2017 Kaizen Danish Open Karate tournament
In the weekend 30. September and 1. October, the annual international Kaizen Danish Open karate tournament took place in Kolding, Denmark for the sixth time. The event is held over two days, with Cadets, Juniors and Seniors on the Saturday and children from 8 – 13 on the Sunday.
Organizer is the Itosu Ryu club in Kolding, Kaizen Karate Do, specifically Mrs. Merete Katborg. Merete is an executive committee member of the Danish Karate Federation, where she is responsible for competitions and the Danish National Championships.
Kaizen Danish Open is supported by the Danish federation, and attracts competitors from Denmark, Germany, Austria, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and Switzerland, and in the future hopefully all of Europe. We maintain a high standard of referees inviting continental (EKF)and international (WKF) licensed referees from the UK, The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany to make sure that the quality is in place.
This year we had more than 430 entries in the tournament comprising both Kata and Kumite, individual as well as team divisions. This year we also had a special treat for the spectators as the Danish National Kata Team (Exclusively with Itosu Kai practitioners from Sensei Tejs’ Dojo) performed at a show bout with a team from the Kata development center West. The team performed a strong Anan with a spectacular bunkai performance.
All three Danish Itosu Ryu clubs were competing and all did well; out of 38 competing clubs Itosu Kai Dragoer (Sensei Tejs) ranked third on the medal table and Kaizen Karate Do (Sensei Henrik) ranked 6th, Bosatsu (Sensei Michael and Sensei Anders) did not bring that many competitors but still ranked 16th!
Most of the Danish National Team bearing clubs participated, and the event was operated in a friendly and smooth atmosphere. Please enjoy the photos; Kaizen Danish Open is always held at the venue where the 2021 International Itosu Kai championships will be held.
We look forward to seeing you all in Kolding, Denmark. Maybe next year at the 2018 Kaizen Danish Open?
Opening Ceremony
Sensei Michael (the chief instructor of Denmark) and Sensei Tejs (Danish National Team Coach)
The tournament results