{"id":1506,"date":"2025-01-15T22:33:28","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T21:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nagibel.com\/?page_id=1506"},"modified":"2025-01-15T22:33:28","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T21:33:28","slug":"8-th-world-naginata-championship","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/nagibel.com\/index.php\/8-th-world-naginata-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"8 th World Naginata Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

by Thomas Vandenkerckhoven<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This summer, the 8th World Naginata Championship was held in Boulder, marking the second time I participated in this prestigious event. The five years between championships, due to the pandemic, provided ample time for training. However, as a new dad since last year, finding time to practice was challenging, but I managed to train once a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While it wasn\u2019t my first visit to the U.S., it was my first time in Denver, nestled between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. Traveling from Europe was a significant journey, involving two flights to the U.S. and three on the return trip. Initially, the championship seemed ill-fated as most of the Belgian team lost their checked baggage, including our bogu and naginatas. Fortunately, we received our bogu on Thursday and our naginatas on Friday, just in time for the detailed naginata check. It felt like a race against time to get everything sorted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The University of Colorado Boulder campus, where we stayed and competed, was vast and easy to get lost in but also beautiful and well-equipped, especially the sports center. Although the dormitory rooms were a bit warm for the season, they were still comfortable enough to sleep in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between sightseeing and training sessions, the big day arrived quickly. I competed only in the men\u2019s team event, making the morning nerve-wracking until my match began. The Belgian team triumphed first against New Zealand and then against France, with close matches against the French team. Ultimately, we were defeated by the Japanese team, but it was an enlightening experience. Fighting against a Japanese competitor for the first time, I was struck by their speed and precision. This encounter made me realize I still have much to learn, but it was highly inspiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Overall, the championship was well-organized and timely, though a bit more time between competitions and avoiding simultaneous finals on the two shiai-jo would have been preferable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next day, the pressure was off for me but not for everyone, as it was the friendship tournament. Three people from our dojo competed, and one of them, Jeremy, won the men\u2019s competition\u2014congratulations to him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the competitions, we had a seminar where I aimed for my sandan. We trained for three days with Yochii Sensei, who was fantastic (thanks to our group\u2019s translators). The seminar\u2019s only downside was the crowded hall, allowing only half or a third of our group to practice at any given time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the third day of the seminar, I finally achieved my sandan, which was a huge relief (the commands made me especially nervous). With that, my holidays could truly begin on a positive note!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to extend my gratitude to all my senseis (they know who they are) and practice partners from the dojo\u2014none of this would have been possible without them. I also thank everyone I practiced and interacted with during the competition and seminar. A special thank you goes to my special someone who was always there supporting me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the end, this trip was an incredible naginata and personal experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

by Thomas Vandenkerckhoven<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This summer, the 8th World Naginata Championship was held in Boulder, marking the second time I participated in this prestigious event. The five years between championships, due to the pandemic, provided ample time for training. However, as a new dad since last year, finding time to practice was challenging, but I managed to train once a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While it wasn\u2019t my first visit to the U.S., it was my first time in Denver, nestled between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. Traveling from Europe was a significant journey, involving two flights to the U.S. and three on the return trip. Initially, the championship seemed ill-fated as most of the Belgian team lost their checked baggage, including our bogu and naginatas. Fortunately, we received our bogu on Thursday and our naginatas on Friday, just in time for the detailed naginata check. It felt like a race against time to get everything sorted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The University of Colorado Boulder campus, where we stayed and competed, was vast and easy to get lost in but also beautiful and well-equipped, especially the sports center. Although the dormitory rooms were a bit warm for the season, they were still comfortable enough to sleep in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between sightseeing and training sessions, the big day arrived quickly. I competed only in the men\u2019s team event, making the morning nerve-wracking until my match began. The Belgian team triumphed first against New Zealand and then against France, with close matches against the French team. Ultimately, we were defeated by the Japanese team, but it was an enlightening experience. Fighting against a Japanese competitor for the first time, I was struck by their speed and precision. This encounter made me realize I still have much to learn, but it was highly inspiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Overall, the championship was well-organized and timely, though a bit more time between competitions and avoiding simultaneous finals on the two shiai-jo would have been preferable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next day, the pressure was off for me but not for everyone, as it was the friendship tournament. Three people from our dojo competed, and one of them, Jeremy, won the men\u2019s competition\u2014congratulations to him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the competitions, we had a seminar where I aimed for my sandan. We trained for three days with Yochii Sensei, who was fantastic (thanks to our group\u2019s translators). The seminar\u2019s only downside was the crowded hall, allowing only half or a third of our group to practice at any given time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the third day of the seminar, I finally achieved my sandan, which was a huge relief (the commands made me especially nervous). With that, my holidays could truly begin on a positive note!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to extend my gratitude to all my senseis (they know who they are) and practice partners from the dojo\u2014none of this would have been possible without them. I also thank everyone I practiced and interacted with during the competition and seminar. A special thank you goes to my special someone who was always there supporting me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the end, this trip was an incredible naginata and personal experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Thomas Vandenkerckhoven This summer, the 8th World Naginata Championship was held in Boulder, marking the second time I participated in this prestigious event. The five years between championships, due to the pandemic, provided ample time for training. However, as Continue reading 8 th World Naginata Championship<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/nagibel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1506"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/nagibel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/nagibel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nagibel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nagibel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1506"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/nagibel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1506\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1507,"href":"http:\/\/nagibel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1506\/revisions\/1507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/nagibel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}