2024 Annual Review – A year full of fight­ing spirit and com­mu­nity at Shinzen Dojo Berlin

Das Jahr 2024 war für das Shinzen Dojo Berlin ein bedeutendes Jahr voller Wachstum, Gemeinschaft und beeindruckender Erlebnisse. Als ein Dojo, das der Philosophy des Kyokushin Karate folgt, haben wir Disziplin, Stärke und Gemeinschaft gelebt. Lassen Sie uns gemeinsam auf ein Jahr voller Höhepunkte zurückblicken!

January – A new begin­ning with new faces

At the start of the year, the dojo filled with many new members who wanted to discover Kyokushin Karate for themselves. As a vibrant metropolis, Berlin attracts many people looking to try something new. For many, Shinzen Dojo Berlin was the first point of contact to integrate karate into their lives. Together, we started the year with fresh energy and a clear vision.

Febru­ary – A month full of inno­va­tions

Der Februar brachte große Veränderungen: Senpai Paul Kniep organisierte in Leipzig ein Spezialtraining, an dem Senpai Son, Senpai Choi und Senpai Harald teilnahmen. Gleichzeitig eröffnete Senpai Choijantsan in Berlin-Schöneberg einen Children's karate-Kurs, der sich an Kinder ab fünf Jahren richtete. So konnten bereits die Jüngsten erste Schritte im Kyokushin Karate machen und die Werte unserer Kampfkunst erleben.

March – Con­sis­tency in trai­ning

Im März konzentrierten wir uns auf die kontinuierliche Weiterentwicklung unserer Techniken. Der Fokus lag auf Kihon, Kata und Kumite – den Grundpfeilern des Kyokushin Karate. „Fortschritt ist das Ergebnis harter Arbeit und Geduld“, sagte Sosai Mas Oyama, und genau das war unsere Devise in diesem Monat.

April – Inter­na­tio­nal expe­ri­ence and hono­u­ra­ble exami­na­ti­ons

Yusuf El-Madani represented Shinzen Dojo Berlin at the 2nd All Japan Championships. Although he was knocked out in the first fight, participating in this prestigious tournament was a valuable experience. Senpai Son also assisted with a Dan examination at the legendary Honbu Dojo of our world federation, IKO World Zen-Kyokushin. Afterwards, inspiring conversations took place with the daughter of Sosai Mas Oyama about the future of Kyokushin Karate.

Mai – Achie­ve­ments beim Bran­den­burg Cup

At the Brandenburg Cup in Müncheberg, our students proved their skills. Mazen, Lennart, and Arne successfully represented Shinzen Dojo Berlin in the adult competitions. Particularly outstanding was Julius, who shone in both Kata and Kumite in the children's competitions. This month showed how strong and diverse our dojo is.

June – Con­ti­nuity and respon­si­bi­lity

June was characterised by discipline and continuity. While there were no extraordinary highlights, our Senpais increasingly took on responsibility and led the training. This consistency is the foundation upon which our progress is built.

July – A special bir­th­day

In July, we celebrated the 101st birthday of Sosai Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate. With over 25 students in one training session, this month was marked by impressive participation. It was a moment in which we could especially feel our community and the values of our dojo.

August – Euro­pean Summer Camp in Poland

The 2nd European Summer Camp in Wasosz, Poland, was an outstanding event. Organised by Sensei Jaroslaw Remus, participants from Finland, Romania, and Germany came together. We are especially proud of the successes of our members: Christian Rhode passed his 1st Dan, Mewes his 2nd green belt, and Senpai Julya Frolova was promoted to brown belt. These days strengthened not only our techniques but also our international community.

Sep­tem­ber – A special occa­sion

In September, we experienced a unique event: our member Andy got married and invited several students and Senpais to his wedding. As a highlight, he performed an impressive wedding kata. This event showed how karate comrades can become close friends.

October – The strength of our Senpais

In October, the focus was on the expertise of our Senpais, who regularly led training sessions and passed on their knowledge. Their dedication to the dojo and to our students is a central component of our community.

Novem­ber – A special anni­ver­sary

November was marked by our 5-year anniversary. Together with almost 80 members, friends, and acquaintances, we celebrated this milestone. Another highlight was the special training by Shihan Yoshihiko Nakahata, one of the students of Sosai Mas Oyama. This honour highlighted our dojo's deep connection to the roots of Kyokushin Karate.

Decem­ber – A strong finish

The year ended with a large Kyu examination in which over 30 students participated. At the year-end training session, we looked back on the achievements of the year and set the vision for 2025.

Outlook for 2025 – Growing tog­e­ther, fight­ing tog­e­ther

2024 has shown what is possible when we combine discipline, community, and dedication. With this strength, we look to 2025 with full confidence.

“The path is endless, but the spirit of Kyokushin remains unshakeable” – let us continue this path together.

Osu!