One day before the kick-off of the large European and World Championships of Karate Kyokushin at the Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna, between the 7th and 9th of December, the officials of the largest international organisations gave a press conference for the media, on which our country was well honoured for its achievements in the world of kyokushin.
“Bulgaria has its warm spot in the world family of kyokushin” said Kancho Hatsuo Royama (IX dan)- Co-Chairman of the Kyokushin World Union (KWU) and President of Kyokushin-kan International Karate Organizaton. He is one of the few disciples of the creator of kyokushin Mas Oyama.
“This year we note 25 sad years after the death of the creator of karate kyokushin Mas Oyama. As you know, after his death, kyokushin diverged into multiple organisations, which in turn was devastating to the development of the sport and the martial art altogether. Therefore, I, as his direct disciple, would like to offer you my apologies for what has happened. When federations are small, the sportsmanship cannot grow. Since 2011, with the creation of the KWU, we saw a myriad of sport events and the overall performance of all karateka went through the roof. One of the greatest contributors thereof is the Bulgarian Karate Kyokushin Federation. The Kamchia camp attracted over 1500 karateka this year alone. Bulgaria has established as a well-known presence in the family of kyokushin and such events do great good for our uniting and for the crafting f our art”, said he.
In the words of Shihan Andrzej Drewniak (IX dan) – Secretary General of the Kyokushin World Federation (KWF), a big part of the higher performance of all karateka is to be credited to the Bulgarian Karate Kyokushin Federation, which traditionally hosts tournaments and championships, on which it is not only about the prizes, but also for the mutual learning.
The Vice-president of the International Federation of Karate (IFK) Shihan David Pickthall (VII dan) was also as certain: “It is my greatest pleasure to be invited to an event of this scale. When we were establishing the Kyokushin World Union we took a simple moto “It is time to unite” We are here first and foremost to represent kyokushin and to enable the young to have what we had years ago when we were united. In the upcoming days over 700 karateka will try their skills against some of the best fighters in the world. Let’s give a chance to the younger to prove themselves and to learn – this is our primary mission”.
The press conference was led by Aleksandr Pitchkounov – Secretary General of the КWU, and was attended by Shihan Ramil Gabbassov, V dan – Member of the Board of Directors of the KWU and Chairman of the Russian Martial Arts Union (RMAU). The BKKF was represented by Shihan Asen Asenov, V dan – member of the Administrative Board of the BKKF, Sensei Stoyan Dimov, IV dan – Executive Director of the BKKF and Sensei Ivan Ivanov.
Shihan Asen Asenov from the Administrative Board of the BKKF explained that the upcoming European and World Championships will feature the following large teams. starting with the largedt – Russia with 118 karateka, of which 19 will compete for European medals and 97 for the world titles. In second place- Kazakhstan with 83 contestants, all of which are in the junior categories. The Bulgarian National Team is only one person short than that with 82 karateka as 13 will compete with the seniors and 69 with the juniors.
The competitions for boys and girls start tomorrow morning, at 9 o’clock at the Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna and the attendance is free of charge. In the second and third days of the tournament we will see the new European and World champions. All matches would be available live at Boec.bg.
The senior coach of the men and veterans is Sensei Zahari Damyanov and his assistant is Petar Martinov. Zahari Damyanov is the first Bulgarian and the only European to have held the champion’s cup in the heaviest and most prestigious karate competition – The No Category World Championship. Zahari Damyanov is four-time European Champion in category over 90 kg, four-time champion from the American Open Championship without categories in New York (2008, 2011, 2012 and 2013), from where he also has the highest fighting spirit prize. He has also won the American Open Championship with categories (2007). The women and girls coach is Stanislava Boycheva. She has trained karate kyokushin for 15 years now and n this time managed to hold multiple championship titles and golden medals from international and national championships. In 2017 she became the absolute champion of Japan at the ALL JAPAN tournament, and in 2015 won the World Championship. The assistant coach is Aleksandra Marinova, who also has plenty of medals behind her back as she reached her championship in 2013. The preparation of the boys is the task of senior coach Zhivko Andreev and his assistant Hristo Hristov.
