On the last weekend of January, an international koryu seminar of Tamiya-ryu was held in the capital city of Romania, led by the main representative of Tamiya International for Europe, Patrik Demuynck sensei. This exceptional event attracted practitioners from across Europe, from Belgium, France, Spain, and Slovakia, as well as from the more distant Jordan. Of course, Romanian representatives were also present, creating a great atmosphere throughout the entire weekend.
The seminar took place in a large sports hall that had hosted the European Basketball Championships a few years ago. The venue itself gave the event a special dimension. The organization was of a very high standard, everything ran literally like clockwork, for which great thanks go to the organizers.
The program was both intensive and inspiring. The first day focused on the first series of the Tamiya-ryu school Omote no Maki. Emphasis was placed on technical precision, proper timing, and understanding the context of each kata. Our teacher, Marián, was invited to demonstrate each kata in front of all participants. Together with his teacher, Patrik sensei, they then presented the riai of each kata in detail, enriching the training with a deeper understanding of the school’s principles.
Sunday was dedicated to the full series of Koran no Maki, which tested both the physical endurance and mental concentration of all participants. The intensity of the training was high, yet the determination and shared spirit of the practitioners created a strong and motivating atmosphere.
The seminar was not only an opportunity to refine technique, but also to meet friends, exchange experiences, and strengthen international relationships within our school. We thank Marián sensei for representing our dojo and already look forward to future joint trainings and international meeting in Belgium!
