Con Voermans, born on September 10, 1966 in Rucphen works as a Trainer and a coach within defense; he has his own company called SAN3Coaching where he gives personal coaching and also coach people on personal issues. He has a beautiful wife Loes Voermans Eijsvogels, and 2 sons Bram and Niels. He resides in Etten-Leur Netherlands and works at Karate Dojo in Roosendaal, Karate-do SAN / TOtaal Karate Netherlands.
Con Voermans
Con Voermans - A Success Story
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TOtaal Karate Nederland:
He developed his fondness towards karate at the age of 10 when he used to go to karate with his street friends. His father was reluctant to it at first but then he gave his permission when he could see his son takes interest in karate. In the beginning Voermans was a really small and a fat child with no talent but perseverance. After 3 years of his training he was the only one who still had to go to karate lessons.
He says, ‘‘you can’t hide and you don’t have any excuses, you have to do all yourself.’’
The first six years were a hard challenge for him as he was a small chubby kid but he had already set his goal for that black belt which gave him motivation through it all. And very soon when he hit 16 he had turned himself from a fat small kid to a wide guy.
He has been doing judo from the age of 5 years. He started karate after 10 and he’s been doing that for over 43 years now. His starting style was Shotokan (5th Dan KBN, 1st DAN JKA) and at the age of 30 he started Kyokushin Full Contact (5th Dan IBK). In 2013, he started to reflect his ideas about a complete karate on paper. Mix tradition and sport, Mix Full and Semi (WKF), mixing the best of various competition systems, the fighting spirit of the Shobu Ippon, the technicality of the WKF and the continuation, and also by combining from close by the Kyokushin, he has called this style TOTaal Karate. The TO stands for new direction meaning complete. The Japanese name for TOtaal is Sö-gö. In his own style he has Hanshi Dan TOtaal Karate. He takes karate purely as a hobby that has turned me to his profession now.
Achievements:
He has won the titles of 6 x Dutch champion Shotokan Shobu Ippon individual category, 3rd World cup Shobu Ippon 1994, 2nd World cup 1992 and European champion in Lutzren Switzerland in 1993 along with his team. He is the fastest referee that promoted (in just 3 years) from the KBN. World Referee WCF and World Referee IBK / Tenzuka Kyokushin.
Fan of 3x:
He isn’t an advocate of one from kata and Kumite instead he thinks that Karate is Fighting, with a better physical, better metal resistance, being more resistant to stress and more flexible in behavior. He prefers 3 x K i.e. Kihon, Kata and Kumite. At TOtaal, all three are trained in a realistic, effective and efficient way. Kihon as support, Kata as grinding and Kumite from the movement. He advises one should not run Kata, but fight, one should not spend too much time on the kata taking up and bending excessively, but show that he can go to the max, if one then has a small balance disturbance during the training, that’s okay , because only then you can refine. To him all what’s important is The Fight. His favorite sensei includes Referee Ted Hedlunt, Yaharra, Bura and Bluming, Kase.
Journey:
During his journey in 2013, after a failed European Championship of the KBN selection, the then Chairman of the KBN Herman van der Meulen asked Voermans if he could do something for the union. From his expertise in Military shaper, instructor and coach, knowledge of both semi and full-contact karate, he worked as a bouncer / doorman from the age of 26 to 38.
He also initiated working on a new competition form from the Shobu Ippon the ferocity, the drive, the income from a great distance, no fear of being hit yourself, not even on the head from the WKF the agility, by combining with various techniques, especially for audience and TV, the high stairs and sweeping. From Kyokushin, close-up techniques, short punches and clinching, without it becoming a form of judo. When he made the competition rules, in order to offer a new form of training, he also started developing a DAN degree system / exam. Unfortunately Herman retired as the chairman and the whole plan of new training form fell into the water. However, he didn’t give up he started to offer an open class TOtaal Kata and Kumite at various tournaments.
The video shows an impression of TOtaal Kumite and Kata:
While discussing who’s been his inspiration throughout his journey Voermans mentioned, his wife Loes, he explained how she supports him and gives him plenty of space. Several students and parents of those students are a support group as well, his WOC of the karate school, without them he said he can never organize a tournament.
Karate do SAN has an annual tournament, called Open West Brabant, which unfortunately could not continue this year because of the Corona crisis but Voermans id dedicated to ensure it takes place next season.
Physical Injuries:
Voermans has been operated 2 times on the left knee, both not caused by karate, but by a skiing accident in defense during a cold-weather training in Sweden in 1998. Voermans says that TOTAL karate is an innovation and creative form of karate, which gives resistance to “old” thinkers. He personally experience karate from his own point of view, he is antagonistic towards hate, aggression and violence. He agrees with the famous saying live and let live, give each other space and respect each other.
What motivates you the most about your profession as an athlete?
Pushing boundaries, both mentally and physically, I still benefit from that today. Mo I chi Do … or NEVER GIVE UP. This has a downside, for certain types of people I come across as threatening, my appearance and daring scares them off, while I have never wanted to deliberately disadvantage anyone. Now be at peace with that, it is what it is, I can’t make myself invisible, I want to adapt and take everyone into account, but Con = Con.
What are your strengths as both an athlete and as a person?
I never give up, and as an athlete my left kick and right punch. Because of my military, doorman and referee background, I feel my surroundings naturally. My wife sometimes says when we go out you tell me before the turmoil even starts. This makes her feel safe, ha-ha!
Do you have something you want everyone to learn?
Choose the karate that suits you. I also realize that the physical and mental karate I give does not suit everyone. Yesterday I happened to gave an internship in Middelburg, and saw a guy Tony 64 years old but still young; it was great to see how this man survived and went about with fun. Once again find the karate that suits you. And again there is no better karate, karate = karate!
Con Voermans,
Teacher and President Karate-do SAN (www.karatedosan.nl )
Hanshi TO language Karate Netherlands (www.totaalkarate.nl ), ® Sö-gö Ryu / Só-gó Shobu,
World Referee / Referee WKF and IBK (Kyokushin Full Contact)
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