10th Shorinji Kempo European Taikai and WSKO Study Session

European Championship

Fifty-five embu pairs from six different countries will compete on Saturday, August 1, at the 10th Shorinji Kempo European Taikai in Berlin.

Watch our live stream on Saturday, August 1, from 09:30!

Embu is a choreographed performance in which two or more kenshi present a carefully scripted sequence of techniques. This form requires synchronization, precision, and a deep understanding between partners. Each embu is evaluated based on criteria such as coordination, technical accuracy, rhythm, and the expressive quality of the movements. Importantly, the concept of “winning” or “losing” does not exist in embu. Its purpose is to demonstrate cooperative excellence and martial harmony, making it deceptively complex and demanding.

Facts about embu

An official kumi embu consists of six kosei, or separate sequences, and lasts between 90 and 120 seconds. It is performed on a 7 x 7 meter court surrounded by a one-meter-wide border.

Four judges sit in each court’s corner and in front of the court the chief judge. Each judge can award up to 100 points, with a maximum of 60 points for technical performance and 40 points for general impression. The baseline is 80 points, with points added or deducted from there.

Categories and competitors

For the 10th European Taikai 2026 in Berlin, the following kumi embu categories were chosen:

Female – Kyu Kenshi (Court 1)

  • Aida, 2nd kyu, and Karole, 3rd kyu, from Italy
  • Matilde, 2nd kyu, and Irina, 2nd kyu, from Portugal
  • Sara, 2nd kyu, and Nicole, 2nd kyu, from Italy
  • Sara, 2nd kyu, and Paula, 2nd kyu, from Spain
  • Sophia, 4th kyu, and Marie-Sophie, 4th kyu, from Germany

Female – Yudansha (black belts, Court 2)

  • Madalena, 1st dan, and Angélica, 2nd dan, from Portugal
  • Astrid, 1st dan, and Thea, 1st dan, from Sweden
  • Inês, 2nd dan, and Daniela, 2nd dan, from Portugal
  • Lovisa, 4th dan, and Lotta, 4th dan, from Sweden

Male & Mixed – Kyu Kenshi (Court 2)

  • Sabine, 1st kyu, and Juan, 1st kyu, from Germany
  • Salvador, 1st kyu, and Moisés, 1st kyu, from Spain
  • Patricia, 1st kyu, and Immo, 1st kyu, from Germany
  • Lounès, 1st kyu, and Timad, 1st kyu, from France
  • Alessio, 2nd kyu, and Alessio, 1st kyu, from Italy
  • Curro, 2nd kyu, and Naiara, 3rd kyu, from Spain
  • José, 2nd kyu, and Zihui, 2nd kyu, from Spain
  • Juan Manuel, 2nd kyu, and Emilio, 2nd kyu, from Spain
  • Martim, 2nd kyu, and Sofia, 1st kyu, from Portugal
  • Pablo, 3rd kyu, and Mario, 2nd kyu, from Spain
  • Alexis, 3rd kyu, and Valentin, 4th kyu, from France
  • Anna, 4th kyu, and Gen, 5th kyu, from Germany

Male & Mixed – 1st & 2nd dan (black belts, Court 2)

  • Christer, 1st dan, and & Teo, 2nd dan, from Sweden
  • Javier, 1st dan, and Desirée, 1st dan, from Spain
  • Ana, 1st dan, and Martim, 1st dan, from Portugal
  • Mercedes Lian, 1st dan, and Moisés, 1st kyu, from Spain
  • Tiago, 1st dan, and Marco, 1st kyu, from Portugal
  • Manuel, 2nd dan, and Gonçalo, 1st dan, from Portugal
  • Massimo, 2nd dan, and Roberto, 2nd dan, from Italy
  • Tomás, 2nd dan, and Leonardo, 2nd dan, from Portugal
  • Lukas, 2nd dan, and Silas, 1st dan, from Germany
  • Bertrand, 2nd dan, and Sébastien, 2nd dan, from France
  • Emma, 2nd dan, and Mathis, 1st dan, from France

Male & Mixed – 3rd dan (black belts, Court 1)

  • Antonino, 3rd dan, and Melanie, 3rd dan, from Italy
  • Daniel, 2nd dan, and Julian, 3rd dan, from Germany
  • João, 3rd dan, and David, 3rd dan, from Portugal
  • Miguel, 3rd dan, and Rodrigo, 3rd dan, from Portugal
  • Riccardo, 3rd dan, and Marco, 3rd dan, from Italy
  • Edmund, 3rd dan, and Sven, 3rd dan, from Germany
  • Arnaud, 3rd dan, and Mickaël, 3rd dan, from France
  • Julien, 3rd dan, and Vincent, 3rd dan, from France
  • Giovanni, 3rd dan, and Giovanni, 3rd dan, from Italy

Male & Mixed – 4th dan and above (black belts, Court 1)

  • Alessandro, 4th dan, and Giulio, 4th dan, from Italy
  • Hanna, 4th dan, and Arnaud, 5th dan, from Sweden
  • Javier, 4th dan, and Rubén, 3rd dan, from Spain
  • João, 4th dan, and Francisco, 3rd dan, from Portugal
  • Mauro, 4th dan, and Nicolò, 3rd dan, from Italy
  • Nuno, 4th dan, and João, 3rd dan, from Portugal
  • Roberto, 4th dan, and Giacomo, 4th dan, from Italy
  • Nicolas, 4th dan, and Dennis, 3rd dan, from Germany
  • Cristina, 5th dan, and Carlos, 5th dan, from Portugal
  • Letizia, 5th dan, and Adriano, 4th dan, from Italy
  • Marco, 5th dan, and Massimiliano, 5th dan, from Italy
  • Bruno, 5th dan, and Julien, 4th dan, from France
  • Antonio Manuel, 6th dan, and Norberto, 5th dan, from Spain
  • Gabriele, 3rd dan, and Felice, 4th dan, from Italy

Live stream

The live stream starts on Saturday, August 1, from 09:30 in the morning.

Main stream and Court 1

Court 2