On April 10, 2021, the IFK Russian Championship will be held at the Moscow Martial Arts Center.
Competitions will be held on four tatamis, the online broadcast will start on April 10 at 09:00 Moscow time.
TATAMI A
TATAMI B
TATAMI C
TATAMI D
Fernando Rios Chong has become the Country Representative for IFK and our 60th country member.
IFK Peru Email: ifkperu@gmail.com
Tel. +51 922773544
The IFK held an online International knockdown referee course on Saturday 27th March from 14.00 to 17.00. The course was hosted by the IFK Referee Committee chaired by the IFK Chief Referee Shihan Alex Kerrigan assisted by Shihan Andrew Turner, Shihan Anton Gansner, and Shihan Shane Lalor. Unfortunately, Shihan Andrei Bura was unavailable. The following countries participated: Argentina, Belarus, Belgium, Chile, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Holland, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uruguay, Venezuela, and the USA.
The IFK Referee Committee will host an online zoom course on Saturday 27th March at 1400 UK time.
The course is now fully booked with over 50 participants and will be conducted by Kumite Chief Referee Shihan Alex Kerrigan assisted by Shihan’s Andrew Turner, Anton Gansner, and Shane Lalor.
If you wish to participate in future courses please contact your Country Representative.
We all love to delve into memories in the old videos... Shihan Alexandr Taniushkin brings to your attention an interesting recording from the 1993 IFK Russia Winter camp. Enjoy!
USA-IFK hosted the 3rd “We Are One” Virtual Kata Tournament and here are the results and short video compilation with a few international participants:
A compilation of some of the amazing katas performed at the "We Are One" III, Virtual Kata Tournament.The USA-IFKK extends its gratitude and a Big Osu to all...
The 10th IFK Uruguay Summer Camp was held on March 5-7, at the Air Force Hotel in Playa Hermosa, Maldonado, Uruguay.
Nine training sessions which were technically led by Sensei German Caballo – IFK Uruguay Country Representative – gathered 30 karatekas from all the Uruguayan Dojos. Training sessions were held in different locations – tatami, on the beach, and yard.
In addition, exams for kyu grades – from 10th to 4th kyu – and Shodan took place at the camp, with 9 students who successfully earned their new grades.
After a really hard and challenging year, we were extremely lucky to be able to hold our annual Summer Camp, and it was a huge success full of memories that will last a lifetime.
We thank everyone who was part of this event. See you in 2022!
Osu!
IFK Uruguay
Sensei Steve Fogarasi shared the news on social media:
Sunday, February 28th the IFK Canada General Meeting was held on Zoom. We had dojo leaders and senior rank holders in participation from Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta and we reviewed our activities in 2020, the current situation in our organization, and also our strategies for 2021 and 2022.
It has been a very challenging past year and we are not out of hard times just yet, but with the joint effort we will survive, recover and strive.
Thank you to all dojo leaders for the continuous effort and hard work.
- Shihan Real Gagnon
- Shihan Gaetan Sauve
- Sensei Mikhail Zimmerman
- Sensei Jonathan Hemond
- Sensei Pascal Hemond
- Sensei Jean-Francois Verreault
- Senpai Oleg Vainstein
- Senpai Scott Heaney
- Senpai Ralph Laroche
Looking forward to our next training or meeting, in-person or online.
Respectfully,
Sensei Steve Fogarasi
IFK Canada President
Senpai Mici Fogarasi
IFK Canada Secretary General
On February 28 was held the qualification examination of sportsmen of different age groups, organized by the Kyokushin Karate Federation of Armenia, in which event the sportsmen took part with great enthusiasm.
“Judging by the words of gratitude from parents and sportsmen, we can say that the event was held at a high level. “ - The examination was led by the president and the founder of the Armenian Kyokushin karate federation and IFK BC Andranik Hakobyan.
Fighters from all over the world will have the amazing opportunity to take part in the upcoming training camp of KWU International Professional League!
They will train under the guidance of the K-1 legends Semmy Schilt and Peter Aerts.
This amazing event will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria on February 25-28 amid the 7th edition of the elite fight nights SENSHI.
Schilt is 4-time K-1 Grand Prix champion and Aerts is 3-time K-1 Grand Prix champion, both have dozen world and European titles in kickboxing and Muay Thai.
Accommodation, food, and PCR tests upon arriving will be at the expense of the KWU International Professional League.
Another major names from the world of kickboxing and K-1 – Alexandr Pichkunov, the general secretary of the Kyokushin World Union (KWU), who is also finalist in K-1 Grand Prix in 2007 and 2008. The Russian is a bronze medalist form a Karate Kyokushin World championship in 2005.
He’s a silver medalist from the Russian Kyokushin championship in 2004 and winner of the Russian Kyokushin cup in 2001.
The Czech Republic’s Jan Soukup – European Kyokushin champion and an “All-Japan” winner, will also be part of the camp.
There is just few days left before the end date for sending application for participating.
Don’t miss the amazing opportunity to learn from legends.
You can send your applications to kwunion2011@gmail.com until February 15. Accommodation, food, and PCR tests upon arriving will be at the expense of the KWU International Professional League.
The idea of the Executive Director of KWU International Professional League and Chairman of the National combat sports association in Bulgaria – Shihan Ivo Kamenov is for the training camps to be held more frequently in 2021. As of now, five more events are being planned.
Any IFK fighters who are wishing to participate in the Camp, must get permission from their country representative and complete the application form
Ivo Kamenov, Chairman of Bulgaria’s National Association of Combat Sports and Chairman of KWU
International Professional League
Here’s the message from IFK Founder Hanshi Steve Arneil:
Normally the promotions of our members to Yondan and above are carried out at our prestigious events. Due to the unprecedented time of a global pandemic, we cannot gather together, so I have taken the decision to announce the 2020 promotions via our website.
I wish to announce the promotions of the following karateka:
Shihan Maria Da Costa 6th Dan
Shihan Norman King 5th Dan
Shihan Clara Akpokomua 5th Dan
Sensei Emma Markwell 4th Dan
I apologize deeply due to the pandemic I am unable to meet with you and present your award in person. I thank you all for all your hard work and dedication over the years.
Osu
Hanshi
Senpai John Derick Sieh Bangura has become the Country Representative for IFK Sierra Leone. As our representatives try to build a united West Africa this is an important addition to the region.
On January 14th, 2021 Hanshi Steve Arneil 10th Dan, has formally confirmed by letter that he has now retired from his position as President of the International Federation of Karate (IFK).
Since 2013, it has been Hanshi’s wish that Shihan David Pickthall be his successor and this decision has been ratified by the IFK Board and the Country Representatives.
Hanshi will retain his role as Founder of the IFK and his place on the Board of the IFK.
Seasons Greetings to All the IFK members around the world and to all supporters of Full Contact Karate from the Executive Board of the IFK.
Photographer: Shane Lalor
This year turned out to be such a special one, and on behalf of the great group we´ve formed, I would like to thank everyone who did not give up and kept training either from home, in the Dojos, or outside. Difficult times brought out the best in us!!!
I would like to congratulate you on the professionalism and responsible way in which our instructors approached training during the pandemic. Guidelines and recommendations from the Health Ministry were abided by, with the main goal of looking after our students, families, and society as a whole.
The world moved too fast, and changes forced us to be more creative than ever.
We started 2020 with training sessions for our instructors, and also a great summer camp where we shared 10 training sessions throughout 3 days. We were extremely lucky to have Sensei Jeovaldo Barreto as a guest instructor, who is also a great friend and a Kyokushin referent in our continent. A week later the pandemic hit hard, but instead of defeating us we set new goals and took advantage of technology to keep training from our homes. In many cases, we even saw parents who joined and trained to accompany and encourage their children!
This group effort enabled us to have our 6th National Tournament - a virtual kata competition – which had over 50 competitors from 4 regions in all the categories, all of whom had been training non-stop even though we were in lock-down mode.
We also had the 1st Americas regional kata tournament for Brown and Black Belts, with participants from 8 countries; and with great pride, our national team achieved the podium in several categories with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places.
This “new normal” also provided great new opportunities, including online training sessions with IFK and Kyokushin world-renowned instructors.
After being able to return to the training in our Dojos, and following all the health and safety guidelines and recommendations we met again and kept the updated agenda with grading tests and regional seminars.
We now end this special year being certain that in spite of everything, we remained as strong and united as always.
I take this opportunity to greet all of our instructors, friends, and family; thanking everyone for their support.
Here’s to a GREAT 2021!
Sensei Germán Carballo.
The 6th IFK World Championships was scheduled to be held in May 2021 but it has now been postponed due to not enough time to prepare. The lack of time is based on the epidemiological situation in which we live. Postponing the championship by 1 year will allow the organizers to prepare properly.
On December 2-6, 2020 in Sofia, Bulgaria – ARENA ARMEETS Hall. The KWU Professional League organizes the first OPEN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP by the rules of KWU SENSHI.
Participants will be divided into six weight categories: -70, -75, -80, -85, -90, +90.
Each category will consist of 8 fighters.
Preliminary bouts and semi-finals will be held with the use of protective equipment – helmets, elbow pads, leg protectors. Athletes can keep all the protective equipment after the competition.
In the final, fighters use only gloves, without other protective equipment.
Winners will receive a belt, cup, medal, and cash prize for each overall match. For details please contact + 359 897964368 senpai Nikolay Atanasov.
Matches will be held in the ring.
The organizers cover the cost of air tickets for the athlete and the coach, transfers to the hotel, accommodation and meals during the championship, as well as the cost of COVID tests.
The event will be broadcast live on the American online TV FITE – www.fite.tv, https://www.fite.tv/vl/p/senshi/
Final battles will be included in the SENSHI event on December 5th, 2020.
The deadline for submitting applications for the participation of all comers is November 1st, 2020 at senshi_bulgaria@abv.bg
Unfortunately, IFK Turkey must announce the cancellation of the European Championships, Istanbul for 2020.
We hope once the travel restrictions are lifted for all countries we can reschedule the event in the future.
Due to the current pandemic, the BKK have taken the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 British Open on the 3rd of October.
With restrictions in the participation of combat sports still in place in the UK and the uncertainty for the preparation times of the athletes, it was considered the safest course of action.
To all our supporters we hope to see you all in 2021
Osu!
Milen Lesemann Photography
The Kyokushin World Union shared an open letter after the end of the 14th KWU International Summer Camp in Kamchia, Bulgaria.
Here it is what the organization shared to all karatekas:
“On 16-23 August 2020 was held the 14th KWU International Summer Camp in Kamchia, Bulgaria.
The global situation has drastically affected the preparation and holding of the camp. The dates were changed several times, the organizers had to keep updated with all the changes to the requirements of epidemiological safety.
But the KWU International Camp is one of the main events in the life of the world Kyokushin, which has long become a good tradition and which athletes from all over the world are always looking forward to. Given that the circumstances of this year due to the COVID-19 had already deprived athletes of the opportunity to train regularly, everyone realized that this camp would be a breath of fresh air for athletes.
That is why, despite all the difficulties, constantly changing security requirements, and limited international air traffic, the organizers did everything possible to hold the camp. All security measures were ensured: there was testing for coronavirus infection for everyone who came to the camp, each participant was given a mask, and there were disinfectant dispensers on the territory.
Roman Odessky
Thanks to all the efforts, the camp gathered 600 participants from 14 countries. Athletes from many countries in South America, Asia, and Europe, who could not come to Bulgaria, followed our training camp through our pages on Instagram and Facebook.
Despite the smaller number of participants, compared to previous years (in 2019, the camp gathered 1600 people from 28 countries), this week of the camp was very intensive, full of emotions and new knowledge for athletes.
This year's training program of the camp was particularly focused on the KWU Professional League training, where masterclasses were led by eminent K-1 athletes: Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts, Semmy Schilt, as well as Shihan Ivo Kamenov, Shihan Aleksandr Pichkunov.
Within the framework of the camp, two tournaments were held: the KWU Youth World Cup (18-21) and the 6th edition of the KWU Professional League SENSHI.
The KWU Youth World Cup (18-21) is the successor to the international tournament Varna Cup, which has been held since 2017. Due to the number of participants, this year the organizers decided to combine all weight categories and hold this tournament in absolute weight. 31 participants from Bulgaria, Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, Germany, Poland, and Belarus fought in the Cup. Winners received financial prizes and special awards.
On August 21, the professional fight gala-show SENSHI 6 (KWU Professional League) took place. The arena hosted bright bouts according to the rules of KWU Full Contact, KWU SENSHI, K1. Special guests and commentators of the gala evening were K-1 stars: Semmy Schilt, Ernesto Hoost, and Peter Aerts, as well as the Chairman of the KWU Professional League and Chairman of the Bulgarian Martial Arts Association Shihan Ivo Kamenov (6 dan) and the Secretary-General of the Kyokushin World Union (KWU) Shihan Aleksandr Pichkunov (5 dan). Another special guest this year was the well-known Czech karate and kickboxer Jan Soukup.
The KWU International Summer Camp is a unique platform where honored masters and famous athletes can share their experience and knowledge with younger sportsmen, where athletes not only from Kyokushin but also from kickboxing, muay thai, wrestling and other martial arts can train together, which is of great benefit for all.
We sincerely hope that in the near future, the world will defeat the coronavirus completely, and we are already looking forward to the next year when there will be no obstacles for athletes from different countries to gather in the largest training Kyokushin camp.”
Milen Lesemann Photography
The official website of the International Federation of Karate (Kyokushin). Established in 1992 by Hanshi Steve Arneil.
forever in our hearts Hanshi Steve Arneil
