{"id":65489,"date":"2025-05-03T16:14:43","date_gmt":"2025-05-03T14:14:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/apki-has-landed-in-europe-how-two-dutchmen-turned-the-jury-world-upside-down"},"modified":"2025-06-19T09:31:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T07:31:27","slug":"apki-has-landed-in-europe-how-two-dutchmen-turned-the-jury-world-upside-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/apki-has-landed-in-europe-how-two-dutchmen-turned-the-jury-world-upside-down","title":{"rendered":"APKI has landed in Europe! How two Dutchmen turned the jury world upside down"},"content":{"rendered":"

While Ruud Besems ended up on the couch with a Whopper on his lap between an Ikea visit and birthday troubles, a conversation rolled out that you can safely label as historic for the European koi hobby. What started as a casual chat between two old acquaintances \u2013 Ruud and myself \u2013 degenerated into an in-depth exploration of a revolution in the jury world of Nishikigoi<\/abbr>. What follows is a conversation that reads like a boy’s book. It’s all about APKI Europe: an innovative jury training, supported by experience, vision and \u2013 above all \u2013 guts. <\/p>\n

The old world is creaking<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The koi world, once a vibrant community full of passion, has become ossified in parts. Ruud and his partner-in-crime Ronald Stam \u2013 both active as judges within the ZNA circuit for many years \u2013 saw it happen up close. <\/p>\n

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“Every time you came up with something new, it was immediately put down,” says Ruud. “As if originality was a threat.” <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The established organizations, however valuable their history is, have relied too long on old hierarchies, fixed rules and a certain complacency. While the world is changing, new generations are emerging and transparency is becoming increasingly important, the threshold to the jury position remains high and the knowledge within a closed bulwark. <\/p>\n

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“We’ve been in the system long enough to understand how it works \u2014 and why it doesn’t.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Ruud
Ruud Besems and Ronald Stam in Indonesia as jury members of APKI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The rebirth of an ideal<\/strong><\/h4>\n

And so the idea arose to do things differently. Radically different. Not as a protest, but as an alternative. From their experience with international judging \u2013 including about fifteen times in Asia, nine of which in Indonesia since 2011 \u2013 Ruud and Ronald knew exactly where the opportunities lay. <\/p>\n

The Indonesian koi organization APKI (All Indonesia Koi Organisation), with an unprecedented reach of 55 chapters and more than 6000 members, turned out to be an unexpected but logical partner. While Japan remains the spiritual home of koi, Indonesia has emerged as a hotbed of development and passion. Every week a show is organized, sometimes even several at the same time \u2013 spread over the gigantic archipelago. <\/p>\n

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“They saw in us the opportunity to increase their influence in Europe. And we saw in them the openness to innovate without dogmas.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

APKI Europe was born.<\/p>\n

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What makes the programme different<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Where other organizations entrench themselves behind formalities, APKI Europe opts for openness. Transparency and accessibility are not slogans, but principles. For example, the training consists of 4 teaching days per year<\/strong>, spread over four years<\/strong>. Four practical half-days, four theoretical half-days \u2013 all focused on knowledge, skill and attitude. <\/p>\n

The cost? \u20ac495 per year (excl. VAT).<\/strong> Affordable \u2013 conscious. <\/p>\n

The course is basically in Dutch, but the course book and the website are in English. Not out of snobbery, but out of necessity: after all, the ultimate goal is international employability. Because if you want to be sworn in as a full-fledged APKI jury member in Europe, you have to judge one show in Indonesia \u2013 as a kind of driving test, judged by local judges. <\/p>\n

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“We don’t call it a driving for nothing. You walk with an Indonesian team \u2013 without Ronald or me \u2013 and you show what you’re worth.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

During the training, not only theory about varieties and judging is discussed (together with Joop van Tol<\/abbr>), but also ethics<\/strong>. What is expected of a judge, even outside the show? How do you behave online? Can you share your own opinion about a Grand Champion<\/abbr>? What if you don’t agree? <\/p>\n

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“It\u2019s fine to say you liked another fish better. But you don\u2019t dismiss your peers as clueless. Show some respect. End of story.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Fictional representation of judging Koi in bags. No actual photo; Created with artificial intelligence<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Judging with your feet in the clay \u2013 and in the future<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Another innovative aspect is the use of video judging<\/strong>. These are increasingly used at international shows and are useful as a learning tool and as a benchmark for knowledge level. Trainees learn what to look out for in a video, and can assess at home or in a team. <\/p>\n

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“You get a batch of 25 fish. You watch, you assess, and we discuss the results. We all learn from that.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The practical training days take place at renowned dealers in the Netherlands, Belgium and possibly Germany. And the public is also invited. Not as a spectator, but as a participant: visitors can classify fish themselves, fill in forms, and defend their choices in front of the trainers and the public. <\/p>\n

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“We want to take the mystery out of the jury room. The world of judging should not be closed. It has to inspire.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A system that slides, lives and breathes<\/strong><\/h4>\n

One of the most striking innovations that Ruud and Ronald are introducing through APKI Europe is the so-called pass-through system<\/strong>. Instead of the traditional approach \u2013 where one fish can win multiple prizes \u2013 this system awards each fish a maximum of once. <\/p>\n

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“If a fish gets a Major Award, the rest moves on,” Ruud explains. “So if a Sanke<\/abbr> becomes the Mature Champion, then the number two in the Sanke<\/abbr> class suddenly becomes the number one, and so on. That gives more hobbyists the chance to win a prize, and keeps the competition healthy.” <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That also demands something from the jury members. Because you not only have to know who is the best, but also how the rest compares to it. And so APKI teaches by default to classify fish up to and including place 7<\/strong> \u2013 not just the top 2 as is often the case with the ZNA. This ranking is also recorded via a smart method: fish are scanned with a barcode<\/strong>, which is linked to their individual bag. <\/p>\n

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“This way we can see at any time which fish ended up where, and who voted what. The system is transparent and flexible.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Judging out of the bag \u2013 future or taboo?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Another element that APKI brings from Indonesia is judging koi in bags<\/strong> – literally. The fish are placed in special transparent bags on tables or gym floors, grouped by variety, with air conditioning in the background. Quick, orderly, safe … and for some in the Netherlands \u201cunusual\u201d to say the least. <\/p>\n

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“We would like to try it here,” says Ruud. “But you know how it goes: then you get the animal welfare argument around your ears.” <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Ruud
Ruud Besems judges koi in the bag in Indonesia. Such small koi in a show barrel would play some hide and seek and could not receive a fair review.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yet in practice, he says, it is not that bad. After all, the fish come from Japan in similar conditions and are sometimes even judged outside in the sun at shows. In Indonesia, the system has crystallized and is fully integrated into the competition format. <\/p>\n

Ruud laughs:<\/p>\n

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“You don’t have to walk 100 meters between the barrels there. As a jury member, you can just stand by type. That works so much more efficiently.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Indonesia as a mirror of the future<\/strong><\/h4>\n

With more than 50 shows a year<\/strong>, thousands of hobbyists, dozens of chapters, and an infrastructure that treats judging as a top sport, Indonesia is currently perhaps the most dynamic koiland in the world. Where in Europe the hobby is aging and stagnating, it is growing rapidly there. <\/p>\n

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“There is a show every week. Only at Christmas or during Ramadan is it quiet for a while. Sometimes there are even two at the same time \u2013 on different islands.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And it works. The hobby lives, breathes, and innovates. And not least because of the software<\/strong> that is used to digitally record everything \u2013 from judging to postponement. Every bag, every fish, every jury report is integrated. This software is not (yet) applicable in the Netherlands, but the ambition to bring this kind of innovation to Europe is beyond doubt. <\/p>\n

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“We are not against tradition. We are against stagnation.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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A training with content and character<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The APKI Europe course is not intended for people who ‘just want to become a jury member’. It is a four-year<\/strong> learning path, designed to form knowledge and character. There are a maximum of ten training places per year<\/strong>, so that personal guidance is guaranteed. Those who register can count on intensive training \u2013 in theory and practice. <\/p>\n

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“From the moment you appear on our website as a trainee, we expect you to behave as a jury member outside the shows as well.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That means: no online incitement, no foul language, and certainly no public settlements. Physical posture is also discussed: hands in your pocket while judging? Not done. Sunglasses on? Only if the sun is really burning on your retina. <\/p>\n

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“We teach etiquette. Ronald and I take care of that part. Not because we are so holy, but because we know how important it is.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Unlike other organizations, APKI Europe also explicitly looks at online behavior<\/strong>. A jury member is an ambassador of the hobby. And therefore also on Facebook, WhatsApp or wherever. <\/p>\n

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Not a tight suit, but representative and approachable<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From Grand Champion<\/abbr> to educational aftertalk<\/strong><\/h4>\n

What happens after the Grand Champion<\/abbr> is known? At other organizations, jury members often disappear from the picture \u2013 but not at APKI. Ruud and Ronald continue to walk around on the floor<\/strong>, to answer questions, to give explanations, and to offer explanations. <\/p>\n

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“This can be done centrally \u2013 for example at the Grand Champion<\/abbr>‘s barrel \u2013 but also just individually. We believe that you should remain approachable.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In this way, they not only want to preserve the magic of judging, but also make it accessible to a wider audience. By providing insight into the why<\/em> behind a decision, understanding \u2013 and appreciation \u2013 grows. <\/p>\n

And that is not an empty promise. At shows such as Noorderlicht<\/a> (June 14 in Bakkeveen)<\/strong> and the Tosai<\/abbr> Koi Show<\/strong>, APKI judges <\/strong>will be active. <\/p>\n

The gate is open: who can register with APKI Europe?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The classic view that a jury member should primarily be an independent, non-commercial enthusiast is getting a fresh reinterpretation at APKI Europe. Here, it is not your profession that counts, but your integrity. Whether you are a grower, dealer, hobbyist or something in between: anyone who wants to learn the trade seriously is welcome. <\/p>\n

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“Our starting point is: you have to be able to judge objectively,” Ruud explains. ” That means that even if you have a fish swimming at a show yourself, you just take your responsibility and divide your vote fairly.” <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

APKI relies \u2013 just like in Indonesia \u2013 on the principle of integrity within a team. By cleverly approaching the composition, individual partiality disappears in the masses. <\/p>\n

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“Suppose there are fourteen jury members. Then you can vote for your own fish, but you are one vote. If the fish is bad, you will automatically fall through the cracks.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That may sound utopian, but it works. In Indonesia, the jury corps consists of a mix of hobbyists, traders, growers and specialists. And that benefits the quality. <\/p>\n

\"Ruud
Ruud Besems, fourth from the left, during the judging in 2016. Third from the left is van der Hulst, one of the aspiring APKI jury members 2025. Then also during a seminar at the HKS. Ronald Stam is on the far left of the screen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Between science and vision of the future: where does APKI stand?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Anyone who has ever delved into the differences between the ZNA and Shinkokai knows: one swears by objectivity and technical perfection, the other prefers to look at potential and future value. Where does APKI stand on this spectrum? <\/p>\n

Ruud:<\/p>\n

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“We are right in between. We use objective standards, but do not exclude the artistic or developmental view.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In practice, however, that difference turns out to be much smaller than often thought. At the big shows \u2013 whether in Japan, Indonesia or Europe \u2013 the different jury organizations usually choose the same Grand Champion<\/abbr>. <\/p>\n

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“If a fish is really the best, everyone sees it,” says Ruud. “It’s the numbers two to seven where the difference is made.” <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That is why APKI trains its judges to look deep into the sub-top. To not only recognize the brilliance, but also to understand why something is just not a champion. <\/p>\n

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“The Adult Champion is often the most difficult choice,” Ruud smiles. “Only then do you see who really knows what he is doing.” <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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A tribute to the hobby: the APKI ranking system<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In addition to judging itself, APKI also embraces a philosophy that focuses on community building. In Indonesia, shows are not judged separately, but are connected via an annual point system. Traders, hobbyists, and even growers build a reputation based on commitment, performance, and consistency. <\/p>\n

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“You get points for every prize. Even for seventh place. And those points count in the national ranking.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That system encourages strategic participation in shows, increases engagement, and creates heroes. Not only the ‘big boys’, but also the local legends. <\/p>\n

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“You create local heroes,” says Ruud. “And with that, the hobby also gets a face again.” <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In the Netherlands and Europe, that is still in the future, but Ruud and Ronald dream out loud. If the structure is in place, the software develops further and the cooperation between shows becomes closer, a European APKI ranking is possible. <\/p>\n

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“Then we can declare the best hobbyist of the year. Or the most active dealer. Then it comes to life.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I consider it likely that many are able to pick the best from the bottom eight, but can you rank them from 1 through 7 and substantiate them? Exactly that is the APKI challenge.<\/p>\n