Over 550 martial arts practitioners, coaches, and instructors from 29 countries from all over the world gathered in the sea capital of Bulgaria, Varna, between 16 and 19 February.
Kyokushin legends from distant Japan arrived in Varna, especially for the camp and the SENSHI 15 fighting gala. The Last Samurai Shihan Akira Masuda and the knockout master Shihan Ryu Narushima. From Brazil flew Shihan Francisco Filho, Shihan Glaube Feitoza, and Sensei Andrews Nakahara – some of the most famous Kyokushin champions, who also have quite a few successes in kickboxing and MMA. For the first time, Sensei Everton Teixeira also arrived as an instructor at the camp.
K-1 stars Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts, and Shihan Semmy Schilt delighted us again with their presence and valuable training. Besides Albert Kraus, who is one of the favorites in Bulgaria, the instructors of the lightweight categories were joined by Andy Souwer.
The star names don’t end there. The Czech fighting machine Sensei Jan Soukup and the technical Sensei Yusuke Fujii from Japan, the Bulgarian World Kyokushin Champions Sensei Zahari Damyanov and Sensei Petar Martinov completed the list of instructors, which made this camp unique.
On the day of the fighting gala, a common training of all participants is always held, which is traditionally attended by Shihan Ivo Kamenov.
Shihan Kamenov was actively involved in training both in full contact and kickboxing. With his nearly 50 years of experience in combat sports, Shihan Ivo Kamenov always gives useful and valuable guidance to both fighters and instructors from the clubs.
The mood was uplifted and everyone interacted and shared experiences and techniques.
In the end, certificates were presented to the KWU SENSHI Shihans and Senseis, who also used the days to hold a Board meeting and outline a development plan for the young martial arts prospects.
What’s next for KWU SENSHI and the Professional League of the Kyokushin World Union is yet to be revealed, the preparations for the next galas and camps have begun and the organizers have more big surprises in the names of the instructors as well as the professional fighters who will take to the SENSHI ring.
