European Kendo Federation

The European Kendo Federation (EKF) is the overall organization for the Japanese martial arts Kendo, Jodo and Iaido in Europe. The EKF is the member of the International Kendo Federation responsible for the European zone.

European kendo championships have been held since 1974, with the first taking place in England. The European championship is held every year, except in those years in which there is a world championship (these occur every 3 years).

Member Countries

The following is a partial list of countries that are members of the EFK.

*Austria The [http://kendo.nwy.at/ Austrian Kendo Association] was founded in 1985.
*Belgium Kendo is promoted by the A.B.K.F., [http://www.kendo.be/ All Belgium Kendo Federation] in Belgium.
*Croatia Kendo is promoted by the H.K.S., [http://www.kendo.hr/ Hrvatski Kendo Savez] in Croatia.
*Czech Republic Kendo is promoted by the C.K.F., [http://www.czech-kendo.cz/index.php?english=1 Czech Kendo Federation] in Czech Republic.
*Denmark [http://www.kendo.dk/ Danish Kendo Federation] (Dansk Kendo Forbund,DKF)
*Finland Kendo is promoted by the [http://www.kendoliitto.net/ Finnish Kendo Association] in Finland.
*France After the end of World War II, many masters of "kendo" visited France and introduced "kendo" in the 1950s. The first French "kendo" championship was held in 1959. France is the current (2007) European champion. [http://www.cnkendo-da.com/ Comité National de Kendo]
*Germany [http://www.dkenb.de/ Deutscher Kendobund e.V]
*Hungary Kendo is promoted by the [http://www.kendo.hu/ Hungarian Kendo Federation] (HKF) in Hungary.
*Italy Kendo is promoted by the C.I.K., [http://www.kendo-cik.it/ Confederazione Italiana Kendo] .
*Ireland Kendo is promoted by Kendo Na h-Éireann, [http://www.irishkendofederation.org/ Irish Kendo Federation] .
*Lithuania Kendo is promoted by Lithuanian Kendo Association
*Luxembourg [http://www.kendo.lu/ Shobukai Kendo Luxembourg (SKL)]
*Macedonia Kendo is promoted by the [http://www.kendo.org.mk/ Macedonian Kendo - Iaido Federation (MKIF)]
*Malta Kendo is promoted by the [http://www.farmhousecooking.com/main/knights.shtml?s=D5D9F6FC-7D7212135908-62E3/ Knights of Malta Kendo Club] in Malta which is affiliated to the Kodokan UK and the British Kendo Association.
*Netherlands Kendo is promoted by the NKR, [http://www.nkr.nl/ Dutch Kendo Renmei] .
*Poland Kendo is promoted by [http://www.kendo.pl/ Polish Kendo Federation] .
*Portugal Kendo is promoted by [http://www.kendo.pt/ Associação Portuguesa de Kendo (APK)] , which is affiliated with the European Kendo Federation and the International Kendo Federation.
*Russia Kendo is promoted by [http://www.kendo-russia.ru/ Russian Kendo Federation] .
*Serbia Kendo is promoted by the [http://www.kendo-serbia.org.yu/ Serbian Kendo Federation] in Serbia.
*Slovakia Kendo is promoted by the [http://www.kendo.sk/ Slovenská kendo federácia] in Slovak republic.
*Spain Kendo is promoted by the [http://www.rfejudo.com/ Real Federacion Española de Judo y Deportes Asociados] in Spain.
*Sweden Kendo is promoted by the kendo section of the [http://www.budokampsport.se/kendo/ Swedish Budo & Martial Arts Federation] .
*Switzerland The [http://www.kendo.ch/ Swiss Kendo & Iaido SJV/ASJ] was founded in 1967.
*Turkey Kendo is promoted by [http://www.kendo-tr.com/ Turkish Kendo Association] in Turkey, [http://www.ankarakendoiaido.org/ Ankara Kendo Iaido Association] in Ankara, [http://www.istanbulkendo/ Istanbul Kendo Club] in Istanbul. A community site [http://www.kendo-turkiye.com/ Kendo-Turkiye] represents Turkish Kenshi.
*United Kingdom Kendo was introduced to the UK by R.A. Lidstone (a western fencing master). The organisation that promotes Kendo in the UK, the British Kendo Association, which is affiliated with the International Kendo Federation.

External links

* [http://www.ekf-eu.com/ekf.htm Official web site]