Dear Presidents of National Organizations, Country Representatives,

Branch Chiefs, Club Leaders

New EKO project:
European Kyokushin/Shinkyokushin Karate Championship U22
For youths born 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987

We are sorry that because of the changing and uncertain economic situation only now we are able to inform you about possibility to organize this Championship. Please consider this event as a project that needs further improvement and development (competition rules, participants’ age, the best time of competition for this group (maybe July-August – holiday time for secondary school pupils and students) etc). The main reason why EKO needs tournament for youths and students (born 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987) is that many fighters of junior group (16-18 years old) after they took part in their own group championship do not participate in adult tournaments. Nearly 1000 juniors competed during European Junior Championships during 2002-2009. But only a small percentage of those fighters participate in adult competition. Many EKO countries for several years do not participate in European Championships for adults because they do not have fighters of such a high standard.

Reasons are obvious:

1) rules and regulations of the European adult championships are getting close to the limits. Fighters have 5 to 6 fights during one day of the competition.

2) Such World and Europe superfighters (they are knockout masters as well) R.Gabor, E.Abraham. V.Szovetes, Ch.Christiansen, V.Dimitrov, M.Ilas, D.Imbras, D.Gudauskas, M.Ciuplyte regularly take part in adult Championships. Therefore fighters with less experience often lose their fights with serious consequences – knock-outs or knock-downs.

3) 18 years old athletes have very different levels of physical maturity (physical status of the same age sportsmen is different).

Therefore we organize this U22 Championship without limitation of participants’ number per country. Clubs and dojos could play the main role in financing, preparing and sending the fighters to EKO U22 Championship.

The main advantage will be having no significant weight differences among the fighters. We assume that many weight categories, many titles for winning would attract hundreds of participants to this event every year, more EKO countries would be able to participate, possibly win titles thus promoting Kyokushin. It will be a great opportunity for hundreds of young fighters to prepare for the high standard European adult Championships.

More information: www.U22.kyokushin.eu, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,

GSM +370 698 08099, fax + 370 5 2333966

Kind regards,

Romas Vitkauskas
EKO Vice President