27-28th of May, The IFK World Tournament will be held in Romania. As expected the tournament line up are various in countries,organizations and level. A little change since last time,men categories are now 4, instead of 3. Having the tournament in Romania seems also to attract more, and a another mass of fighters than previous World Tournament. IFK World Tournament, first time held in Russia -97, then Spain 02 and in Great Britain 05 and 2013. Many see this as an expanded British Open, and of course, many of profiles are known from that with more, and it is expected that the results are close to this.
The 5th edition of the IFK World Championship – coming up!
- The IFK World Tournament
- Now and then, nations attending.
- Do we just bite on our own tail?
- Hajime! (short about all adults categories)
- LIVE stream!
- Violation of doping rules, or lack of information?
Closing in to another World Championship, the line up are ready and the excitement rises. Romania will be the place this time, and as expected the tournament have a good support from Europe and Russia across the organizations. IFK`s strongest fighters are ready to defend the titles. Last time (as the earlier editions as well) Russia IFK completed a clean sweep, taking 1st and 2nd place in all adult categories men and women. Many predict that it will happens this time as well.
The IFK World Tournament separates out from other world championships. It is not usual that the organizing organization are outnumbered in their own tournament. But organizations with open World championships and European championships has been more common in today’s picture. There’s nothing wrong with this method, and it’s probably a better option than getting a world championship with few participants. The drawback would be that one will get several open World/ European championship with more or less a similar line up – regarding the upper level. And especially when we get the same organizations in the same tournaments cooperating, and the tournaments are held with a little time in between.The IFK World Tournament also offer U21 and U18 years categories. This is a nice way to enter the senior Championships for the up and coming fighters, plus it is possible for each country to send more fighters.
Now and then, nations attending.
Compared to last time in 2013, the line up are really affected that the tournament this time are organized in Romania. The countries around Romania, and Romania as well, support the tournament that make it quite different from last time. In 2013 the fighters mainly came out from the Vest Europe. Russia (of course) and Great Britain had several fighters in the tournament, as they was organizing it this would be naturally.
Russia would be the natural favorite nation vise, top athletes and also big enough to fill they limited places. The IFK Russian fighters has bee dominating the tournament picture in total. World Tournament, European Championship and British Open. Only last year in the British Open it was a noticeable change, when fighters from Hungary,Kazakhstan and Lithuania turned some heads making historic results in the British Open. That said, the most of them are not attending in this tournament, preparing for the WKO World Championship and others later this year.
Russia still have full quotas in relation to enrollment, and from several organizations. But the country that has made huge impact this year would be Ukraine. With only one fighter last time, thew almost reach twenty fighters this time (only counting adults) The same pattern can be said about Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and some others nations, and the biggest impact here is from other organisations than IFK. North Europe are this time almost not attending, as in 2013 Norway, Sweden and Denmark – all had several fighters in the line up. Some of the same we can say about West European countries. Long story short: from last time in 2013 and now, the fighters are coming from the area there the Tournament are being held. (not really surprising, more interesting to what extent it occurs)
Do we just bite on our own tail?
As we all know, there have never been more Champions than now in these days, and listing them up will be more or less impossible when you have a huge group of fighters. To understand how “strong” a title, or result really are, one must really have a great overview and compare in the total. Many do also now have so strong merits at the paper, that one can simply not understand how it is possible – but it is! But all these records will be blown away soon. World Championships/Cups and EC`s for children down to 8 years – well in some year we will have fighters that are more merited than Andy Hug, Hajime Kazumi, Francisco Filho, Akiyoshi Matsui, Kenji Midori etc – and that before they are 20 years old. Also the tactical use of “European” or “World” is an issue. Soon an regular “Open tournament” will not be strong enough on the paper – and will the need for something more than a world title bring us “The 1st Championship of the Universe”!? ..well we are pulling it way to long now, but that`s the point… 🙂 Listing up that we got new record in how many organizations joining would in the first thought be positive! – but when we realize that they are coming as new organizations splitting out from others – Do we just bite on our own tail? But we have faith that we will end up united, but there is much work to do – and many does really work hard for it to happen.
Hajime!
Lightweight men would be one of the hardest category. Russia as nation will have a huge impact at the podium we think. The line up have several world champions: Mansurov Marsel and ⇐Sergey Chmunevich / Russia. Artur Arushanyan / Armenia, Daniel Redondo / Spain, and of course several others well merited. Chmunevich will be a hot name, and he is the reign middleweight champion from 2013. Ivan Komanov / Bulgaria, also one of the well known names. It is a category with 41 – now. The seeding will of course matter, but there is a significant level difference between the athletes. Will the heavy favorites make it through the preliminary fights without any “souvenirs” Also who will meet the other favorites earlier than others, and who will get “no show” fights. In total this will be factors that can give or take away an advantage.
Lightweight women under 60 kg is the biggest of the 
two categories. With four categories for men, maybe a adjustment in the women division? But on the other hand,three divisions for women could be too many. Russia – once again, Poland and Great Britain with Emma Markwell attract attention regarding to the upper level. Don`t get us wrong, Spain, Hungary and Ukraine do also have fighters reach in to the second day – but we think that the three nations mention at first will battle for the podium, Russia,Poland and Great Britain.
⇐Anna Efremova ,one of the top favorites and World Champion – Russia ,Irina Valieva – Russia. Emma Markwell – Great Britain, and from Poland Marta Lubos ⇑ – , all could and have the capacity to enter the podium but facing Agnieszka Winek – Poland, Teona Gasdeliani – from Spain, Lilla Herczeg – Hungary, Rimma Artemova – Russia, or each other will affect the results. Seeding / draw will more than ever play a great roll here.
Middleweight men would after our opinion be the “clearest one” when it comes to predict who wins the category. That said, no one are unbeatable and there will always be factors that would change the “safe and normal” Artem Nazaretian ⇒– Russia. It would be a huge surprise if the final goes without him. He rarely loses a fight, and we are used to see him go through tournaments only getting stronger, taking unbelievable damage to the legs and body – and answer with even higher pace. His fellow country man – Stanislav Mezhevtsov, could might be the other one in the final. -getting a rerun of the Russian Championship final earlier this year. Although we are giving a huge favorite mark, it will be challenges to overcome on the way to the final. But we think strong fighters as Sergej Braun – Germany, Shamil Ramazanov – Russia, Igor Lamot – Poland, Oleksandr Tymets – Ukraine, Dawid Ozga – Great Britain, Claibourne Henry – USA also will advance in the tournament, the seeding/draw will affect how long, together with they skills.
Women heavyweight holds twenty fighters, and over 1/4 of the category are from Russia (6 fighters) Judging out from the records, it should be clearly that the double World Champion and EC Champion Anzhelika Sabaeva – Russia is the heavy favorite. And if we “tag” heavy, several fights will be judged by weight difference, as we have seen before. The same 
with Maria Panova, also World Champions.Besides the Russian fighters we also have some strong polish fighters in Agata Winiarska (Kalicak) and Anna Bojda, especially (Kalicak) will be a challenge for anyone. And from Great Britain Samantha Williams. Maybe been less active since the World Champion title in 2013, but we believe ill have impact. Aneta Meskauskiene, Ireland,being successful in the British Open first of all, and do also have EC/WC records.
Men light heavyweight, this is maybe the category with most spread nation wide. And even Japan are represented, Jo Miyahara , in this category (as the only fighter in adult cat.) A very good Emanuel Lebo , Austria, must be mention.
A strong spirited Swedish fighter: Jonas Rosin, French powehouse Jean-Paul Jacquot, Russian multi champion Igor Ryadnov, Polish technician Marek Wolny, Andrey Uleshchenko, Russia, multiply champion, Eldar Ismailov, Ukrainian top elite fighter… to mention some of them! A big category, and many very skilled fighters. This one, we thing would be the the hardest category to point out – just the way we like it! The seeding will matter a big role in this category, since the hard fights can come rather earlier than other categories. Instead of pick out top four – top 8 would feel more right.
Men heavyweight, (now) with 31 fighters – eight from Russia and six from Romania, that would give us almost 50% of the category. In this division we think that it looks like Russian World Champion at the top spots, taking on European fighters. Vasily Samadurov, Denis Morozevich, Vitaliy Ishahneli, Aleksandr Karshigeev – all Russian top fighters with World tittles or records. Aleksander Komanov – Bulgaria, Dorin Margarint – Romania, Roel Noordman – The Netherlands and Hristo Georgiev – Bulgaria.
Be ready to watch the LIVE stream!
You will find it on the official website her!
Remember local time in Romania..
And you can follow the time schedule her!
Violation of doping rules, or lack of information?
During search on the fighters in this tournament, to see their records and achievements, link→ we got a hit on one fighter who is been taken using illegal substances in the KWU World Championship 2015. The fighter was taken, convicted, lost medals and was banned from competition for 2 years from 01.01.2016. Further search gave us information that the fighter fought through 2016, competing in British Open and in the KWF European Championship. THIS IS IMPORTANT: We can not find any information about an acquittal from the verdict given in 2016. We are certain that we are not the only one who sees this, and it should be taken care of by the competent agency. Whether it’s an athlete who is found not guilty, but as there has been no information, this is very unfortunate for the one it concerns.