The traditional grading examination for promotion to higher Kyu and Dan grades took place on 11 July, the final day of the XX International Martial Arts Summer Camp in Varna (Bulgaria). A total of 358 participants successfully completed the examination, earning grades ranging from 9th Kyu to 4th Dan.
The largest group consisted of 72 karate practitioners who earned 9th Kyu, followed by 60 participants who achieved 7th Kyu. A total of 337 participants earned Kyu grades, while another 21 achieved new Dan grades. Thirteen karate practitioners earned 1st Dan, four achieved 2nd Dan, three earned 3rd Dan, and the highest grade awarded during the examination—4th Dan—was successfully achieved by Nadezhda Petrova Petrova from Split Karate Club in Varna.
Among the participants was Ihor Khobot from KWU SENSHI Czechia, part of the organization led by Sensei Jan Soukup. He successfully earned his 1st Dan, adding an international presence to the large-scale grading examination.
The examination committee included Shihan Akira Masuda, Shihan Francisco Filho, Shihan Ryu Narushima, Shihan Asen Asenov, Sensei Zahari Damyanov, Sensei Yusuke Fujii and Sensei Tariel Nikoleishvili. They were joined by other distinguished Shihans, Senseis and Kyokushin champions, who carefully evaluated the performance of the candidates.
The grading examination for promotion to higher Kyu and Dan grades is traditionally held as part of the closing programme of the International Summer Camp. After several days of intensive training, the participants had the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, technical preparation, physical endurance and fighting spirit.
The successful performance of 358 karate practitioners representing dozens of clubs once again demonstrated the high standard of preparation and the continued development of Kyokushin in Bulgaria and throughout the international KWU SENSHI community.
