The final course 2025 of DTSKF on December 6–7, 2025, in Berlin.
It was to be a very special course, and so it proved. The DTSKF (ITKF-Germany) invited Sensei Harri Hämäläinen 8th Dan from Helsinki, Finland, to Berlin for the end-of-year course. Sensei Michael Bock established the contacts and there was a lively exchange of emails in the run-up to the course. The aim was not only to enrich the knowledge of the DTSKF, but also to grow the ITKF family.
“… such good karate was 40 years ago.”
Our training sessions began on Saturday, December 6, 2025. More than 200 students attended the course and were divided into groups. However, these groups had to be divided again in order to maintain quality. Sensei Hämäläinen was overwhelmed by the discipline and respect shown to him. All trainers can take pride in this. He said that the last time he had seen such good karate was 40 years ago, which was a very big compliment.
In addition to Finland (represented by Sensei Harri Hämäläinen), there were representatives from Bulgaria (Anton Staykov), Germany (Kurt Fischer-Weiherig), and the Order: Federation of Autonomous Priories of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, represented by Michael Bock as Deputy Minister of Sport and Chief Instructor of the DTSKF.
From Germany, four clubs from Berlin and Brandenburg belonging to the Association for Traditional Karate. Sensei Hämäläinen taught the basic training to the students in a very authentic and friendly manner and was repeatedly impressed by their discipline and respect.
The second day of training was similar to the first, with Sensei Harri focusing on footwork, foot placement, and quick, correct weight transfer to reach the target quickly. The course ended to loud applause, and that was just the beginning of a long friendship.