Report on the 2nd IBSSA World Martial Arts Championships and Festival 15 - 19 November 2002, Riga, Latvia

Prof. George POPPER, GCKM (HUN)Executive President of IBSSA was invited as special guest by Dr. Eriks GRINBERGS (LAT) - Head of the Organising - Committee of the 2nd IBSSA World Martial Arts Championships and Festival, which was held between 15 - 19 November 2002 in Riga, Latvia. Numerous IBSSA leaders and other high officials were also present and the occasion was used for meetings and discussions.

Attendees

• Prof. George POPPER, GCKM (HUN) Executive President of IBSSA
• Prof. Giacomo Spartaco BERTOLETTI, KM (ITA) 1st Vice-President of IBSSA, President of World Ju Jitsu Kobudo Organisation (WJJKO), Vice-President of International Budo Academy
• Dr. Rony KLUGER, KM (ISR) General Secretary of IBSSA, Dean of International Budo Academy, Head of the Israeli System of Military Self Defense KRAV MAGA
• Prof. Robert CLARK (GBR) Honorary Member of IBSSA, Vice President of IBSSA International Sport Federation, Country Representative of IBSSA for Great Britain
• Dr. Paul G. HÖGLUND (SWE) Honorary Member of IBSSA, Member of the Executive Committee of IBSSA, Chairman of Quality Control Department
• Mr. Pham Xuan TONG (FRA) Honorary member of IBSSA
• Dr. Constantin BUZATU, KCM (ROM) 2nd Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of IBSSA, Security expert, Country Representative of IBSSA for Romania
• Mrs. Anna POPPER (HUN) Member of the Executive Committee of IBSSA, Chairman of Event Management and Protocol Department
• Dr. Eric R. Van de WALL (NED) Member of EC of IBSSA, Country Representative of IBSSA for the Netherlands, Chairman of Medical Department
• Mr. Victor PETOUKHOV (RUS) Member of EC of IBSSA, International Coordinator of IBSSA for CIS, Chairman of Fund Raising Department
• Mr. Roberto De RONZI (ITA) Member of Antiterrorist Department, IBSSA Master Teacher
• Mr. Stephen CHEE (SIN) Country Representative of IBSSA for Singapore
• Mr. Genadij SEIBUTIS (LAT) Country Representative of IBSSA for Latvia, Member of VIP Protection and Security Department of IBSSA
• Mr. Vladislav KIRILOVSKIY (LAT) Regional Representative of IBSSA for Baltic Republics
• Mr. Tonino TROTTA (ITA) Regional Representative of IBSSA for Lombardia
• Mr. Roberto VISMARA (ITA) Regional Representative of IBSSA for Lombardia, General Secretary of World Union of Qwan Ki Do
• Mr. Liviu GORGONETU (ROM) Regional Representative of IBSSA for South Romania, President of the Romanian Ju Jitsu Federation
• Dr. Miroslav FRIEDRISHEK (CZE) Delegation
• Mr. Michal POLCAK (CZE) Delegation from the Czech Republic
• Mrs. Veronique SANTAROSSA (ITA) IBSSA Instructor
• Mr. Arnis SHAURINSH (LAT) Martial Arts expert, General Secretary of Latvian Goju-ryu Karate Fed.
• Mr. Frank PHILIPOOM (NED) Full member of IBSSA
• Mr. Auvo NIINIKETO (FIN) Full member of IBSSA

The 2nd IBSSA World Martial Arts Championships and Festival was a great success and a very professional event highlighted by clinics run by famous high ranked Masters. The Festival included Karate do, Ju-Jitsu, Kata (separated to styles), Kobudo Kata competitions and traditional and free demonstrations. More than 40 groups (national and international federations) were present at the Festival, representing 20 countries of 3 continents of the world.

Program of the Festival

Prior to the competitions an Official reception was held for IBSSA leaders given by the Mayor of Riga City together with a Press Conference on the 15th November 2002 (Friday) at 1.00 PM at the City Hall with active participation of the Local Press and TV representatives.

After the reception and press conference at 4.00 PM the Opening Ceremony of the Festival took place in the Congress Hall with Martial Arts and Bodyguard show with the participation of 40 different groups (20 national sport federations and 20 international groups of IBSSA). The Congress Hall was full of spectators, invited guests, high-ranking officials, representatives of the press and TV stations. The Opening Ceremony and demonstrations ended with a Banquet - opened to everybody. It was a great occasion for masters, managers and competitors to stay together and get acquainted with each other.

On the 16th November 2002 (Saturday) at Kipsala Hall took place the Karate Championships. The event started with the Kata competitions and was followed by the Kumite with the participation of more than 40 national and international sport federations. During the Championships at the left side of Kipsala Hall high-level Masters Seminars and Ju Jitsu Training Seminar (by Soke Robert CLARK (GBR), M° Giacomo S. BERTOLETTI (ITA), Master Teacher of Self Defence and Martial Arts, Instructors Seniors Ju Jitsu: Mr. Roberto DE RONZI) were held with the active participation of about 50 people per each seminar.

At 4.00 PM took place the Kata and Kumite finals continuously with Medal ceremony for winners of senior categories. IBSSA officials and high-ranking leaders handed over the medals and cups to the winners. Each contestant of the 2nd IBSSA World Martial Arts Championships and Festival - who participated at the Karate competition and filled out the registration form - and also attendees of the masters training seminars, received an IBSSA Participation Diploma.

At the end of the competitions there was a real show with Martial Arts, Self defence and Bodyguard demonstrations of all the disciplines, with the participation of approximately 40 different groups (20 local and 20 IBSSA), masters and international guests in order to make the Closing Ceremony a spectacular and fascinating event.

IBSSA demonstrations

1. Mr. Márk MÉSZÁROS (HUN) - Shotokan Kata and Iaido demo
2. Israeli Team (Dean: Dr. Rony KLUGER) - Karate Do
3. Mr. Roberto De RONZI (ITA) and Mr. Jaaks KABRITS (EST) - Ju Jitsu
4. Mr. Pham Xuan TONG (FRA) - Qwan Ki Do

International Team

• Dr. Rony KLUGER (ISR)
• Mr. Roberto De RONZI (ITA)
• Mr. Stephen CHEE (SIN)
• Mr. Attila MISKOLCZI (HUN)
• Mr. Jaaks KABRITS (EST) - Self defence and Krav Maga

The Festival finished with the regards of Dr. Eriks GRINBERGS - Chairman of Legal Department of IBSSA and Head of the Organising Committee.

On the 17th November 2002 (Sunday) at 3.00 PM the Opening conference of IBSSA Latvia representation office was held in Hotel Riga. Prof. George POPPER - Executive President of IBSSA and Dr. Dace GRINBERGA - Lawyer signed a contract in order to establish officially IBSSA Latvia Representation Office in the Baltic Region and especially in Riga.

Dr. Rony KLUGER and Prof. Giacomo Spartaco BERTOLETTI reported about the successful 2nd IBSSA World Martial Arts Championships and Festival. After the thorough information Dr. Paul H ÖGLUND reported briefly about new activities and future plans of the Quality Control and Testing Department of IBSSA. The Czech delegation handed over the speech of Dr. Alexandr CACH - Country Representative of IBSSA for Czech Republic, who couldn't participate at the Festival due to other circumstances. (Speech - Annex 1)

Prof. George POPPER gave information on the meetings and discussions with World Anticriminal and Antiterrorist Forum (WAAF) and with VIMPEL, that IBSSA will start collaboration with these organisations and Cooperation contracts will be signed in the near future. The Executive President considered these meetings very successful and asked the present leader of VIMPEL to make his speech. Mr. Victor Nikolajevics KIM - Vice President of "Vimpel", who was present at the Championships and other official events as well, introduced and gave brief information about "Vimpel". Mr. Kim expressed his intentions again, that "Vimpel" would like to start cooperation with IBSSA and to create business partnership with the Members of IBSSA.

On the 18th November 2002 (Monday) at 10.00 AM the IBSSA Board of Directors held its meeting to discuss all general matters concerning IBSSA International Sport Federation (ISF) in order to re-establish the Federation (creating new committees) and to appoint new leaders. The Board also made the evaluation of the 2nd IBSSA World Martial Arts Championships and Festival and discussed the dates and subjects of the forthcoming events of IBSSA.

After the Board meeting the IBSSA leaders had discussions with the Czech delegation, with Mr. Jaaks KABRITS from Estonia and with other officials of IBSSA from Romania, the Netherlands, Sweden, Russia etc.

Prof. George POPPER expressed his congratulation and special thanks to Dr. Eriks GRINBERGS - Head of the Organising Committee for the successful organization of this event.

20th November 2002, Budapest
IBSSA HQ