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From July 6 to 13, the sports complex in Kamchia, near Varna, Bulgaria, will host the grand 19th edition of the International Summer Martial Arts Camp, bringing together the elite of martial arts from around the world once again. Among the leading instructors this year are some of the most renowned names in the world of Japanese martial arts: Jukucho Shihan Kenichi Osada and Shihan Kiyotaka Kato in Kudo, and Soke Masanori Ogawa in the art of samurai swordsmanship – Iaido.

The International Summer Camp will feature intensive Kudo training sessions – a hybrid martial art that combines techniques from karate, judo, and MMA. Participants in the Kudo sessions will have the opportunity to learn directly from champions Shihan Kenichi Osada and Shihan Kiyotaka Kato.

Jukucho Shihan Kenichi Osada, 7th Dan in Kudo, is the President of the International Kudo Federation (KIF) and a multiple-time Japanese champion – both in the open category (1985, 1986, 1989, 1992) and in weight divisions (1984, 1987, 1989), known by the nickname The Hitman. As the head of the KIF, he plays a pivotal role in the global dissemination of Kudo, blending technical mastery with profound philosophical insights in his teachings.

Shihan Kiyotaka Kato, 5th Dan in Kudo and a Class A international judge with KIF, is the only fighter to have won the Japanese national championship in four different weight categories. He is a Kudo World Champion (UKF) in the super lightweight division and a WMTF welterweight champion. As a coach, Shihan Kato has trained multiple All-Japan champions and elite professionals from around the world.

Legendary Dutch fighter Shihan Semmy Schilt and Brazilian master Sensei Andrews Nakahara will also share their invaluable experience in Kudo training sessions with camp participants who have come from all over the world to Bulgaria to learn from these star instructors.

Another renowned Japanese master, Soke Masanori Ogawa, is coming especially to Bulgaria in July to teach campers specialized techniques and skills in the martial art of Iaido. Shihan Asen Asenov will also actively participate as an instructor in the Iaido sessions, showcasing the expertise of the Bulgarian school at the international camp.

Soke Masanori Ogawa is the founder of Arakimunisairyu Ogawa Dojo and a successor to centuries-old Japanese martial traditions. He began training at the age of one and became a teacher by 15. A multiple-time national champion, he is a master of the sword, naginata, yari, and kenbu. As Shihan Shigindo, he preserves both the martial and cultural aspects of the art, sharing Iai Hyōhō with the world.

With the presence of these outstanding Japanese masters as instructors in Kudo and Iaido, the international camp in Kamchia stands out as a leading platform for refining martial arts skills, sharing knowledge, and building a global martial arts community. The training sessions will cover various disciplines and offer participants of all ages and skill levels the chance to experience both traditional and modern martial arts under the guidance of world-class masters.