Now, there are still a few months left of the year 2016, but despite that it is of great interest to look at how the activity level has been until now – and forward a bit. In the light of last year with World Tournaments in Japan, we could easily think that the activity this year wold drop a little bit… is this the case?

• Diamond Cup 2016
• European Championship Shinkyokushinkai 2016
• WFKO Tittle fights kyokushinkai / Yamburg Cup 2016
• Russia Open 2016
• European Championship KWU 2016
• European Open Szolnok Cup 2016
• British Open – Cup of Europe
• LIVE Stream…

We are going to take a look at some of the highlights in tournaments held around in Europe and Russia. Many of to days tournaments are now named with an “European” title even if its in the beginning has been known as a Open tournament. For many this leads to a little confusion, European Champion – or a winner of an Open tournament. whether this is important to you or not, the fact is that more and more tournament are opening up and fighters across organizations meets on the tatemi more and more often.

Diamond Cup 2016

has been 6 time now, and is well known. The tournament attract fighters from Europe, and raises the level even more adding Russian and Kazakh athletes. A special “bonus” was also Yuto Eguchi, WKO from Japan – as we normally do not see Japanese fighters so often in European tournaments. This years results, did point out some up and coming fighters, and some that was expected. Being the only Hungarian fighter, World Champion Szepesi Csenge,WKO nobody could threaten her for the victory in the women heavy weight. In the middleweight, Russian IFK Champion Marina Sobanina was in the same position, even do Swedish Rengokai fighter Rebecca Drage, gave a strong final. Lightweight was also in Russian capture, Alina Polischuk Shinkyokushin, with a U21 World Champion on 2nd place Doronina Ksenia IFK, Russia.

In the men`s division Kazakhstan, Russia, Japan and Lithuania capture the four categories. These victories was more or less expected, and as we know this is four of the top nation in Kyokushin world wide. Diamond Cup 2016 did also use “new” weight categories. The same as Japan have in All Japan Open JFKO, and the same that are known to come in the 6th World Cup in Kazakhstan 2017.

The Diamond Cup 2016 missed strong European nations as Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia and Azerbaijan (only Csenge from HUN, and Klibavicius from LT) and this would for sure had impact to the results. But the Scandinavian countries did a good tournament, reaching four finals, (2nd places) and 3rd place. Also Jonas Rosin / Sweden Rengokai was awarded “Spirit Award”

 

European Championship Shinkyokushinkai,

was this year held in Georgia, and the level was at it best. This EC was the first held with the new weight categories, and this meant that some fighters moved up, and some down regarding to which new category the chose. On the podium, more or less the favorites as expected – also if we look at the nations taking the top spots. One and only Valeri Dimitrov,Bulgaria once again wins, super heavy weight, taking out a very good Maciej Mazur, Poland in the extra round. Dimitrov with the most famous heel in the full contact karate world. In light heavy weight, Lithuanian new young ace, Valdemaras Gudauskas – as he manage to get the decision against an always superb Marius Ilas, Romania in a great final. In the lightest category, home favorite Andrei Zinchenko, Georgia, taking his second EC title, against a very interesting Georgi Lotarov, Bulgaria. Middleweight goes to Salahat Hasanov, Azerbaijan, winning his final against and “old lightweight warrior” Andrius Miseckas Lithuania, who are back after some years off.

The women divisions was also very good. -50 with Violeta Litovska, Bulgaria, was a eye opener for many, as she with great technique and power knocking down Justina Sisaite Lithuania twice in the final. In the -55 category, earlier mention from Polish Open, Zsofia Szabo Hungary – scoring in several fights with good knees to the head. In the two heaviest categories, heavy favorites Inga Mikstaite Lithuania -60, and Szepesi Csenge Hungary in the +60.

WFKO Tittle fights kyokushinkai / Yamburg Cup 2016. The Russian based WFKO (IFK rooted) are trying to take Kyokushin fighting in to a professional setting, as we know from styles as boxing, Kick Boxing, MMA and more.  Single matches, 5 rounds fight, title belts and high media focus. Six fights was put together as title fights, and promoted as the “WFKO Team” an international team was set to challenge the Russian national team for the belts. The total was 3-3. (one fight was not held, due to “no show” from Wiklund,Sweden.

• Dawid Ozga , UK, IFK vs Evgeny Solomennikov Russia IFK 0-5
• Tshepo Khoase ,South Africa vs Anton Adushkevich Russia IFK 1-4
• Miyahara Jo,Japan KWF vs Andrei Borisov Russia IFK – 3-2
• Jonathan Redondo, Spain Rengonkai vs Denis Chepkasov Russia IFK 5-0
• Sweden Kevin Wiklund Rengonkai vs Vital Ishahneli Russia IFK 0-10 (not held)
• Ilya Yakovlev, Kazakhstan WKO  vs 5-2 Artur Tilov, Russia IFK

Many predicted that this would be a total Russian dominance, at when the results turned out to be even, some eyebrows came up. Jonathan Redondo, Spain Rengonkai was with his 5-0 victory very strong, taking the fact that this was in Russia. Also Ilya Yakovlev, Kazakhstan WKO revenging an earlier loss against IFK “anchorman” and multi champion Artur Tilov.

Open Russia 2016 – Openweight

Big names and high expectations in the AKR organizes Open weight “Russia Open”  No big surprises came through the first day of Russia Open 2016. Top seeded fighters advanced in the tournament as expected. In the men`s division only Ilya Yakovlev,Kazakhstan WKO made it to day two as non Russian fighter, Alexandra  Karpuk Poland KWF in the women division. IFK Champion Marina Sobanina Russia, was crowned as champion, after been declared the winner in what should be the final fight of the day with Irina Kryazheva Russia, IFK, a final that was not fought. In the men division very talented Nazar Nasirov Russia, WKO won the title, and also manage to take the tameshiwari award. A competent all round fighter that could not be stopped, by some of the best fighters that we know. Winning against Artem Nazaretyan, IFK Russia, also he a amazing fighter, but could not keep up in the final. Nasirov also winning against Artur Tilov, IFK Russia, who on his side takes the third place beating the reign KWU World Champion Vasily Samadurov, Royama,Russia. Results

KWU, Kyokushin World Union European Championship. 

This tournament was a change of direction. Known as the first KWU EC (not taking the Open weight EC in 2012 in counting) and the timing was good. This time a larger group of fighters from WKO joined the tournament, and some of them – top of their category. This made a huge impact to the results in total, and many of the KWU world champions was pushed down from the top spots – even this “only” was EC. The one thing one would point out as an negative factor, is that it seems that it is to many weight categories. Several of the categories with less than 10 fighters, some with only 6-7. A idea could be to expand when the number of fighters increases. In the KWU World Champion, all the 1st places in the women divisions went to Russia, now in the EC it was reduced to two. The Lithuanian fighters from WKO, took two 1st places, Poland WKO one, and the last two places to IFK Russia. Results

The same pattern was to see in the men division, also here we could wish for reducing the number of categories, and lift the number of fighters to over ten. Maybe also the categories had been more evenly, taking the number of fighters as a point. The level among the top fighters are very high, and it is also clear to see the different “dialects” of fighting style, that addresses fighters to which organization the fights in. This create development, and that in the biggest prize of them all. Russia is the dominant nation in this EC as expected, but the top spots are shared between different organizations. The eastern Europe with Lithuania WKO, Bulgaria Royama, and Ukraine WKO takes noticeably many places.

European Open Szolnok Cup 2016.

This tournament has been lifted up the last years, and with more or less only fighters from the Eastern Europe an Russia, the level is sky high. This time we did see some of the categories that was a little short of fighters – same challenge as mention in the KWU EC. But the Hungarian organizer made a smart move, and change the system from cup to pool fighting – where every meets everyone! In the end of the day this makes it as you have competed in a “full division and went all the way” This year, some of the really big names was missing – if we take the 2015 tournament, with fighters as Gabor Rosza, Marius Ilas, Nazir Nasirov, Khasai Magomedov, Mikheil Tsiklauri -to name some of them. results 

British Open – Cup of Europe 2016.

This year the British Open was celebrating 40 years since the first edition of the tournament. The line up was early heavy promotes, and it was easy to see that this time it could be some changes in the tournament. As the KWU EC, a large group of WKO fighters entered the British Open. And many for the first time. Some of the very best was to see, and of course this mobilizes other organizations to meet the challenge, maybe especially the host and “birthday-child” BKK,IFK.

Many “for the first time” was done this day, and some “normal” settings was up side down. Many of the categories was over-represented with fighters from other organisations as the host IFK. Top fighters from Kazakhstan WKO was early listed, and several World  and European Champions. Once again Lithuanian WKO supported with many fighters, all tough not the absolute top, but high level fighters. Russian IFK and WKO fighters was also pointed out, and that for a good reason. The Russian IFK fighters have been complete dominant in the British Open – up to now.

It was announced over 200 fighters, and as usually heavy promoting which organizations and number of countries that was in the line up. Finally when the big day was a fact, the list of fighters was about 160, minus the novice/national and the cadets, and “no show” the total was about 110 fighters in three categories for men, and two for women.

As mention the Kazakhstan WKO fighters was of big interest, but the team did not made it with all their fighters, and specially in the heavy weight men this was important. All knew that they probably would be fighting for the top spots, and also the Russian IFK fighters was the counterpart. “only” one, Vladimir Artyushin, instead of three was the fact, and with Yakovlev and Fedorov out of the tournament, the impact would be smaller. But Vladimir Artyushin did make it to the final, and not only that, he won the final against Alexey Gorokhov IFK Russia. Gorokhov with an impressive carrier, and once again top class performance. But Artyushin through his way to the final, did an amazing tournament, also beating reign British Open Champion Aleksandr Karshigeev IFK Russia, and Pablo Estensoro KWF. Gorokhov on his side had on paper a challenge against Lithuanian Kestutis Radvilla. But Radvilla was marked after the fight against European KWU Champion Vitalii Ishakhneli IFK Russia,and could not challenge  Gorokhov this day.

Winning the heavy weight, Vladimir Artyushin is the first fighter from Kazakhstan doing so.

Men middleweight, was the largest category, and the Russian IFK fighters was sky high favorites. Without the Russian fighters,Sweden Regokai Jonas Rosin was expected to make a difference, but not this time. A positive surprise was Claibourne Henry – USA Kenshinkai, that manage to take the 3rd place, showing good all round skills through the day. The category was won by Aleksandr Drozd – IFK Russia, followed by Dmitrii Rodichkin – IFK Russia. In this category we can say that the difference between elite/pro/semi pro fighters vs more regular practitioners.

The light weight category had several top seeded fighters – a parallel to the heavy weight. The top four fighters in this division are extreme good, an the winner Khasei Magomedov – WKO Russia, just ahead of a very strong Dmitriy Moisseyev – Kazakhstan WKO. Both fighters taking it all out in a hard final.

With these results in the men division, it is a fact that it is the first time since 1976 that non fighters from Great Britain / BKK IFK are to find om the podium. That was not a nice 40 years celebration.

In the women division one fighter gives the GB a medal. Emma Markwell has been the favorite in the light weight, and the British Open has been the number one arena. The light weight has been a tough division, and this year had 21 fighters. But this year was missing many of the strongest fighters was missing. Russian fighters was not in the division this year, and neither was Shinkyokushin Sweden. Those two nations has been heavy challengers for the top spots. Markwell with her expertise, went through the tournament and did not meet a real challenge before the final. Young talented Magdalena Gustaityte WKO Lithuania was far more dangerous than first expected. Markwell want it`s more and takes the final well deserved, top fighter as she is.

The women heavy weight did have the biggest profiles among the women fighters. Marina Sobanina (winner of the World Cup IBK 2015, Russian Open Champion 2016 and more) – Russia and ⇐Csenge Szepesi – WKO Hungary (World Champion 2015, EC Champion) The heavy weigh women, had 16 fighters, and in this category, more well known fighters was in the line up. Csenge went through the tournament, and did not meet any notable resistance in the couple of her first fights. Winning also against World and European KWF Champion,​Diana Cantero – Spain KWF, did not slow her down. The final against Sobanina was a great performance, and there was never no doubt. Sobanina was a “number to small” and she was never any threat.  Csenge on her side almost knocking Sobanina out with a great back kick to the head. Anyway the winner was clear, and with this result the first Hungarian Champion in British Open was a fact.

It is movement in the Kyokushin. More and more tournament are getting fighters from other organizations. This is a great movement, but we can see that some miner organizations are/will struggle to be present at all time. Bigger organizations have more fighters at top level, and can change teams for each tournament. An good example would be the Lithuanian WKO team. The have been at the top spots in EC Shinkyokushin, EC KWU and also taking to medals in the British Open, the same in European Open Szolnok Cup 2016 – and more. -and as we speak, the top Lithuanian fighters ha just entered EC Open Weight – Bulgaria, November. This would be impossible for team, organizations with a less number of fighters.

Streaming

Every tournament these days can offer a LIVE stream. With the current technology, this is no longer a challenge. But it should be said that there are some important “rules” to remember for this to be of any use – and not frustration..

ALL or NOTHING. This is a good “rule” One tatemi – one camera – three tatemi – three cameras. And do not ever switch from one fight to another. instead of listing more up, we will give an example:

We will stream the final between Liverpool vs Man United to all the fans out there.

• We will start the stream about 20 minutes into the game..
• We will only cover the one half of the area..
• We will only focus on out own favorites..
• We will shot down the stream in the extension – and start a new one a another place.
• Picture this: all the fans watching this stream.