Karate (Goju Ryu)

Karate is a Japanese martial art with Chinese roots. It was developed on the Japanese island of Okinawa. The style of karate practiced at KenKon is Okinawa Goju-Ryu. Freely translated: ‘the hard-soft style’ of Okinawa.

Goju-ryu is a traditional style of karate where both effectiveness in situations of self-defence, as well as a positive contribution to physical and spiritual development play an important role.

The KenKon karate group is affiliated with the IOGKF-Netherlands and, through this, with the Karate-do Bond Nederland (KBN). The classes are predominantly taught by Sydney Leijenhorst, 7th Dan. Sydney Leijenhorst is, among other things, Chief Instructor of the IOGKF-Netherlands, coordinator of the Technical Committee of the IOGKF International, and a [former] instructor at various nationally recognized teacher training programs of the Karate-do Bond Nederland, FOG, and NCS. The beginner training on Mondays is provided by various black belts from the KenKon yudansha group. The introductory courses are currently led by Sensei Philip Nederkoorn, 3rd Dan, assisted by various black belts. The youth training is currently led by Carl Verboom, 3rd Dan, and Stern Flipsen, 1st Dan. In the absence of the instructors, a team of 20-plus black belts, from 1st to 6th Dan, takes over the lessons.

There is an elaborate training schedule, including classes for different levels, special classes for both children and people older than 35, and classes focussed on particular themes, such as sparring and Karate & Zen.