Report on the Official opening ceremony of IBA in the Netherlands between 23 - 25 January 2005

International Budo Academy (IBA) - the official Educational Institute partner of IBSSA - opened its activities officially in the Netherlands under the leadership of Dr. Frank PHILIPOOM - General Secretary of IBSSA International Sport Federation (ISF).

The event was celebrated with a fine blend of three events:

1. Special Instructors promotion course of Wado Ryu Karate Do with the legendary Tatsuo SUZUKI Sensei
2. Introduction course of Krav Maga, specially designed for Karate Instructors with Dr. Rony KLUGER, Head Master
3. Official Award ceremony of IBA

IBA awarded Tatsuo SUZUKI the degree of "Doctor of Philosophy - Budo" and Dr. Suzuki joined officially the International Budo Academy as Associated Professor

The event was well attended by representatives and Instructors of Belgium, England, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Northern Ireland, Israel and of course our hosts Holland. The course participants were all Senior Karate Instructors. It was a great event, which was organised and run very smooth and in a most friendly atmosphere by Dr Frank PHILIPOOM, our man in the Netherlands.

The official ceremony gave the well-deserved honour to Master Tatsuo Suzuki the most senior living student of The Founder of Wado Ryu Karate-do Grandmaster Hironori Otshuka (1892-1982). The award ceremony was highlighted and run by His Excellency Dr. Eric van de WALL, KCM - Chairman of the IBSSA Board of Directors and Minister of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem Knights of Malta, Dr. Rony KLUGER, KM - Dean of IBA, General Secretary of IBSSA and of course by Dr. Frank PHILIPOOM, KM - Head of IBA Chamber in the Netherlands, General Secretary of IBSSA - ISF.

IBA and IBSSA ISF will continue its activities in the Netherlands. During March 2005 the first official Krav Maga Instructors’ course will be run and the second IBA award ceremony will take place in the Country.

31st January 2005
IBSSA HQ