IAF Junior Seminar 2026
- Jul 1
- 1 min read
By Robert Yates: Junior Representative to the IAF for the BAF
On the last weekend in June I attended the 2026 IAF youth seminar in Nice led by Hino shihan and attended by approximately eighty children and assisted by 30 adults . One of the participants was our own Larissa from Manchester who did well to practice in every class despite the temperature rising to 36c .
Hino sensei gave a master class ukemi and posture which involved moving from one
to the other keeping the body relaxed without losing your balance or connection with your partner.
On the Sunday each country performed in the embukai and they all gave a great account of themselves and their instructors must have been extremely proud of them, Larissa did brilliantly and even more so because she was the only one on her own although she had a really good uki from Latvia .
I have made enquiries to hold the 2027 Youth seminar in the UK and although nothing is certain yet, I would ask you all if you teach children to give serious consideration to making the effort to encourage yourself and them to attend.
The rewards of children training with a Hombu shihan and making lifelong friends from all over Europe is an opportunity not to be missed, there is also an early opportunity for them to train with Kanazawa Sensei at this years summer school, even one day would be great for them.
