It is always about inspirations when we pick out some fights i the end of the year – and maybe for some it can be a little overview, guide trough the many, many organizations and fighters. We would like to pick many more, but unfortunately we don’t have access all fights. Photo from Federación Kyokushinkai España :: Shinkyokushinkai
Japan and an All Japan Open Championship seems a good place to start. The JKJO (Japan Karate Judge Organization) hold solid tournaments, open for everyone and gives us a good, interesting mix of full-contact Karate fights.
We have the final of the 16th JKJO All Japan Open (Lightweight) : Sara Iwaguchi / Seirinkan vs ⇑ Ryusho Sakai / Sakura Juku. Both have several titles Sakai being the reign champion as well.
Still in Japan, but this time a World Championship by I.K.O.N. Nakamura. The organization has expanded, and organized an open weight tournament women and men’s division. (Picture from IKO Nakamura – visit FB for more)
This time we ended at the semi-final. Norina Csordas / Hungary usually fights in -55 kg, and she actually reached the final i this case, and 2nd place in total. In this semi-final against Mizuki Hamamoto / Japan, was the weight difference 35 kg. In the final later on, the difference was close to 50 kg. In the quarter-final: difference was 15 kg, and in the first fight 9 kg. A hard day at work – and respected earned! (DRAW)
Poland will be next stop: IKO World Team Matches 2024 was held, with team japan on the top. One of the fighters on the team: Miyamoto Jin fought to the top. Again we take a look at the semi-final, where ⇓ Miyamoto Jin / Japan faces reining EC Champion Daria Dobkowska / Poland.
This set up is a very interesting fight, top level – from two different regions. Miyamoto reign 39th All Japan weight category champion, and recently ended 2nd in The 56th All Japan Open weight edition. These two athletes shows some of the technical differences between their rules and others.
The 2nd EFKO was held in Belgium, av we drop by the lightweight category, and this time it is the final. We like this set up also, Alona Veresniak / Ukraine – a veteran in the game been over the whole World fighting everywhere against everyone. Alona did win her category in the 1st edition of the EFKO ⇓
Smilla Shaoru Søborg / Denmark – this years U-21 EC champion WKO, really coming into the senior division ready for everything and everybody. Testing her skills and level in this tournament, winning 3 fights – some of the opponents with strong record.
9th JFKO All Japan Open with a strong line up – as we are used to see. We took the final in the light-heavyweight category this time. The final was between two profiles at the highest level: Chihiro Kubota / Kubota Dojo vs Yuna Mokudai / Tokyo Jonan Kawasaki Branch.
Both of these two will always be of interest, since their level are among the absolute top in Japan. More or less placed at the podium in All Japan’s weight category or open – count them in.
The final in IKO EC -65 kg was interesting for us as well. The whole podium was changed in this category since last year, so what could we see this year? Anna Cheremiskina / Moldova vs Judith Soria / Spain. Nice explosive techniques started the fight – but how did it end?
Champion of the Champions was held as a “new” type of tournament this year. 8 “handpicked” top fighter for a smaller event – all fight at the very best level. No doubt that this is the future way of holding events – especially if you are aiming for a larger crowd.
Brigita Gustaitytė / Lithuania and Mihiro Suzuki / Japan fought in the final. Both winning their other major tournament trough the year – so the this fight was wanted – like the rest of the tournament. Not everyday one can see world champions up against each other!
Open-weight European Championship Shinkyokushin. Sometimes the cup system results gives us a wrong impression of the final result. Like in this case where we have two of the absolute top fighters not fighting about medal but advance further. Photo: Okiem Sportowca
Ivanka Popova / Bulgaria vs Tóth Csenge / Hungary. Both became European Champion this year, Popova twice (Shinkyokushin weight category / Open-weight) , Tóth Csenge once (EFKO EC) this could be the final – but it is the first fight of the day – impressive!
French Open had this year a special invited set up that worked very well. Many top fighters gave us many really god fights to follow. Again – it is very interesting to see when organizers try out some new systems and formats to develop further. I this tough match-op we have: Camille Haddouche / France vs Mette-Marie Nielsen / Sweden
WKB held Open-weight EC and weight category EC this year. We take our pick from the weight-category EC – this time held in Turkey, who naturally supported the tournament with many fighters. Our impression is that we need to take a closer look at the host Turkey – and in the final -60 kg Aysima Ersin vs Melisa Özdemir we have two competitors showing their skills.
Still we are only at the top of the iceberg.. and there are many fights that we would like to share. Some of them are only available trough a stream, others haven’t even been recorded. But anyway – the most important is not to record it – but to feel it.
Photo SHINKYOKUSHIN MARTIAL ARTS FEDERATION HUNGARY
