From June 7 to 9, our three-day Karate Summer Camp took place in Lucerne – an intense, educational, and inspiring event with over 100 participants from all over Switzerland.

On the first day, the focus was on Kihon and basic Kumite. Toyama Sensei amazed everyone with his precision, speed, and power. The high level of instruction and learning was already clear from the very beginning.

Day two focused on competition Kumite in the morning and continued with the Kakuyoku series in the afternoon. Koike Sensei joined the camp, teaching Kumite to advanced students and Junro Katas to the lower belts. The day concluded with Dan and qualification exams, all of which were passed successfully.

On the third and final day, advanced students trained the Gojushiho series with Toyama Sensei, while Beat Sensei reviewed the Heian and Tekki Katas with the rest of the group. The grand finale was Toyama Sensei’s special training, offering one last burst of motivation and expert guidance.

It was truly an honor to welcome Toyama Sensei from Japan. His knowledge, experience, and teaching style deeply enriched and inspired us all.

A heartfelt thank you to all participants, Senseis, and helpers – this camp was a great success!

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Last Saturday, we held an intensive three-hour kata course with a total of 62 participants. Under the guidance of Koike Sensei, Beat Sensei, and Nadir Sensei, we trained various katas in the Heimbachhalle – both new ones and well-known ones. In addition to reviewing and refining techniques, we also focused on their application through Bunkai.

As always, the training was highly educational and engaging. Our members were able to gain a lot from it and further develop their kata skills. A big thank you to the Senseis for their valuable instruction and to all participants for their dedication!

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On December 7, 2024, our karate association held its final training session of the year, marking a fitting end to a successful year. The day began with a two-hour squad training session, where our athletes worked intensively on their techniques and skills. This was followed by a two-hour association training session led by our chief instructor Koike Yutaka Sensei.

It was inspiring to see so many members from different dojos come together to participate. The session not only offered an opportunity to train together but also strengthened the unity within our association.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all members and instructors who made 2024 a successful and memorable year. We look forward to 2025 with excitement, ready to achieve more together and continue developing our karate journey.

Between mid and late November, five members of our association had the unique opportunity to travel to Japan, attend the International Seminar, and train at the Honbu Dojo. Beat Frey, Matthias Fankhauser, Martin Jans, Romina Breu, and Nadir Affinito experienced unforgettable days filled with intensive training sessions, exciting challenges, and an atmosphere unlike any other.

Training at the Honbu Dojo is always a remarkable experience: being close to the roots of our martial art and learning directly from experienced masters makes every session unforgettable. Equally enriching is the exchange with karatekas from all over the world. It is always wonderful to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, building bonds that go beyond our shared passion.

A special congratulations goes to the following members, who successfully passed their exams during their stay:

Beat Frey: Judge B
Martin Jans: Instructor B
Nadir Affinito: Judge C

Well done on this outstanding achievement!

Our five members returned with countless new insights, inspiration, and a strengthened sense of community. The journey to Japan remains a cherished highlight – until next year in the Land of the Rising Sun!

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Last Saturday, a Kumite course took place in Lucerne, attracting a large number of participants from the youngest to the more experienced karatekas. Over the course of three hours, the training was led by Koike Sensei, Beat Sensei and Nadir Sensei who covered a wide range of topics. In addition to specific competition exercises, the focus was also on basic Kumite and self-defence techniques. The course was a fantastic opportunity to refine existing skills and gain new insights for personal development. It was a great success, and we would like to thank everyone who attended and made this day an unforgettable experience.

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JKS Switzerland had the great pleasure of participating in the Karate World Championship in Japan. This international tournament was the first opportunity for some of our participants to compete at such a high level – and that too in the birthplace of Karate.

Preparation and Experiences in Tokyo
Before focusing on the tournament, we took the opportunity to explore the beauties of Tokyo. Our members were impressed by the cultural highlights and the breathtaking architecture of the city. We also enjoyed the culinary delights that Japan has to offer, making our trip an unforgettable experience.

Seminar with Shihan and Exams
On Tuesday, a special seminar was held with the highly respected Kagawa Shihan. This day was not only educational but also inspiring for all participants. Following the seminar, exams were conducted, where our members showcased their skills.

We warmly congratulate the following for passing their exams:

Markus Grossen – Instructor D
Artyom Kulagin – Instructor D
Matteo Arcuri – Instructor D
Nadir Affinito – Instructor B

Individual Competitions and Achievements
The tournament officially began on Thursday with the individual competitions. A total of 37 nations with 720 members took part. In the kata events, our fighters faced tough competition, and unfortunately, all but one were eliminated. Artyom Kulagin managed to fight his way to 4th place in the 40-44 age category, just missing out on the medals.

However, we celebrated notable successes in Kumite. Matteo Arcuri secured the bronze medal in the 21-39 age category at -67kg, while Artyom Kulagin also won a bronze medal in the 40-44 age category.

Team Events and Further Successes
Friday featured the team events. Our men’s team delivered an outstanding performance in the 20 years and older category. Together with Ukraine, our team secured the bronze medal, behind the strong teams from Japan and England.

Conclusion
Participating in the Karate World Championship in Japan was a unique experience and an incredible adventure for all of us. We will always cherish the memories and impressions from this journey. We are proud of our members’ achievements and look forward to many more successes in the future.

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This year we had the pleasure of having Makita Sensei at our Summer Camp. From 10 – 12 May, he taught JKS Karate in its unique and precise form in the Bruchhalle in Lucerne. On the very first day, everyone realised how these three days would have gone. A lot of sweat and sore muscles were inevitable.

Makita Sensei organised the camp very well and started on the first day with a lot of Kihon (basic), which is the foundation of Karte-Do. He repeatedly incorporated strength exercises to prepare the body for the various exercises.

The second day was specifically focussed on tournament preparation. Both kata and kumite were practised intensively. Makita Sensei shared his experience and techniques with us to prepare us for upcoming competitions. His precision and speed were impressive and we all learnt a lot.

The third day was filled with kata: kashu and gojushiho-dai as well as kakuyoku-nidan. Makita Sensei guided us through the movements and explained the intricacies of each technique. His patience and commitment to our development was admirable.

The summer camp with Makita Sensei was an unforgettable experience for all participants. Thanks also to Koike Sensei, who was able to translate Makita Sensei’s thoughts, we learnt a lot. We are motivated to continue training hard and to keep improving. Makita Sensei has not only inspired us technically, but also personally. We look forward to further training together and are grateful for this valuable experience.

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On Sunday, 24.03.2024, the JKS Switzerland Association Championships took place again in Toffen, which we eagerly await every year. A total of 103 athletes from 7 different dojos competed to show off their skills and fight for the coveted titles. They were supported by an impressive number of over 30 dedicated helpers who actively contributed to the smooth organisation of the event on both Saturday and Sunday.

The high quality of the tournament was also ensured by the involvement of more than 15 referees, whose experience and expertise helped to make fair decisions and ensure that everything ran smoothly. There were no injuries, which underlines the care and training of the participants and the professional commitment of the organisers and helpers.

A particular highlight this year was the introduction of the new 50+ category, which met with a great response and was a complete success. It was pleasing to see how the experienced karateka also demonstrated their skills.

Not only the adult athletes, but also the youngest participants visibly enjoyed the competitions, and the tournament was accompanied by many smiling faces. The atmosphere was characterised by fairness, respect and mutual support, which reflects the values of karate.

Many thanks to the organising dojo Karate-Toffen under the direction of Matthias Fankhauser for this outstanding event. Their commitment helped to ensure that the association championship was once again an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. We are already looking forward to the next tournament.

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Our annual JKS Switzerland Kata course took place last Saturday. Over 30 enthusiastic participants attended and experienced a day full of intensity and training.

The katas were taught in three groups, with each group being taught katas appropriate to their level. Thanks to the expertise and experience of Beat Frey Sensei, Markus Weber Sensei and Nadir Affinito Sensei, the participants were able to learn and take away a lot.

A remarkable diversity from young talents to experienced fighters created a dynamic atmosphere. It was encouraging to see how all participants supported and motivated each other.

We would like to encourage all members to keep at it and repeat the katas they learnt regularly in the dojo to further improve their skills.

Below you can see the photos that were taken during the course.

If you would like to join us next time, keep an eye out for our announcements on our website (www.jks-switzerland.ch/events) for future events. It’s definitely worth it!

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