Kyokushin Fight Academy Strengthens International Sporting Ties Between the Netherlands and Spain

SPIJKENISSE, THE NETHERLANDS – From 14 to 18 October 2026, the Kyokushin Fight Academy in Spijkenisse welcomed a special international collaboration. Spanish world champion Alba Copel, accompanied by her parents, paid a five-day visit to the Dutch karate academy. The visit forms part of a broader initiative led by founder Vijay Nanhoe, who aims to connect athletes, instructors, and karate organisations from different countries through his international KFA Global Team.

From International Competitions to Lasting Friendships

The initiative has its roots in the international sporting career of Vijay Nanhoe, founder and head instructor of Kyokushin Fight Academy in Spijkenisse. As a six-time Dutch champion, three-time European champion, and Kyokushin Karate World Vice-Champion, Nanhoe has competed in numerous international championships throughout the years.

These competitions gave rise not only to sporting rivalries but also to meaningful friendships with karate practitioners from different countries. What began as encounters on the competition mat gradually developed into an international network of athletes and instructors united by a shared passion.

Nanhoe decided to bring these connections together through the KFA Global Team, an international initiative centred on knowledge exchange, collaboration, and personal development. The team includes karate practitioners from countries such as Spain, Poland, Romania, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Japan. Despite their different backgrounds, they share the same belief: karate is more than a competitive sport. It is a way to bring people together, overcome boundaries, and learn from one another.

"During international championships, you meet people who are initially your opponents. But outside the competition mat, you discover that you share the same passion, discipline, and ambitions. These encounters have led to valuable friendships. Through the Global Team, we want to strengthen these connections and share our knowledge with one another," Nanhoe explains.

Spanish World Champion Visits Spijkenisse

An important first step in this international collaboration took place from 14 to 18 October, when Spanish world champion Alba Copel visited the Netherlands together with her parents. Over the course of five days, Copel conducted various training sessions for children, teenagers, adults, and instructors at Kyokushin Fight Academy. The programme focused not only on improving technical skills but also on exploring different training methods and gaining insight into the Spanish approach to Kyokushin karate.

Her parents, who have played an important role in her development as a karate athlete, also shared their experiences and knowledge with the Dutch instructors.

For the academy's members, the visit provided a unique opportunity to learn directly from a world champion and her family without having to travel abroad.

Beyond the sporting programme, there was also time for personal interaction and cultural exchange. The Spanish guests explored the Netherlands, visiting Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague.

According to Nanhoe, it is precisely this combination of sport and personal connection that forms the foundation of sustainable international cooperation.

Learning From One Another, Regardless of Nationality or Level

Through the Global Team, Kyokushin Fight Academy aims to create an environment in which athletes and instructors continuously inspire one another.

According to Nanhoe, every country has its own training culture, methods, and strengths. By bringing these different perspectives together, beginners, experienced competitors, and instructors alike can continue developing their skills.

"We do not all have to practise karate in exactly the same way. It is precisely our differences that make the exchange so valuable. An instructor from Spain may teach us something that we approach differently in the Netherlands, while we can share our own experiences in return. What matters most is that we remain open-minded and willing to keep learning."

Through this philosophy, the academy also hopes to convey an important message to younger generations: international sport is not solely about winning medals, but also about respect, friendship, and cooperation.

A First Step Towards an International Sporting Network

Kyokushin Fight Academy considers the visit of Alba Copel and her family an important first step towards a more structured partnership between the Netherlands and Spain.

However, its ambitions extend much further.

Over the coming years, Nanhoe aims to develop the Global Team into an international network in which karate organisations, instructors, and athletes regularly come together.

Potential initiatives include joint training camps, international seminars, youth exchange programmes, and visits from international instructors. The academy also intends to create more opportunities for Dutch athletes to train abroad and gain valuable international experience.

Ultimately, the collaboration should become a two-way exchange: not only welcoming international champions to Spijkenisse, but also sharing Dutch expertise, instructors, and emerging talent with karate organisations around the world.

For a local sports organisation based in Spijkenisse, this represents an ambitious development. Yet according to Nanhoe, meaningful international cooperation begins with maintaining strong personal relationships.

"You do not always have to start big to build something meaningful. Sometimes international cooperation begins with a friendship, an invitation, and the willingness to support one another. If we continue strengthening these connections, they can lead to wonderful initiatives in the future."

Connecting the World From Spijkenisse

Since its establishment in 2020, Kyokushin Fight Academy has grown into a thriving sports organisation with more than 300 members.

Alongside competitive karate, the academy focuses on grassroots participation, youth development, and making karate accessible to people of different ages and backgrounds.

Through the Global Team, the organisation is now adding an international dimension to its activities.

Its ambition is to increasingly establish Spijkenisse as a meeting point where athletes from different countries come together to exchange knowledge, experiences, and cultures.

According to the academy, the visit of Alba Copel and her family demonstrates how international friendships can develop into meaningful partnerships that also have a positive impact at the local level.

What began as friendships between karate practitioners at international tournaments is gradually evolving into a cross-border sporting network.

With one shared objective: not only to develop better karate athletes, but above all to bring people and cultures closer together.

Kyokushin Fight Academy – Spijkenisse, The Netherlands