30/07/2026
ITF Elite Training Camp 2026 — Report
The ITF Elite Training Camp 2026 was successfully held over three days at **Varala Sports Institute in Tampere, Finland.
Participation was limited to 40 lucky participants, who travelled from Belgium, Senegal, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Finland.
The camp included three training sessions per day, combining technical development, patterns, sparring, kicking drills, strength and conditioning, and athletics. The intensity was high, while the schedule still allowed sufficient recovery between sessions.
Facilities and Accommodation:
Varala provided excellent training facilities, equipment, accommodation and full-board catering at a very competitive price. The premises offered an ideal environment for both intensive training and recovery.
A particular highlight was the 2 evenings with the sauna by the lake, which provided an excellent opportunity for relaxation after demanding sessions.
We sincerely thank Varala for its support and for providing superb facilities and services throughout the camp.
Instructors and Training Programme
Sasung-nim Jedut
Grand Master Jedut conducted patterns and technical sessions, including individual one-to-one coaching. His dedication was exceptional, with one training day continuing until 22:30.
Sahyun-nim Thierry Meyour
Thierry Meyour acted as camp coordinator and conducted:
- Patterns and technical sessions
- Sparring
- Kicking drills
- Saturday’s track and field session
Sahyun-nim Lylian Doulay
Lylian Doulay led patterns feedback sessions and patterns-specific strength training.
Mr. Souleyman Alaphilippe
Souleyman Alaphilippe conducted the Saturday kicking session and sparring-specific strength and conditioning.
For many participants, it was an eye-opening experience to witness Olympic-level training first-hand and to train and spar with an athlete of such calibre.
Participants and Atmosphere
Although the camp was physically demanding, the atmosphere remained relaxed, friendly and welcoming. Participants trained hard, supported one another and benefited from the international character of the event.
The limited number of participants helped create a focused environment and allowed for meaningful interaction with the instructors.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Sabum-nim Jukka Holmen and the entire Black Eagle team for their outstanding work.
They did an amazing job setting up the training hall and packing everything away so quickly on Sunday. Their effort and efficiency were greatly appreciated.
We also thank all the instructors, participants and supporters who contributed to the success of the camp.
All in all the ITF Elite Training Camp 2026 was a highly successful event, combining high-level instruction, challenging training, excellent facilities and a strong community atmosphere.
The camp’s success was made possible by the commitment of the instructors, the enthusiasm of the 40 participants, the support of Varala and the hard work of Jukka Holmen and the Black Eagle team.
It provided a memorable experience and a strong foundation for a future edition in 2027.
