Polish team at the Annual ITKF International Training Summer Camp in San Diego

For 40 time in history did the ITKF International Training Summer Camp take place at the University of California, San Diego La Jolla, California, USA. Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama held the first Summer Camp in 1963 and from that date on, annually, there arrive traditional karate coaches and judges from over the world.

In the current-year-seminar there took part groups from 13 countries: Argentina, Canada, Czech Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Greece, Israel, Japan, Poland, Romania, Sri Lanka, Yugoslavia, USA. Polish team (this year there went: Wlodzimierz Kwiecinski 6 Dan, Wojciech Kaminski 4 Dan, Radoslaw Olczyk 3 Dan, Janusz Pieczka 3 Dan and Janusz Kawalko – press agent of Traditional Karate Federation of Poland) has participated in the Summer Camp in San Diego for 14 time.

Presentation of the basic method and rules of traditional karate training was the major technical subject of the seminar. During the camp Sensei Nishiyama presented new “Alternate Kumite Rules” (KO-GO Kumite). They develop current Kumite rules with strong pressure on the function of MIKIRI, MA-AI, strategy and timing. The new rules give the Kumite competitors possibility to avoid dangers while encouraging participation in Kumite competition. For spectators they create interest when, within the short time period of Kumite match, rules and point scoring are easily understood. Finally, they establish clear connection between Kumite competition and the Budo aspect.

In San Diego there were held ITKF Board of Directors Meeting as well as ITKF Technical Committee Meeting, during which the approaching Traditional Karate World Cup (11 October 2003, Warsaw-Poland) was discussed over. Moreover, dr Vladimir Jorga held Medical Clinic on the following subjects: High Performance Nutrition (diets and supplements for the competitive athlete), Nutrition for Recreational Karate Athletes, Medical Rules of ITKF and Eye Injuries in Karate (prevention and therapy).

The seminar traditionally finished with International Goodwill Tournament, during which the new Kumite rules (KO-GO Kumite) has been introduced.