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ABOUT KWU

GENERAL INFORMATION

Kyokushin World Union (KWU) is an association of independent and equal rights international Kyokushin organizations.

The KWU motto – “Time to be United” – embraces the ideas of cooperation, friendship, and joint work aimed at blurring the boundaries among different organizations and returning to a united Kyokushin, as was created by the Great Master Masutatsu Oyama. These ideas provide for a policy of openness and cooperation with all organizations and groups that truly share the Kyokushin ideals and the goals of our Union.

KWU rejects discrimination and prejudice of any kind and encourages participation in competitions of all interested groups and individuals, regardless of their national, gender, racial, religious, and other characteristics.

Kyokushin World Union is a non-profit organization.

HISTORY

Kyokushin World Union (KWU) was established in 2011 and registered in Lausanne, Switzerland with № 2011/18027 № Fed. СН-500-1102446-4. It is registered under the requirements of the Olympic Committee. Steps have been taken with the ultimate goal of incorporating Kyokushin into the Olympic movement.

On March 28, 2011, an international conference “Kyokushin in the Modern World” was held. During the conference, the leaders of the international organizations IFK, KI, and KWF adopted a Declaration on the establishment of the Kyokushin World Union.

On October 12, 2011, the Founding Conference of the Kyokushin World Union was held, which was attended by the Chairman of the Presidium of the Association of Kyokushinkai of Russia Shihan Yurii Trutnev, President of Kyokushin-kan International (KI) Kancho Hatsuo Royama, former Vice-President of Kyokushinkai-kan International Tsuyoshi Hiroshige, member of Directors Board of Kyokushin Shogakukai Foundation («The Society for Promotion of Kyokushin Karatedo») Kenji Sugekawa, President of the International Federation of Karate (Kyokushin) Hanshi Steve Arneil, Representative of the UK International Federation of Karate (Kyokushin) Shihan David Pickthall, President of the Kyokushin World Federation (KWF) Shihan Loek Hollander, President of the Bulgarian Karate Kyokushin Federation Shihan Ivo Kamenov, as well as representatives of the member federations of the Association of Kyokushinkai of Russia.

At the Founding Conference the leaders of the world Kyokushin Steve Arneil (IFK), Hatsuo Royama (KI), Loek Hollander (KWF), and Ramil Gabbasov (AKR) signed the Statute of the new organization.

In 2021 AKR was replaced by the new organization “Kyokushin Federation Russia” headed by Shihan Alexandr Alymov.

In 2013 KWU held the 1st KWU Kyokushin World Championship among men and women in weight categories. The championship attracted 297 participants from 52 countries.

In 2015, within the framework of the 2nd KWU Kyokushin World Championship among men and women in weight categories, representatives of KWU and WKO Shinkyokushinkai agreed to sign a Cooperation Agreement between the two organizations. The championship attracted 250 participants from 45 countries.

In 2017 was held the 3rd KWU Kyokushin World Championship among men and women in weight categories. The championship attracted 242 participants from 48 countries.

In 2019 was held the 4th KWU Kyokushin World Championship was among men and women in weight categories. The championship attracted 237 participants from 45 countries.

Due to the epidemiological situation in the world, KWU Executive Committee decided to postpone the 5th KWU World Championship among men and women in weight categories.

MISSION AND VISION

Overcoming the divide in the world Kyokushin and uniting various groups is a long and thorny path. Notwithstanding all the obstacles, the Union is determined to put all its efforts into fulfilling this dream and returning Kyokushin to its roots as was created by Mas Oyama.

MISSION:

  • revival and preservation of the school of Sosai Masutatsu Oyama;
  • consolidation of Kyokushin practitioners around the world;
  • holding unified World and Continental championships among adult and youth athletes;
  • enhance the skills of athletes and judges.

STRUCTURE:

The governing bodies of the Association are as follows:

– General Meeting;

– Executive Committee

FOUNDING MEMBERS OF KWU:

NATIONAL FEDERATIONS:

Country representatives of international organizations – KWU members have the right to cooperate with other representatives in their countries and establish a National Federation of KWU in order to join their efforts in promoting national Kyokushin, holding qualifying tournaments for international KWU competitions, and holding joint events.

MAJOR EVENTS:

  • KWU Championships among adults and youth

KWU permanently holds World and European championships among adults and youth.

World and European championships are held once in two years: in one year KWU European Championships and KWU World Youth Championships are held; the next year KWU World Championships among men and women in weight categories and KWU European Youth Championships are held. KWU World Championships welcome hundreds of karatekas, judges, and spectators from all over the world.

In the lead-up to tournaments, KWU holds judging seminars to ensure the quality of the judging.

  • Training camps

KWU, together with the Bulgarian Karate Kyokushin Federation (BKKF), annually holds the KWU International Summer Camp in Kamchia, Bulgaria. This is a major camp where athletes from different countries representing different martial arts can train together and exchange experiences.

  • Tournaments of national federations

KWU members organize national or international tournaments in their countries according to the KWU rules and under the KWU aegis.

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

One of the main goals of Sosai Masutatsu Oyama was the inclusion of Kyokushin in the Olympics.

To achieve this goal, the Association needs to accomplish two main tasks:

– To overcome the divide in Kyokushin groups, since only united Kyokushin will have the opportunity to obtain the status of an Olympic sport.

– To become a member of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). A step towards membership in this structure can be the qualification and successful participation of KWU athletes in the World Combat Games, which are regularly held by GAISF.