FRIDAY at 4 AM the team left Sneek to go to the International So-Kyokushin Summercamp in Gallipoli, Italy organized by Shihan Samuele Casto. Many many thanks to Shihan for organizing the seminar, we feel grateful to be a part of it!
After a long but good trip we arrived at the hotel. A quick change in dogi and on to the first training session. This weekend the seminar will be given by students of our Hanshi Oishi and Kyokushin icons: Senpai Naoto Kusakabe and Senpai Kai Ogasawara, from Japan. Both reigning champions in Kata and Kumite.
It’s truly an honor to be taught by these men. You can feel how well they have been trained by Hanshi and how much knowledge they have. It’s amazing we get to experience this legacy.
After a long but wonderful day, we went to bed. Already excited for what’s to come tomorrow! OSU!!!!
SATURDAY
We started the day by a run to the beach, the Kyokushin way. A really beautiful place, the energy was immaculate. We had a very nice training and then ran back to the hotel for some breakfast.
In the second and third training we were treated with a big variety of skill training. Ido geiko, kata, kumite. And Senpai Naoto and Senpai Kai gave kata demonstrations… WOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!! We have never seen it like this, it’s truly amazing. If you have any love for karate, you would be just as excited as we are!! Hanshi Oishi is a true kata legend. You can see it in his students.
To close off the day we had a really nice and luxurious dinner at the sayonara party. It was a good ending of a very inspiring and memorable day, here in Gallipoli. OSU!!!
SUNDAY
Already the last day of the So-Kyokushin Summer Camp ‘25 in Italy.
The day started of with a good breakfast and then the last training of the camp. Time flies when you’re having fun, is an understatement. Oh man, we feel like sponges. Soaking up all that senpai Naoto and senpai Kai give us. We feel so so honored to be part of Sosai Oyama’s legacy, through Hanshi Oishi. And we feel grateful that they and sensei Marty took a chance on us and traveled all the way here to share it with us. ARIGATO GOZAIMASU!!!
A special thanks to Shihan Casto, who organized this special seminar. It’s amazing to meet all of the branch chiefs and students of So-Kyokushin, come together to share our passion. Shihan Casto made us all a home, to be a family in. So Shihan, thank you so much from the bottom of our heart for your hospitality and giving us a warm home in Italy. We hope to see you soon in Holland. OSU!!!
