SUMMER MESSAGE FROM THE EKO PRESIDENT KOEN SCHARRENBERG

True champions

Now that the summer holidays have arrived, it is nice to look back to the first half of the year 2016. Everywhere there are Summer Camps, and many instructors travel to other countries to spread their knowledge. It is (shin)kyokushin at its best.

Many countries, including Japan, have seen national tournaments in which all or almost all kyokushin organizations were represented. It looks like this movement is gaining more and more momentum; Sosai Oyama would have been happy and proud. While the world is in turmoil and unrest and terroristic attacks appear in many countries, our karate can form a – very tiny, but hopefully growing – counterbalance. As I said before: kyokushin knows no hate or racial divide between people, countries or religions. The term ‘one big family’ starts to apply more and more. It is a valuable development, in an uncertain economic and political period like these days.

‘United’ event

In the beginning of june we had the European Full Contact Camp in Belgium, with around 350 participants from 15 countries. Although I underwentthe week before an operationto receive a new hip, a total prosthesis, the doctors allowed me to visit the camp, though I had to sit in a wheelchair. I was glad to have been there, it was another great event, with many prominent fighters and teachers present, including Midori-shihan himself. He had gone through the hardship and trouble to fly for just three days to Belgium, to underline the importance of the ‘united’ event.

One moment in particular was moving for me. When I was watching the training on the beach in my wheelchair, shihan Koen Spitaels asked volunteers to carry me (no lightweight ….) to the beautiful Torii that was erected on the beach.

After taking pictures, the same procedure happened to get me from the beach back to the boulevard.

Now I return to the title of this short story. For another sport (just to compare, I call our karate ‘sport’, although we all know it is much more, (shin)kyokushin is budo) it is unthinkable that it’s champions have the mental attitude that signifies our big champions.

How do you recognize a champion of (shin)kyokushin in a group?

Contrary to so many other ‘sports’: in a group of karateka the champions are the ones who look the least like them. Physically fit of course, but they exude a calm and gentle attitude. Modest, polite, soft spoken. This is what being a true champion means. Personally I have known, for example, Sem Schilt for many years. I went to the K-1 Finals many years and even was member of his team when he won the K-1 once more, back in 2009. All these years, I have never seen him refuse a picture with a fan (these days the inevitable selfies of course) or an autograph. I witnessed at least thousand of times he just smiled and took the time. During the European Camp many karateka approached him again, which is logic; and all the while, like always, he was the true champion. I told him: “if you had only received one euro for every autograph or picture that has ever been given or taken, you would have been many times a millionaire.” Sem thought for a moment and smiled. ‘Then I would have probably been in retirement already and financially very well off. But I like this better.”

This is the attitude of all true champions, and there were many on this Camp – in all camps throughout the world. Independent of the organization they come from, kyokushin champions are all the same, a wonderful role model for younger fighters and all karateka.

Probably needless to say: my wheelchair was carried on and off the beach by higher grades and international champions. They did not send others or looked at it as something for lower degrees. True champions.

A true champion,in all ways

On the last day of the European Camp there was a nice touch: 50 men kumite for all participants. It was great to see hard but always fair and reasonable fighting, the lower degrees in good faith with the black belts – and rightly so. For me, even in the midst of so many wonderful karateka, one man stood out. G-karateka Frank van Geyt finished also the 50 men kumite. In his wheelchair, fighting hard, giving and taking punches and kicks, refusing to be different from the other karateka. He never gave up, never thought about it. He is a true champion. I must say: like so many G-karateka, who overcome hardship and fight and train for what they are worth: incredibly much!

A Polish samurai passed on

Lastly, a very sad event that many of you may already have heard of. On june 21 shihan Wieslaw Gwizd from Poland passed away in his house, completely unexpected, at 58 years. He (and his family) were very devoted to our shinkyokushin karate and he was a very strong karateka with equally strong students. It was a great shock and it is hard to imagine the pain the Polish organizations members and the family and friends of shihan Gwizd felt and will feel in the time to come. Shihan Gwizd will be remembered as a true champion in kyokushin, his spirit lives on in his children and karateka. We wish all involved all the strength they need. May shihan Gwizd rest in peace.

Osu,

Koen Scharrenberg

President EKO

Vice president WKO