Shinkyokushin Open Weigh EC will always have a high status. The “Open-Weight” includes so many factors that one have to be very competent to be successful. We find the Open-Weight in the World Championship, All japan Open and the EC – as some of the most interesting tournaments to watch – This years winner has been in all of them.
Pictures by Okiem Sportowca / Mateusz Golomb
The Open-Weight EC in the men division was was a little unpredictable – We have recently been trough a world championship – and opposite from the women, this was not a qualifying tournament to the 13th World Championship. Some fighters could not participate due to some injuries and set backs after the World Championship in September, but taking that in to considerations we got a nice line up in number as well as the level.
Men division
As mention the category had been slimmed down into the start day, so one had to rethink a little how this could turn out. As you know by now, Marek Wolny / Poland, did secure his first tittle in the EC format. In the final Georgia only representative in this EC David Mskhaladze. Once again proof that the up and coming are blending in naturally.
Wolny advanced winning first fight vs Nikita Bauer / Germany, after 1 extra round. Wolny being a threat to Bauer, when the mix of punches and (high) knees come into play, combined being the one to put on the strongest pressure.
Pictures by Okiem Sportowca / Mateusz Golomb
2nd fight versus Hungarian heavyweight fighter Máté Dávid, literally became a bigger challenge. Although there was some weight difference, the length of the athlete was quite similar. This meant that you could see some good low kick exchanges – and there is no doubt that they found a way and made their point. This meant that the legs started to come up in blockages – and arm and knee use took over somewhat. There was very good pressure and a good pace in the last half of the fight – relatively even you could say. Wolny get the decision 3 flags in a hard fight.
Pictures by Okiem Sportowca / Mateusz Golomb
3rd fight of the day was versus Orestas Abazorius / Lithuania. Abazorius had been victorious against Filip Hajduk / Poland in the first fight, before he battled trough a 3+2 fight with Adam David / Hungary. In this fight the close distance became the place where all happen, close inn-fight with a limited space to execute kicks or longer technics. Short punches and knees was the main melody trough the ordinary round. The extra round are quite similar to the ordinary round, Wolny a bit stronger in the pressure and does also manage to land some lowkicks as well. Marek Wolny ready for the final.
Pictures by Okiem Sportowca / Mateusz Golomb
David Mskhaladze / Georgia being the youngest athlete in the men’s division, and shows, like we have said before, how skilled the young fighters are these days. Fighting with all his hart – and does have a very good Technic as well. This brings him to the final in the Open-weight EC – and that for the first time!
Julius Urbonas / Lithuania was on the other side of the tatami in the first fight. David Mskhaladze was in this case the favorite. Coming of a 3rd place in the World Championship earlier – with amazing wins against Takeshi Midori and Haruto Fujita. Urbonas did reach the final in British Open, but was a paler version than we are used to see due to the war i Ukraine and with an absence of the Russian athletes who have dominated BO overall for many years. Urbonas moving in and start fresh with good roll-kick. Off we go again, and Urbonas closes the gap and keep the pressure – but Mskhaladze picks it up, lands some really good lowkicks with damage that get the attention – executes a low kick, and follows up with a spinning back kick that hits the head of Urbonas – and the fight is over after a minute.
Pictures by Okiem Sportowca / Mateusz Golomb
Next fight for David Mskhaladze was against the solid home-fighter and veteran of fighting: Marek Odzeniak / Poland. Odzeniak on his side had a very demanding first fight vs Gergely Fekete / Hungary – 3rd place holder from EC in April. This fight was very even, and both contenders took and gave lot of damage trough the fight that lasted 3 + 2 no weight difference + 2 minutes and victory to Odzeniak. During the match one could make some thoughts – in relation to who would go on, and not least in what state. A lot of contact, a long fight will obviously wear you down.
Pictures by Okiem Sportowca / Mateusz Golomb
Mskhaladze brings in a higher pace all ready from the start – as expected. Being lighter and most likely less damage this can be a challenge for his opponent. The fight goes whiteout stop and the pace raises more and more – when we see the last 30 seconds left, Mskhaladze throw everything in and deliver a strong ” 30 seconds shield – session” that earns him a 3 flag victory.
The 3rd fight of the day for Mskhaladze was very interesting. On the other side of the tatami: Patrik Lajtos / Hungary. Lajtos was very impressing winning 1st fight being all over Artur Dymarczyk / Poland – but it was in the 2nd fight a little surprise came. Paulius Žimantas / Lithuania was the opponent and that is someone to take serious. Žimantas advanced trough Hugo Cruz / Spain, but one would expect that everything was being lifted up in the Žimantas vs Lajtos fight – and it did.
Pictures by Okiem Sportowca / Mateusz Golomb
Lajtos kept his high pace and aggressive style as Žimantas was looking for the openings. Žimantas is very good at picking his shots, and trough the fight he had several good attempts with short explosive punches to the body of Lajtos. One had the feeling that one of the punches would slip in, but Lajtos just kept on going and raised the pace the last seconds – and this was clearly to his advantage. Extension round was a fact, and more or less we could see the same setting – but this time the last 30 seconds by Lajtos was even more visible – and this was a typical example of a lighter and higher frequency fighter that turned the weight difference (about 20 kg) to his advantage, moving, angle his attack and working in his victory.
As for the David Mskhaladze vs Patrik Lajtos – this was a fight with all elements included. Both very good all round fighters and the capacity to adapt if necessary. Mskhaladze tried to outpace Lajtos like previous fights, but Lajtos adjusted and kept on going. And to set thing in perspective: these two was awarded the Spirit award: David Mskhaladze (right) , And the technical award: Patrik Lajtos (Left)
Pictures by Okiem Sportowca / Mateusz Golomb
The fight went 3+2+2 before Mskhaladze was awarded a three flag victory. At this point one can also see the hard fights earlier are beginning to add up, especially the legs seems (naturally) sore. This fight was very even, and it is hard to separate the two fighters. Mskhaladze shows great sportsmanship and respect, raises the arm of Lajtos after the fight. David Mskhaladze ready for the final.
Pictures by Okiem Sportowca / Mateusz Golomb
David Mskhaladze vs Marek Wolny in the final, and it is over in ordinary time. Both are aggressive and both are very aware that this is the last stage for the day! The fight leans over to a little to much pushing forward – and the warnings began to fall. But when the distance became a little longer, lowkicks of Wolny changed the melody. Damage by strong lowkicks on all ready damage legs are good business – and Mskhaladze must dig deep to keep up. Low kicks of Wolny have we seen effective from many years back, all the way to 45th and 49th All Japan Open where he beat fighters as Kenta Mori and Tsutomu Murayama, strong (left) lowkicks – and high knee variations. 3 minutes goes fast, and the five flag winner – Marek Wolny Open Weigh champion 2022!
Pictures by Okiem Sportowca / Mateusz Golomb
