About a decade ago about an initiative developed based on the encounter to train and share with three buyu (martial friends). These were Cousergue Arnaud (France), Peter King (UK) and Sveneric Bogsater (Netherlands / Sweden). The first encounter between the four took place in Gran Canaria in 1994. From that moment we were invited to several countries to share our experiences together. Since that time a great friendship was born among us. At the time Hatsumi Sensei applauded the initiative of meeting and training denominándola Shi Tenno, which literally means "The four emperors", referring to each representing what protection each of the four cardinal points.
After many years of travel and train together, the shihan Arnaud Cousergue decided to organize an annual meeting in Paris, which has become a classic for many Budokas.
Since Hatsumi Sensei had decided not to travel abroad more to offer its teachings in the so-called TAIKAI, Shihan Arnaud him the idea to call the Soke of the Paris seminar, as Taikai, more specifically ITP, "Paris International Taikai" and it giving its endorsement added the importance of such meetings under the name Taikai provided they were taught by 15 th Dan.
Those of us who have lived and experienced many Taikai around the world to accompany Hatsumi Sensei for years, we understand the importance that they had and for this reason we would like to recover this feeling under the new circumstances and for future generations.