OUR HISTORY
The club was founded in 2015 by Christer Farstad, who had his karate background from Tønsberg Karate Club in the 1980s.
Christer collaborated with Andor Szell, a highly merited JKA (Japan Karate Association) athlete from Hungary, who became the main instructor in the club's first years.
The club established a successful partnership with Ippon Judo Club in Bekkestua, and they welcomed participants to their first training session in Ippon's dojo at Nadderudhallen on August 20, 2015.
The first mini-group started in September 2015, which became very popular and has been a continuing offering of the club.
From February 12-14, 2016, they held their first Gasshuku, a training camp, in collaboration with Oslo Budokwai, Stange Karate Club, and Sandefjord Karate Club. During this event, members took their first exam with Sensei José dos Santos, who was then the head coach for the JKA Norway national team.
By summer, the club grew to over 50 members, leading them to look for a larger training facility. They found the IL Tyrving club house in Kadettangen, Sandvika, which became their new main dojo from August 15, 2016. They also retained Nadderudhallen, where Sensei Ulf Laurang assisted in teaching mini and junior groups.
In the spring of 2017, the club surpassed 100 members.
A significant milestone for the club was the arrival of a new instructor, Sensei Annicken Cornell, under whom the club continued to develop a broad and strong instructor capacity.
This led to a steady growth in membership, and in 2020, the club secured a permanent home in Gjønneshallen. Despite challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020/21, the club maintained its membership base.
In 2022 - 2023, the club experienced strong progress with continual growth in membership. They are particularly proud of their performance in competitions, winning their first national champions in 2022 and continuing with more medals in 2023. This was also the year they sent their first athletes to compete abroad. Competitive athletes received excellent coaching through participation in regional teams and the club's own Elite Group.
We also remember with great respect Ulf Laurang, one of the club's instructors and early members, who passed away on November 1st, 2023. His dedication and contributions to the club will never be forgotten.
In 2024, the club distinguished itself with several significant achievements. On April 20th, José dos Santos sensei attained the rank of 7th dan JKA during a grading in Okinawa, a milestone that reflects both his personal dedication and the club's high level. In the same year, the club's head instructor, Anicken Cornell, graded to 5th dan JKA.
Practitioners from BSK also began to make their mark in competitions at the international level. Yuniar Ninda Fjeldberg secured two European Championship gold medals in team kumite, both in the JKA EM and ESKA EM, while Nora Elise Wathing achieved an impressive 5th place in kumite at the World Championships in Japan in the 12-13 year old class.
The club has also hosted several important events. In April 2024, we organized the JKA Cup, and in June of the same year, we organized a successful gasshuku (training camp) for the whole of Shotokan Norway. The collaboration with our sponsors – HTH, BeCuriou, Tripol, and Ocean Consulting – has also strengthened the club's resources and opportunities for further development.
Socially, the club has in recent years placed great emphasis on building a strong community through various events and a solid spirit of volunteerism. This has contributed to an inclusive environment where all members feel welcome. The club had 164 active members at the beginning of 2025.
What a year 2024 was for us!