Venezuela. Camp participants worked together in an interactive manner as they shared their knowledge and perspectives on the roots and fundamentals of Traditional Karate, and training methods for athletes as well as judges. In this spirit of growth and development the National Championships for adults and youth was begun!

Both championships enjoyed a full room of spectators who were present to support the athletes and witness Traditional Karate at its best. Athletes tested and challenged one another in form and sparring events as they strove to improve their skills. Congratulations to all of the athletes who travelled far and wide to demonstrate their best karate.

In a theme of hospitality and camaraderie, the host awarded officials and judges with tokens of appreciation for their efforts and dedication to Traditional Karate, an art-form and way of life that transcends individual development and into society. This point was generously demonstrated by JSKA International who donated canned foods – collected as the entrance fee to the Championship finals – in addition to their donation of $3500 to BackPack Buddies, a program that tackles the issue of child hunger.

The AAKF is proud of its progress over the recent years, as exemplified by its steady membership growth, international partnerships and presence, and most importantly its youth involvement. Together, the future of Traditional Karate and the leadership role of AAKF as the governing body of the art in the United States stands bright and strong.

Congratulations to the JSKA International and the Mid-Atlantic Region for hosting an efficient, safe, and fun event that demonstrated – in numbers and in quality – a promising future.

TRADITIONAL KARATE SEMINAT GASSHUKU 2015 WTKF INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CAMP

August 11 – 16, 2015, Stara Wies (Poland)

The summer edition of the Traditional Karate Seminar Gasshuku 2015 and the WTKF International Summer Camp took place on August 11 to 16, 2015 at the Japanese Martial Arts and Sports Centre Dojo – Stara Wies in Poland.

The seminar gathered 300 participants from 14 countries: Armenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay and USA.

The Traditional Karate Seminar Gasshuku 2015 and the WTKF International Summer Camp was conducted by:

LEE KONG Sifu (Hong Kong) – teacher of White Crane Fist system.
ALBERT CHEAH Sensei (USA) – founder and chief instructor of Orange County Japan Karate Association, the oldest traditional karate dojo in Orange County, California. Sensei Cheah has trained in traditional Shotokan karate for over 35 years under the tutelage of Sensei Nishiyama. He is a seven-time AAKF National Champion, and also an instructor, judge, and member of the AAKF Technical Committee.
NELSON CARRION Sensei (Uruguay) – General Secretary of World Traditional Karate-Do Federation (WTKF), General Director and instructor of the Traditional Karate Do Institute (TKI), founder of a few national traditional karate federations in the world, e.g. in Uruguay, Morocco, France.
MAHMOUD TABASSI Sensei (USA) – Vice-president of World Traditional Karate-Do Federation (WTKF), Technical Committee Vice-Chairman, Senior Council, Member of Senior Advisory Committee of the American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF).
AVI ROKAH Sensei (USA) –student and assistant of the late Nishiyama Hidetaka Sensei, instructor of the Traditional Karate Institute (TKI).
JANUSZ SZYMANKIEWICZ Ph.d. Sifu (Poland) – prominent expert and practitioner of the Chinese and Japanese martial arts.
WŁODZIMIERZ KWIECIŃSKI Sensei (Poland) – WTKF President, Chairman of the Traditional Karate Federation of Poland (PZKT), coach of the national team of Poland.

Special part of the seminar were classes for instructors and judges. This group refreshed aspects of todome waza and kata. Few last sessions were dedicated for KOGO kumite. Kogo kumite is special kumite training system, developed by Hidetaka Nishiyama Sensei. Alternate sparring – KOGO KUMITE is an event, which provides an important learning opportunity for karate practitioners who are interested in improving their understanding of distance and timing in a controlled free sparring setting.

32nd TRADITIONAL KARATE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS,

4th TRADITIONAL KARATE EUROPEAN CHILDREN’S CUP

October 17 – 18, 2015, Vilnius (Lithuania)

On October 17 to 18, 2015, the 32nd Traditional Karate European Championships took place in Vilnius (Lithuania). In this prestigious event participated a superb collection of elite traditional karate athletes from 13 countries from all Europe. They represented the countries of: Armenia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Italia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

In addition to the above event, there was also the 4th Traditional Karate European Children’s Cup, where the youngest athletes participated and represented the traditional karate clubs from all Europe. The competition proceeded at the very high technical level.

There was a special event that drew enormous attention from all the spectators, namely a special karate training for all children participating in European Cup conducted by Taiga Horii – karate instructor from Japan.

In a theme of hospitality and camaraderie, the host awarded officials with tokens of appreciation for their efforts and dedication to Traditional Karate, an art-form and way of life that transcends individual development and into society.

There were a lot of great emotions and huge applause coming from all the enthusiasts of the beautiful art of traditional karate.

Congratulations to all of the athletes who travelled far and wide to demonstrate their best karate.

17th PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS INTERNATIONAL CUP

November 3 – 8, 2015, Natal (Brazil)

In the 17th Pan American Championships attended 120 participants from 9 countries. They represented: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, USA and Venezuela. In the International Cup participated 280 karatekas. The Brazilian authorities attended the event and was a big impact in the region of the Rio Grane Do Norte.

Social programs will be set and we will cooperate with an Handicap Association to develop Traditional Karate-do in their structure. The demonstration of Karate student in wheelchair was done during the presentation.

TRADITIONAL KARATE SEMINARS GENEVA (SWITZERLAND)

The first Traditional Karate Seminar in Geneva (Switzerland) took place on March 2015 and was conducted by Sensei Nelson Carrion, WTKF General Secretary and Traditional Karate instructor. 35 Swiss practitioners attended the event.

On November 27 to 28, 2015 Sensei Nelson Carrion conducted a seminar in Geneva (Switzerland) hosted by Traditional Karate-Do Swiss Federation – our Member Federation of this country. They were 40 participants between children, youth and adults. People from France came to share with the Swiss practitioner their friendship and practice showing a good spirit and discipline.

The main goal of conducting Traditional Karate seminars in Switzerland is to continue our cooperation with the Swiss practitioners and instructors to increase their level of Traditional Karate-do.

BUSSINES PLAN FOR 2016 & 2017

It is just the beginning… The most recent General Assembly, which took place on November 6th, 2015 in Natal (Brazil) along with 17th Pan American Championships, approved the following calendar of WTKF activities for 2016 and 2017:

1. International Winter Camp Gasshuku 2016 – February 17-21, 2016, Japanese Martial Arts and Sports Centre “Dojo-Stara Wies” (Poland),

Memorial Event of Dan Stuparu & Traditional Karate Seminar – April 22-24, 2016, Bucharest (Romania),
7th Traditional Karate European Cup – May 26-29, 2016, Japanese Martial Arts and Sports Centre “Dojo-Stara Wies” (Poland),
International Camp & AAKF National Championship – June 20-26, 2016, Minneapolis, MN (USA),
International Summer Camp Gasshuku 2016 – August 16-21, 2016, Japanese Martial Arts and Sports Centre “Dojo-Stara Wies” (Poland),
World Traditional Karate-Do Championships ORLEN Cracow 2016 – October 12-17, 2016, Cracow (Poland),
18th Pan American Championships – September 2017, Cuzco (Peru),
33rd European Traditional Karate Championships – October 2017, Lublin (Poland).

NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS ESTABLISH IN NATAL (BRAZIL)

By the decision of the General Assembly the present Board of Directors was dissolved. Based on recommendations of WTKF Member Federations in good standing, the new Board of Directors was installed. The following officers were elected to the new WTKF Board of Directors:

Włodzimierz Kwieciński (Poland) – President,
Mahmoud Tabassi (USA) – Vicepresident 1 (representing North America),
Nilton Aurimar Tiburcio de Souza (Brazil) – Vicepresident 2 (representing SouthAmerica),
Andrzej Maciejewski (Poland) – Vicepresident 3 (representing Europe),
Nelson Carrion (Uruguay) – General Secretary,
Radoslav Janus (Czech Republic) – Treasurer,
Giedrius Dranevicius (Lithuania) – Member of the Board,
Katsuya Ishiyama (Venezuela) – Member of the Board,
Robert Fusaro (USA) – Member of the Board.

The advisors of the Board are:

Steve Nakada – Chief Executive Advisors,
Jyuji Izumi – Advisor of WTKF Board of Directors,
Masakazu Hashimoto – Advisor of WTKF Board of Directors.Moreover, by the decision of General Assembly the following candidates were nominated for the Regional Directors:

Region Europe:

Robin Barak (Czech Republic),
Pavel Chernousov (Russia),
Suren Matevosyan (Armenia),
Zbigniew Godzisz (Great Britain),
Holger Theusner (Germany).

Region North America:

Gordon Boyko (Canada),
Albert Cheah (USA),
Michelle Critch (Canada),
Richard Kageyama (USA),
Alex Tong (USA).

Region South America:

Cristian Hidalgo (Chile),
Hardy Jana (Argentina),
Daniel Tobias (Uruguay),
Daniel Toro (Venezuela),
Guillermo De Vettori (Peru).

Thank you all for your continuous support and hard work to making our organization a successful one. Our organization is growing steadily but to bring our message to everyone, we need to have more presents in web and better marketing and advertising. We need to reach to more countries, schools and style organization to make them aware of the benefit of being part of our organization and increase participation and education. It is our goal for the next years.

By this occasion we would like to wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous holiday season. We are full of hope for fruitful communication in 2016.

Sincerely Yours,

Włodzimierz Kwieciński
WTKF President