Preparations all over the World are going every day, hour and minute – the real countdown has started! We will dive into the women’s division.
Two words about the women’s division in total.
Personally, I do not know who is for and who is against, but the women’s division should be equal to the men’s division (as far as possible) when it comes to the participation. If we want anything to grow and develop, we must include, support and grow it, in order to earn a profit in greater breadth, more distribution and recognition – and eventually a higher-level overall. The aim is to spread Full Contact Karate even further, among everybody in the world. However, there is more to do with this in the women’s division.
Photo by Pi-photo.pl
Block A, as we call it, shows us the top level right from the start – from the fighter with number 1. On her back. Brigita Gustaitytė / Lithuania – the reign World Champion in Weigh categories. Everybody know Gustaitytė, naturally since she has been a top profile for many years.
Last time, 12th World Championship, Gustaitytė lost to Misaki Teshima / Japan. ⇓ It was the first fight for Gustaitytė, and it became a typical “size difference” fight. In Japan versus a Japanese fighter makes it very hard – and with two minutes only, before a quick decision – well it ended in an early exit. Photo by Pi-photo.pl
This time Brigita Gustaitytė will face the winner of ⇓ Anastasiia Nesterenko / Ukraine vs Anastasia Mikhalova / Germany. It is a significant weight and size difference between these two fighters. Anastasia Mikhalova is the one with the strongest record, top three last three years in the EC. Anastasiia Nesterenko recently coming into the seniors, and that with a strong U21 EC record – being the champion. Photo: Okiem Sportowca ⇓
These two are in the opposite end of the weight category system: Anastasiia Nesterenko in the heaviest and Anastasia Mikhalova ⇓ in the lightest. Mikhalova does have very good experience fighting in the open weight category, and has been able to advance against heavier opponents. Did it in the Open Weight in 2022, Poland, and again now this summer in Hungary with two victories. Nesterenko have dangerous techniques, and seen to score to secure her victories. Photo: Okiem Sportowca
Can Mikhalova do it against Nesterenko? Alternatively, will the 25 kg weight difference and almost 30 cm height make it impossible? If we compare it to (above mention) Gustaitytė, vs Misaki fight in 2019, it can be done. If Mikhalova pull this one off, she must repeat it the next round vs Gustaitytė. If Nesterenko wins, we will have a rematch from EC 2021 – a long demanding fight, in Gustaitytė favor. Moreover, if they face each other this time, it is quite sure that none of them is interested in a long grueling battle. The question is (if they meet) whether it can be avoided, if so – who can decide the match in the shortest possible time? Photo: Okiem Sportowca
⇑ Katarzyna Jaśkowska / Poland will face Reimi Asako / Japan, in the last fight of “Block A” upper half. Katarzyna Jaśkowska has established herself among the top four in the heaviest category in EC. Did also impress in the qualifying tournament in Hungary, reaching the final. However, Reimi Asako is one of the highest ranked female fighter in Japan (across organizations)
JFKO All Japan Champion, runner up in the 1st WFKO, and the reign World Champion this spring (Kyokushin (Union) Rengokai) and more. No doubt that Asako is the favorite in this set up, but Jaśkowska is no push over, does have the size and reach advantage – if it will be possible to use it. If we as Asako – she might have other plans. For sure, the keyword will be high pace – and that brings us unto a typical Europe vs Japan fight. It is not easy to get full use of size advance when the pace is high, and the angles changes all the time.
If, read if, we go by the merits and favorite on the paper, we would have a possible Gustaitytė vs Asako in the third round, their 2nd fight.
In the bottom part of the A Block, a well-established European fighter faces the reign 3rd placeholder World Champion in Weight categories. Tóth Csenge / Hungary vs Ramu Amikawa / Japan. Photo by Pi-photo.pl ⇓
This will be a very interesting fight. The height / reach is the same, Amikawa is lighter one but is good keeping the pressure with punches – adding knees in the last part of the fight. The pace – again, will be a factor, but in this case, Csenge do hold a decent high pace herself. Who can put on the pressure first and surprise the other?
In the last fight (A-block) we got
Egla Rossmery Gattorno Gutierrez / Honduras vs Kokona Nomura / Japan. Honduras does not have a well-known Kyokushin history, and must consider being underdog in this setting. However, it is very important to represent, and we remember that Gattorno did also compete in the World Championship in weight categories in 2022. Therefore, there has been a taste of the level earlier.
Nomura would be aiming for a top spot, and will be a hard nut to crack for anyone. Came into the top 4 in a very strong 54th All Japan Open last year. Fought Brigita Gustaitytė trough all extensions in the 7th World Championship in Weight categories, Brigita Gustaitytė as we know became later the World Champion.
That means that theoretically one can get a rematch between them – but then they have to win all their matches in the preliminary rounds. The draw can indicate that there is a possibility of that happening, and if so – who have been able to go through the first fights using less energy?