KLM Karate Club

03/09/2024

Towards “Karate to Olympic again!”
by N. Konno

“The only impossible journey is one you never begin” (Tony Robbins)

Karate was introduced by the first Karate demonstration which was held in Tokyo in May 1922 and this demonstration was done by Sensei Gichin Funakoshi. Therefore, we can say that he was the founder of modern Karate-Do. Mr. Fuakoshi was invited to do this by Mr. Jigoro Kano (Founder of modern Judo) together with the Japanese Ministry of Education and Culture. The first Karate demonstration by Mr. Funakoshi was very successful and then he started to teach Karate in Tokyo. As the result, many universities were starting to establish their own Karate Clubs in Tokyo. This was the first step of the Karate-Do history in Japan.

Mr. Anton Geesink (1934-2010: IOC member, Tokyo Olympic 1964 Judo Gold medallist) started to do Judo because he saw a Judo demonstration during the half time of a Football match. And I think many people who are now involved in Karate started Karate like that. Indeed, “Seeing is believing!”.

Foundation International Karate Dojo together with KBN (under the leadership of former KBN Voorzitter Mr. Adré B. Sukel) could make a wonderful Karate demonstration in 1993 together with many KBN Dojos in front of several IOC members including NL Prince Willem Alexander who became an IOC member during the Nagano Winter Olympics Games in 1998. This demonstration was done by 400 KBN members during the opening ceremony of EYOD (European Youth Olympic Days) at Valkenswaard in 1993 (attached) and this Karate demonstration was also broadcasted at the NOS TV journal.

Since 1990s the Japanese society in the Netherlands started to introduce Japanese culture in the Netherlands together with the Japan Embassy and JCC (Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Netherlands). Since that time the Japan Festival in Amstelveen is growing every year. The yearly KLM Karate Club demonstration there can be one of the examples (see below). It would be very nice if many KBN Dojos could continue to make their own Karate demonstrations especially for non-Karate people. Showing the attractive Karate demonstrations and introducing spectacular Karate Championships may assist one day towards “Karate to Olympic again!”.

Een gewaardeerd KBN supporter, dhr Nobuaki Konno sensei (8th dan Gensei Ryu/WKF) heeft onderstaande column geschreven over de weg van Karate naar de Olympische Spelen. Dhr Konno treedt soms op als adviseur van de KBN en is geregeld te vinden bij evenementen en KBN vergaderingen! Of Karate nu wel of....

19/01/2024

Towards “Karate to Olympic again!”
by N. Konno

“A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on!”
John F. Kennedy

It was very important that many Karate teachers of many styles were spread to the world around 1960s. I think that it was one of the essential factors for Karate. A few hundred years ago, Kendo had more than 700 styles. Many styles disappeared by the passage of time and now they are united as one under the umbrella of the All Japan Kendo Federation with one competition rules.

Various competition rules were made by many different Karate organizations. Now the time is coming to study and find a way to make the same competition rules for all Karate athletes. It surely can offer a chance to compete all Karate Kids together in the world.

In order to promote Karate like other well-known sports in future, we have to welcome many Karate styles in KBN/WKF as much as possible. Then we can have a chance to create better competition rules together with many ideas from athletes and many styles. At the same time, it could make it more attractive and easier to enjoy seeing all competitions, also by people who don’t know Karate yet.

As I mentioned in my previous book (The Future of Karate – Evolving with the Olympic: www.nobuakikonnokarate.com /Vision on Karate), every style is using their own protectors. We can say that the rule where you can’t use Nukite, Hiza-geri, Empi and can’t kick the head of the opponent is also a protector. The knock down/knock out system is very clear for the spectators, but it has bigger chances to give dangerous physical pain/damages to the opponent. All competition has to make the result of clear winning and losing as much as possible and it is always better to improve the competition rules, instruments and protectors for all athletes and spectators.

“Clearness”, “Safety” and “Fairness” is what we should focus on as the unchangeable direction. And it will be important to continue to seek the advanced protectors and also seeking more objective way of competition rules and judging. These will be one of the indispensable keys towards “Karate to Olympic again!”.

17/01/2024

https://www.kbn.nl/2024/01/16/karate-to-olympic-again/

Een gewaardeerd KBN supporter, dhr Nobuaki Konno sensei (8th dan Gensei Ryu/WKF) heeft onderstaande column geschreven over de weg van Karate naar de Olympische Spelen. Dhr Konno treedt soms op als adviseur van de KBN en is geregeld te vinden bij evenementen en KBN vergaderingen! Of Karate nu wel of....

18/12/2023

“Go back to the future!”
At Yanagawa-city Japan (sister city of Giethoorn in the Netherlands), The International (protector) Karate-do Championship was held with 17 countries in 1998.
Jelena Lukic joined the Championship when she was 17 years old and she won the Gold Medal in Kumite and Silver Medal in Kata.
Just about one year ago, Jelena came back to our club together with her daughters Matea and Iva.
Surely we are on the way towards our dream: Karate to Olympic again!

06/11/2023

Last Friday, some of our members took part in the ONJK training camp. They were guided by Tokyo Olympic medalists Anzhelika Terliuga and top-performing athlete Stanislav Horuna to prepare for upcoming tournaments. Our members not only gained invaluable knowledge but also enjoyed the training immensely. 💪🏆

27/10/2023

For contact:
N. Konno (ENG/JP)
+31 (0)6 26 55 89 89
or:
David Keijzer (NL/ENG)
+31 (0)6 12 11 21 93

24/10/2023

Seon and Azadeh, both showed their good way of fighting during the Strijd der Elementen “Vuur/Fire” on Sunday 15 October in Den Haag.

12/10/2023

09/10/2023

Mr. Peter F. Hartman (Former KLM CEO) got the Honorary 2-Dan Black Belt from KLM Karate Club in Amstelveen

05/07/2023

Thank you for supporting us!

24/06/2023

https://www.japanfestival.nl/en/program/

🥋14:50-15:00 KLM Karate Club [Karate demonstration]