The landmark 20th International Martial Arts Summer Camp got off to a dynamic start early this morning near Varna, Bulgaria, where it will take place from July 5 to 12. Bringing together more than 1,600 participants from 49 countries, the anniversary edition once again establishes the camp as one of the largest international martial arts gatherings in the world.
Over the course of the week, hundreds of athletes, instructors, and some of the greatest masters and legends in martial arts will train together, exchanging knowledge and experience across a variety of martial arts disciplines and combat sports.
The camp officially began with a large-scale outdoor morning training session, followed by a special welcome address from KWU SENSHI President Shihan Akira Masuda.
“This summer camp is not just about training. It is a place where people from different countries come together, learn from one another, and build friendships through martial arts.”
Speaking about his expectations for this year’s edition, he added:
“I hope we can unite all our efforts to make this a great camp—an even better one than last year. We also have the Kyokushin World Cup Varna ahead of us. I wish all participants the very best of success and hope they will perform at their highest level.”
The first Kyokushin karate training session began promptly at 7:00 a.m., immediately followed by the opening K-1 session. Participants had the unique opportunity to train side by side with some of the world’s most renowned martial arts masters, who will be sharing their knowledge and expertise throughout the entire week.
The kickboxing and K-1 sessions are led by world-renowned legends of the sport, including Shihan Semmy Schilt, Ernesto Hoost, Albert Kraus, Andy Souwer, Shihan Sam Greco, Ray Sefo and Nicolas Pettas.
Leading the Kyokushin training program are some of the most respected figures in international martial arts: Shihan Akira Masuda (Japan), Shihan Francisco Filho (Brazil), Shihan Ryu Narushima (Japan), Shihan Glaube Feitosa (Brazil), Sensei Ewerton Teixeira (Brazil), Sensei Tariel Nikolеishvili (Georgia), Sensei Andrews Nakahara (Brazil), Sensei Jan Soukup (Czech Republic), Sensei Yusuke Fujii (Japan), together with Bulgaria’s Kyokushin champions Shihan Asen Asenov, Sensei Zahari Damyanov, and Sensei Petar Martinov.
The camp’s daily program includes two Karate Kyokushin and K-1 training sessions, as well as specialized Iaido masterclasses and refereeing seminars aimed at further improving the qualifications of coaches, referees, and competitors.
Preparations are also in full swing for the upcoming Kyokushin World Cup “Varna”, which will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, July 7, and will welcome 435 competitors from 25 countries, making it one of the most prestigious international Kyokushin tournaments for young athletes.
