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

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!

“We Are One” III Virtual Kata Tournament – Results And Video

USA-IFK hosted the 3rd “We Are One” Virtual Kata Tournament and here are the results and short video compilation with a few international participants:

A compilation of some of the amazing katas performed at the "We Are One" III, Virtual Kata Tournament.The USA-IFKK extends its gratitude and a Big Osu to all...

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

41st British Open 2017 incorp. 9th Cup of Europe - Results

Results of the 41st British Open 2017 have been announced and can be found here...

View fullsize

Full results can be found here including replay of the live stream.

The 1st Full Contact Karate Camp - history in the making

The 1st Full Contact Karate Camp, open to all participants of contact karate, was held in Ostende Belgium 5-7 June, and organised by Shihan Keon Spitaels and Shihan Gilbert Cleveringa of WKO Shinkyokushin.

The Camp had over 400 karateka from 19 different countries and was supported by the IFK from Poland, Ireland, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland, UK and Belgium.

Other countires included: USA - CANADA - NORWAY - POLAND - DENMARK - SWEDEN - LITHUANIA - IRELAND - THE NETHERLANDS - FRANCE - GERMANY - SWISS - AUSTRIA - SPAIN - JAPAN - LUXEMBOURG - UK - ROMANIA - BELGIUM

The Camp instructors were:

Shihan Kenji Midori - President WKO Shinkyokushin

Shihan David Pickthall - Vice President IFK

Shihan Dave Jonkers - Head of AIKO Ashihara

Shihan Koen Spitaels - Belgium WKO Representative

Shihan Jan Bulow - Danish WKO Representative

Shihan Semmy Schilt - multi time K-1 Champion AIKO Ashihara

Sensei Jonathan Tineo - multi time Champion Spanish All Japan Union (Rengokai)

Shihan Lu Eekhaut - Belgium All Japan Union Representative

Shihan Gilbert Cleveringa - Dutch WKO Representative

Shihan Jesus Talan - Spanish WKO Representative

Remigiusz Kapinski - Polish WKO Representative

Many other Shihans were in attendance including IFK Swiss CR Shihan Eddy Gabathuler, Shihan Koi and Sensei Watanabe from Japan, EKO President Shihan Koen Scharrenburg and the grading panel of EKO Shinkyokushin.

USA-IFKK Knockdown Title Champions

The 2014 American International Karate champioships were held in Rochester, NY on the 20th September.  World Champions from IFK Russia attended and gained strong wins in the Heavy and Superheavy weight Men's titles.

Title belts were awarded to all champions and invited to return to defend their titles.

Men’s Lightweight Novice

1st     Jose Balardo, Oklahoma City, OK, USA

2nd Chris Smith, Rochester, NY, USA

3rd  Alex Paoli, Florence, KY, USA

Women’s Lightweight

1st   Myriam El Harrif, St. Jean, QC, Canada

2nd Bovin Anick, Montreal, Canada

Women’s Middleweight

1st     Jordan LeRoux, Gauteng, South Africa

2nd Gabriella Cayouetta, Pierrefends, QC, Canada

Women’s Heavyweight

1st    Jackie Porter, Hilton, NY, USA

2nd Audrey-Rose Charlebois, Pierrefends, QC, Canada

3rd Melissa Cousineau, St. Jean, QC, Canada

3rd Samantha Marrocco, Hamlin, NY, USA

Men’s Lightweight

1st    Ehsan Afshari, Meza, AZ, USA

2nd Benjamin Vasquez, Geneva, NY, USA

Men’s Middleweight

1st   Samuel Bate, Becconsfield, QC, Canada

2nd Lorinc Zord, Greenwood, NY, USA

3rd Christopher Farhat, Columbus, OH, USA

Men’s Heavyweight

1st   Dmitry Savelyev,St. Petersburg, Russia

2nd Michael Cordeiro, Pierrefends, QC, Canada

Men’s Super Heavyweight

1st   Aleksei Gorokhov, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

2nd Kamil Maras, Hazlet, NJ, USA