Who can challenge the Japanese elite next year in the 13th World Open Karate Championship Shinkyokushin. Sky-high level in the 54th edition of the All Japan Open Karate Championship Shinkyokushin 24th and 25th December. Picture from ⇓ WKO Shinkyokushinkai Facebook – visit for updates and official info
The level in total trough the All Japan Open are really demanding, but one must say that the favorites did break trough – more or less. That said, one could see quite a good bouquet of spectacular knock outs – executed by favorites, some of the favorites also fell.
Victory Club Hungary has made a Highlight Knockout video:
This weekend Top 4 from the men’s division and top 2 from the women’s division will with out a doubt be a factor next year in the World Championship. Some of them has been exposed for the World in earlier occasions some not.
To see action pictures and a full write up visit WKO Shinkyokushin official website
Women’s division
If we take a look at top four + the two fighters that received the special awards, you can easily get the picture of the level. With five fights victory, 17 year old Mihori Suzuki collected her first major championship win this time, and the runner up: Chihiro Kubota – one of the absolute strongest fighters we have seen the last years. Both had long and very demanding semi-finals, and that also against very strong opponents.
Semifinals gave another super-fight set up: Reimi Asako vs Mihori Suzuki ⇑, and the other side Chihiro Kubota vs Kokona Nomura – further down to the quarterfinals we can include Sayaka Kato and Yuna Mokudai – more top fighter in the World class perspective. Picture from ⇓ WKO Shinkyokushinkai Facebook – visit for updates and official info
Results to follow and draw last four. Also adding special awards to the fighters. Technical Award: Sayaka Kato and Fighting Spirit Award: Yuna Mokudai. Sayaka Kato manage year after year to hold the top level – just come in mind that she became the World Champion in weight categories in 2013, and has been on the podium both times after that – 2nd in 2017 and 3rd place this year in Poland. This time Kato was defeated by Kubota, in a very entertaining fight – Kubota very strong vs the always dangerous Kato with technical variations.
Men’s division
If we look back at the 7th World Championship in weight categories (Poland September) we do recall that in the two lightest divisions – the Japanese fighters were very hard to pass, and became winners in these classes. In the next two classes – in the heavier weight class, you could see that European athletes could turn it around.
Although the final was not held this weekend (due to an injury that occurred in the semi-final), it must be said that it is an incredibly good level – and with reinforcements such as Yuta Goto, it will again be very tough to face the Japanese team.
Yuta Goto / MAC did look very strong, and he has established himself on the top. Did reach the final in May, fighting Kembu Iriki in the 7th JFKO final. Both dealt great damage, Iriki pushing the pace and secured the victory. It was regrettable that the semi-final between Watanabe and Goto should end with an injury after an illegal hit – but that happens sometimes. We have to say that, regardless of whether no finals were held – we will take another look at those who reached the top 8 – and that is a significant level.
Picture from ⇓ WKO Shinkyokushinkai Facebook – visit for updates and official info
As mention, Kembu Iriki – champion, and Yuta Goto the runner up. The third place final was between two very strong competitors Yusaku Watanabe vs Takashi Torihara, with Torihara as the winner. He had lost against Iriki in the semi-final, did win against Ryuki Ushirosako in the quarter final. Ushirosako earned the technical award. The other quarter final did also get a special award competitor: Hodaka Yoshizawa was awarded the Fighting Spirit award. Yoshizawa and Ushirosako both usually fights in the middle-weigh, so top 8 in an open-weight tournament is highly respected. Kosei Ochiai and Daiki Kato was involved in the two last quarter-finals. Ochiai lost to Watanabe, as Kato could not revenge the loss from the final in 2020 – The 52nd All Japan Open – vs Kembu Iriki.
The third place final was a high pace fight between two very strong competitors Yusaku Watanabe vs Takashi Torihara, with Torihara as the winner.
