June 22 - 24, 2007
Shorinji Kempo European Taikai "Italia 2007"

WSKO President So receiving certificate from the city of Norcia

Shorinji Kempo European Taikai "Italia 2007" was held in Norcia, Italy, for three days from June 22 to 24, 2007, attended by Yuuki So, President of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization.

Participants in each country group marching into the central square of Norcia at the opening ceremony

The participants of the event was more than 600 from 13 countries, namely, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, U.K., Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Swiss, Russia, Ukraine, Argentine, and Japan.

Participants expressing "soen" at the opening ceremony

The Taikai was the biggest festivity in Europe, started with the opening ceremony held in the evening of June 22, closing with the closing ceremony in the evening of June 24. During this three day event, there were embu Taikai, practice session, as well as other evening activities to promote friendship.

The city of Norcia, the event site, is a summer resort with beautiful stone pavement surrounded by castle walls, and three hour's drive from Rome. Through the efforts of the Italian Federation, the Taikai was fully cooperated by the city of Norcia. The central square of the city was used for the opening and closing ceremonies.

Collected contributions during the Taikai were donated to the "Sol Mansi" a group supporting African countries in need.

WSKO President So giving an address at the opening of the taikai

Spanish kenshi presenting flamenco at the closing ceremony

European Taikai Result

Kyu Kenshi
1- Ronconi Filippo & Goffredo Emanuele (Roma Nord, Italy)
2- Bernard Sebastien & Gelard Yann (Vallet, France)
3- Lozano Roldan Juan Antonio & Gutierrez Amador & Ruiz Moreno Jose Luis (Shokema, Spain)

Women's Kyu Kenshi
1- Tidona Serena & Comunale Clarissa (Messina, Italy)
2 - Ferreira Andreia Gaspar & Coelho Sara Cristina (Salvaterra de Magos, Portugal)
3 - Rylander Ylva & Akerman Katarina (Stockholm Sodra, Sweden)

Man & Woman Kyu Kenshi
1 - Alberici Jessica & Graziani Lorenzo (Milano Ovest, Italy)
2 - Prokopova Liliya & Kobets Valeriy (Moscow, Russia)
3 - Melgarejo Paez Esther & Padial Zamorano David (Shokema, Spain)

1st Dan
1 - Karibyan Valeriy & Kramar Alexander (Moscow, Russia)
2 - Piron Marco & Anghileri Riccardo (Milano Sud, Italy)
3 - Sofronov Alexander & Totskiy Andrei (Moscow, Russia)

2nd Dan
1 - Minervini Silvio & Bonfiglio Massimiliano & Di Carlo Federico (Roma, Italy)
2 - Canovai Diego & Scuderi Stefano (Roma, Italy)
3 - Totaro Carmelo & Sidoti Adriano (Messina, Italy)

3rd Dan
1 - Marchetti Marco & Fazio Massimiliano (Messina, Italy)
2 - Juhel Frederic & Denmat Didier (Vallet, France)
3 - Labriola Vincenzo (Roma, Italy) & Vietri Francesco (Roma Nord, Italy)

4th Dan & Above
1 - Anscombre Frederic (La Clef, France) & Camp Didier (Viry Chatillon, France)
2 - Rokytskyy Oleksiy & Hamakawa Makoto (Moscow, Russia)
3 - Rossi Massimiliano & Perna Dario (Roma Eur, Italy)

Women's 1st Dan
1 - Gugliandolo Marina & Munao Francesca (Messina, Italy)
2 - Wersall Lotta & Svedberg Hanna (Stockholm Sodra, Sweden)
3 - Arpi Lisa & Sefton Malin (Karlstad Studenter, Sweden)

Women's 2nd Dan & Above
1 - Johnson Lovisa & Hildebrand Anna (Stockholm Sodra, Sweden)
2 - Sculli Letizia (Messina Torrenova, Italy) & Zucco Angela (Messina, Italy)
3 - Zevola Sabrina & Rossi Francesca (Firenze, Italy)

Man & Women Dan Holders
1 - Carrico Cristina & Henriques Carlos (Oriental, Portugal)
2 - Cucumazzo Beatrice & Corsini Alessandro (Milano Sud, Italy)
3 - Monteiro Nuno Miguel & Monteiro Ana Sofia (Salvaterra de Magos, Portugal)


(pictures below were contributed by Laurent Espeso)

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