Committee
Member

Shihan Loek Hollander
8th Dan, The Netherlands
IKO International Committee Regional Representative, Europe & Africa

In 1962, the young Loek Hollander began training Kyokushin Karate in Holland. He had already extensive free hand fighting and weaponry experience from his years in the Military Academy and later as munitions combat Instructor for the Dutch Army Air Force.

Sosai Mas Oyama awarded Loek Hollander his Sho Dan in 1965. The same year, the Holland National Kyokushin Organization was formally established and Shihan Loek opened his first Dojo in Rotterdam, Holland, which has since flourished to become a state-of-the-art Kyokushin training hall, and one of the most recognized fitness centers in Europe.

In 1968, Sosai charged Shihan Loek with the structuring and commencement of the first ever, regional Kyokushin organization, the European Kyokushin Karate Organization (EKKO) and Shihan Loek traveled extensively promoting the Kyokushin way. As he describes, "In Europe, the west is more affluent then the east, but the spirit of Kyokushin does not differentiate. We are a united group that goes beyond nationalism. "For several years, Shihan taught "underground" in Eastern Europe in many nations where the practice of karate was strictly forbidden. Sosai consequently named Shihan Loek Chairman of the EKKO, to which he served for over twenty years, creating and administering the bylaws and the extensive student membership records for what is now one of the largest regional organizations of the IKO outside of Japan.

Shihan Loek has initiated, conducted and overseen scores of national and international camps, seminars and tournaments worldwide including both the prestigious European Championships and renowned West European Summer Camp and was permitted the rare opportunity to challenge the Hundred-Man-Kumite in 1967 at Honbu Dojo.

Soon after Sosai Mas Oyama's passing, the International Committee was established and Kancho Shokei Matsui entrusted Shihan Loek with regional representation for the European and African nations to which he serves today. In 1999, Kancho Matsui honored Shihan Loek with the rank of 8th Dan, making him one of the highest-ranking members of the IKO Kyokushinkaikan.