IFK USA Summer camp 2022

The USA-IFK held their annual summer camp from July 21st to 24th, led by Shihan David Pickthall, President of the IFK (7th Dan)

On July 21st the Summer Camp began at Gray Wolf Martial Arts in Holley, NY before transitioning to Fighting Spirit Karate in Gardiner, NY for the remaining three days.

Shihan David led a total of 11 training sessions, including Kihon, Kata, and Kumite. Around 75 different participants from 4 Countries attended the camp over the four days of training including Shihan Michael Monaco, USA-IFK President & IFK Board Member (8th Dan).

Camp ended with Dan Grading where 16 candidates from 3 countries successfully passed for the following grades:

Sandan:
Sensei Michael Brotchie (UK)
Sensei Mike Thireos (USA)
Sensei Jack Welsh (USA)

Nidan:
Senpai Reggie Gold (USA)
Senpai Tuari Schenker (USA)
Senpai Lisa Cook (USA)
Senpai Kaitlyn Cook (USA)
Senpai Wojtek Arentewicz (USA)
Senpai Dae'Shaun Moore (USA)

Shodan:
Senpai Benjamin Shannon (USA)
Senpai Asher Rosen (USA)
Senpai Lyric Schenker (USA)
Senpai Jack Dunphy (USA)
Senpai McDarren Paschal (USA)
Senpai Brian Marchena (ARUBA)
Senpai Richa Rai (USA)

The USA-IFK would Like to Thank Shihan David, Shihan Monaco, the Entire IFK Organization, and USA-IFK Staff for making this year's camp a possibility.

Shihan David Pickthall Zoom

Shihan David Pickthall Autograph

Photos by USA-IFKK, Bill Steward and Tom Dunphy

IFK Canada Seminar and Testing

During two very hot days with temperatures reaching up to 37C, karateka from four dojos trained hard outdoors and indoors as well. We had participants from CKMA Vaughan and Barrie, Geminos Dojo, and Mississauga Kyokushin Dojo. In total, we had 40 participants in all ranks, from white belts to black belts.

The seminar covered all aspects of Kyokushin Karate: basics, forms, and fighting.

There were 16 karatekas who successfully tested for their new ranks and belts, including two new black belts from CKMA Vaughan Dojo.

The candidates for the black belt had to fight 20 consecutive fights and they were pushed to their limits!

In the end, everyone had a good time, learned a lot, and was happy to be able to train together during these difficult times.

We are hoping to have an even better and bigger seminar next year!

Keep up the Kyokushin Spirit!

Osu!

USA IFK Summer Camp 2021

The USA IFK Summer Camp was held 16-18 July with around 100 students participating over the weekend. Unfortunately due to US Covid restrictions our President Shihan David was unable to attend so IFK leader Shihan Mike Monaco stepped in to direct the camp with the help of Sensei Kamil Maras and Sensei Claibourne Henry

Message from USA Chairman Shihan Sean Schenker:

Osu!

Having had a few days to reflect on the incredible training camp & celebration of our Kyokushin spirit, I first wanted to extend a huge Thank You to Shihan Monaco for his leadership, vision, and guidance. We are truly so very lucky to share our path with him, and we appreciate every moment we get to learn from his wisdom & experience.

I want to thank all the incredible Shihan, Sensei, and Sempai that traveled near and far to be here to train & participate. Your support, enthusiasm, and skill are unmatched & are the very fabric of what our organization is built upon.

Next, to the Kohai that attended with an open heart and open mind to enhance their skill, improve their spirit, and continue the path of self-improvement, YOU truly are the heart and soul of the USA IFK - you are the future.

We appreciate you - we see you - we have immense gratitude for your efforts and courage.

IFK USA Summer Camp 2021 - Registration

Official Invitation/Registration:

USA IFK Training Camp with the IFK President, Shihan David Pickthall

Dates: July 15-18, 2021

To USA-IFK Instructors, Students, Dojos, Fight Affiliates & Martial Arts Enthusiasts:

We are excited to announce the Official USA-IFK 2021 Summer Training Camp with featured guest, IFK President Shihan David Pickthall (7th Dan) from July 15-18, 2021! This is going to be a once in a life-time event as we celebrate our collective survival and spirit, moving out of the pandemic, and into the future and beyond!

You don't want to miss all the action!

-Camp is Open to All Skill Levels (Youth Ages 12 - Adult)

-Camp is LIMITED to first 100 registrants!

-REGISTER HERE:

https://www.uskyokushin.com

IFK USA held Organization meeting (video)

USA IFK State had their Organization meeting last night with nearly 50 USA IFK dojos, affiliates & students from across the USA joining in.

Senpai Reggie Gold put together video footage to showcase the year we had. Osu!

IFK Canada General Meeting

Sensei Steve Fogarasi shared the news on social media:

Sunday, February 28th the IFK Canada General Meeting was held on Zoom. We had dojo leaders and senior rank holders in participation from Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta and we reviewed our activities in 2020, the current situation in our organization, and also our strategies for 2021 and 2022.

It has been a very challenging past year and we are not out of hard times just yet, but with the joint effort we will survive, recover and strive.

Thank you to all dojo leaders for the continuous effort and hard work.

- Shihan Real Gagnon

- Shihan Gaetan Sauve

- Sensei Mikhail Zimmerman

- Sensei Jonathan Hemond

- Sensei Pascal Hemond

- Sensei Jean-Francois Verreault

- Senpai Oleg Vainstein

- Senpai Scott Heaney

- Senpai Ralph Laroche

Looking forward to our next training or meeting, in-person or online.

Respectfully,

Sensei Steve Fogarasi

IFK Canada President

Senpai Mici Fogarasi

IFK Canada Secretary General

1st IFK Americas Virtual Kata Tournament report

The 1st. IFK Americas Virtual Kata Tournament was held on July 4-5, 2020. 31 competitors from 8 countries accepted the challenge of showing their best katas in four divisions, Brown Belts under 18, Brown Belts adults, Black Belts males, and Black Belts females.

With the whole world paralyzed, our organization has shown we can continue working as a team; and that competitors have found the time and space to keep training hard no matter what.

Final results of the Tournament:

Black belt females

1st place - Fatemeh A. Ganjouie - IFK Canada

2nd place - Maite De León -  IFK  Uruguay

3rd place - Noelia Fabre –   IFK  Uruguay

Black belt males

1st place - Jerónimo Romero -  IFK  Argentina

2nd place - Dave Sheets –  IFK  USA

3rd place - Santiago Mosco -  IFK  Uruguay

Brown belt U18

1st place - Elijah Pullmann –   IFK  USA

2nd place - Kyla Van -  IFK  Canada

3rd place - Deshaun Moore -  IFK  USA

Brown belt adults

1st place - Claudia López -  IFK  Uruguay

2nd place - Jonhathan Funez -  IFK  Uruguay

3rd place - Douglas Kondo –  IFK  Brazil

Referees: Shihan Mike Monaco, Shihan Julio Romero, Sensei Steve Fogarasi, Sensei Jeovaldo Barreto, Sensei Germán Carballo.

Participating countries: Argentina, Brazil,  Canada, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, USA, and Venezuela. 

Organized by: IFK Uruguay - www.ifk-uruguay.com

Message from the IFK Board

Dear IFK family,

At this challenging time, where we are all faced with differing levels of adversity, it seems an appropriate
opportunity to pause and reflect – a moment to evaluate many areas of our lives and how we live them.

During these unprecedented times, like all families, we shall be at some point, close to, or directly
impacted, by the tragic nature that surrounds the COVID pandemic. It is during these times that we can
draw on the spirit of our Kyokushin upbringing and apply Mas Oyma’s principles – not least of all, that
‘introspection begets wisdom’. We may also draw on the Kyokushin principles of ‘patience, endurance
and perseverance’.

Many IFK countries, have in their lifetime, experienced natural disasters and war – their spirit and resolve
has ensured their survival and enabled them to gather and rebuild. This epidemic is a very serious crisis
for us all, a ‘new’ normal will eventually ensue and we shall move forward. It is without doubt that our
life, including karate, will be shaped and influenced by these current times - we will need to adapt in order
to progress.

The IFK Board are standing firm with you all in this time of difficulty and we are trying to offer support,
wherever possible, to our Country Representatives, their instructors and students. Obviously national
and international events have been suspended but we are confident that eventually we will continue our
work in promoting Kyokushin Karate under the IFK banner.

We thank you all for your continued support and hard work at many levels – take care and be safe.

Liam Keaveney (7th Dan)
For and on behalf of the IFK Board
28th April 2020

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Shidoshi Sean Schenker Named "USA-IFK Chairman of the Board"

Shihan Michael Monaco (8th Dan) recently announced the next "USA-IFK Chairman of the Board"! Shidoshi Sean Schenker has humbly accepted this new position as of January 1st, 2020.

Earlier this week Shihan Monaco released a letter-writing " It gives me great pleasure to announce Shidoshi Sean Schenker as "USA-IFK Chairman of the Board" beginning Jan 1st, 2020. Shidoshi Schenker comes to us with over 35 years in Martial Arts.  He is a long-time practitioner of many arts including Kyokushin Karate with many years of training with the legendary Soshu Shigeru Oyama, Sensei Frank Clark and Shihan Mike Skinner. In this new role growing and developing the "Next Generation" USA-IFK Organization, he will be working closely with Sensei Dave Sheets (USA-IFK Technical Director) and the USA-IFK Strategy Team to achieve their goals and mission for the organization."

 Shidoshi Schenker not only has many years of learning and living the way of martial arts but also has dedicated himself to teaching others. His martial arts dojo Fighting Spirit Karate (FSK) has thrived with over 250 students located Gardiner, NY. Through hard work and dedication, he assembled a team of elite Coaches and Semi-Contact Teen Fighters to bring home the gold from the 2019 British Open held in London. Many of us have also had the pleasure of attending his annual tournament "The Battle on the Boardwalk" in Atlantic City. This tournament was a great success last year and is promising to be even better this year!

 When accepting his new position, Shidoshi Schenker expressed "I am deeply humbled, honored and grateful to have been asked to move into this new leadership position within the IFK. First, a sincere and humble "Thank You" to Shihan Monaco, Shihan David Pickthall, Hanshi Arneil and all of the USA-IFK dojos and IFK Fight Affiliate dojos for their belief and endorsement of me. " Shidoshi Sean Shencker further states "To say this is a life's dream is simply an understatement. The IFK is an extension of my past and my present, and I am thrilled for the opportunities it will provide students and people of Budo everywhere, both on and off the mat."

We are all looking forward to 2020 and the promise of growth for the USA-IFK and Kyokushin as a whole! OSU!

 Source: uskyokushin.com