I-KARATE GLOBAL

Non profit organisation

Since 2007 Sensei Eric Bortels has given karate training at BuSO KIDS in Hasselt. (Special school for children with behavioral problems).

In 2009,  Sensei Eric Bortels also started a close collaboration with Bethanië Hasselt . Thanks to the support of the province of Limburg (Belgium) Eric now takes care of all I-sports days .At regular intervals,  Sensei Eric Bortels was asked to lead sessions in institutions , day care centres etc. .. And this for people with Down syndrome , mental retardation , wheelchair users , people with ASD

In early 2012 , Eric starts a collaboration with Dr Ilse Rayen , developmental pediatrician  and autism specialist. From this G-Karate Limburg started off.. (www.g-karate-vlaanderen.be). In March 2012 Eric started with his own small group of children with ASD between 8-11 years.

Mid-2012 's thanks to JKS Belgium, G-karate Limburg becomes G-Karate Flanders and became the main organization for I-karate in Flanders.

End of 2013, Sensei Eric Bortels got the call from Japan to set up a global organization to promote I-karate. Along with some volunteers from the world of karate, the medical and business sector IKF was founded.

In September 2018, an Erasmus + sport project IKONS was launched by the University of Rome and awarded to I-karate Global. This includes Eric his methodology applied to persons with Downs Syndrome. Five enthusiastic pilot countries are taking part: Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Romania and Austria. Two coaches per country have started teaching two training sessions every week to 12-15 students. A strict schedule, written by myself, of 80 training sessions over a whole year has to be followed. The project is running over 3 years and does scientific research of the effects and the applicability of karate for people with intellectual impairments.

In 2021 the results will be conveyed.

Sensei Eric Bortels (Hasselt 26-03-1966)

6th dan Shotokan karate (JKS)

Belgian-, European- & Worldchampion Karate

Founder & Sensei Gonosen Karate Academy.

Founder & Techinal director G-karate Vlaanderen.

Founder & Chairman I-Karate Global

Founder & Technical Director JKS Benelux.

Founder & Technical Director  ICP-move VZW

Responsible for the I karate of the Flemisch Karate Federation VKF