Leo Van Bortel Sensei started to practice karate in 1973. After a switch from Kyokushinkai to Goju karate he received his 1st Dan in 1977 from Hanshi Gogen Yamaguchi and validated his belt in 1978 for the Belgian Karate Association. As off 1988 , Leo Van Bortel Sensei is a member of J.K.F. Goju Kai.
Within Belgium, Leo Van Bortel Sensei is :
This is Leo Van Bortel's definition of the current Karate:
"It is the martial art where EAST and WEST found each other!"
The EAST with it's rich traditions in Martial Arts and the West with it's knowledge round sportshappenings. Within lies also the art, and so one can't be without the other. If any of both elements may happen to disapear, there is no way we can talk of KARATE-DO as it is today!
If we eliminate the mental part, we would get a sport where people are moving with a whole arsenal of techniques, and a winning-spirit without any background. The euforia after victory would be to great and the disappointment after defeat to much to handle. So learn to relativize and look at the conveniance of things.
The modern karate-do will help you to do so, on condition that you won't be bnegligent to one or the other element.
This is also why modern karate-do is for all ages and it's never to late to start!