Three weeks to this years European Championship in Shinkyokushin Karate. The EC tournament is a huge event, and for all the fighters in Europa this is the main event…but since the top level in Europe are top level in the world, tournaments as the World Championship and the World Cup can afflict the EC. Will this be a factor this year?

A short time ago the World Cup held in Lithuania. And that means that there are seven weeks between the World Cup and European Championships. Have you gone through several hard fights in World Cup, it is not certain you are ready for another big tournament at this time. Or you maybe enter with some minor damages in the body or legs.But this is what it is, and all brave fighters will do the very best beyond our imagination.

The Lithuanian organization held The 5th Karate World Cup, and did also show their specter of fighters. In Europe they are the dominate country, and looking back at the ten last year results the have never had less than four fighters on the podium. (men division) And as a organizer the have even more fighters, naturally as they have several athletes who can participate when they are the host country.

After strong performance in the World Cup, top fighters as Orest Proc and Margarita Ciuplyte are not to find at the line up in this years European Championship. Also Danish heavyweight star Brian Jakobsen, 2nd at the last EC, will not participate this time.

When some of the favorites is absent, it is always interesting to see who takes the place. At favorites absent, is not necessarily negative, it creates just as much excitement as if they should be included. And another factor is that there can be a tactical reason, promote more fighters in bigger tournaments.

We are also very keen to see the new generation of fighters. It is a change of generations,and that will always bring exciting settings. Valdemaras Gudauskas / Lithuania, Edgard Secinski / Lithuania, Domas Sutkus / Lithuania, Igor Kobylko / Ukraine, Salahat Hasanov / Azerbaijan, Dimitrov Lachezar / Bulgaria, Dimitri Bertels / Belgium – to name a few up and coming young fighters, who will challenge the established group of fighters.

EC in Switzerland is going to be a great tournament and it’s just waiting in excitement!