The 9th Openweight Category Kyokushin Karate Championships Paris 2009 took place on November 28. Record number of 166 competitors from 19 european countries participated in the event.
   Special guests were Kancho Shokei Matsui (President of IKO Kyokushinkaikan), Shihan Katsuhito Gorai (IKO General Secretary) and Shihan Loek Hollander (IKO International Committee Member), as well as EKKO Board members: Shihan Antonio Pinero (EKKO President), Shihan Andre Drewniak (EKKO General Secretary), Sensei Christoph Fischer (EKKO Treasurer).
   During the opening ceremony, Kancho Matsui handed the certificates for 6th dan to Shihan Stanislav Blizniuk and Shihan Jacques Legree.
    Alejandro Navarro became the openweight category European Champion for the fourth time in a row (previously in 2006, 2007, and 2008). Another Spaniard, Pablo Estensoro was second. In Women's open category, two Polish fighters: Agnieszka Sypien and Dobroslawa Soltysik-Habraszka met in the final. The former champion Sypien took the glory.
   Main judge was Shihan Antonio Pinero. Organiser of the championships was Sensei Jose Pernas, who co-operated fully with Shihan Jacques Legree.

RESULTS

Seniors | Juniors

    Current european champion Alejandro Navarro (Spain) became the vice champion at the 41st All Japan Open Karate Tournament that took place in Tokyo on November 21-22, 2009. The winner was Kentaro Tanaka, former All Japan and World Champion. Makoto Akaishi was third.
   Organiser of the event was IKO Kyokushinkaikan, led by Kancho Shokei Matsui.

   On October 24, International Friendship Karate Match between national team of Poland and national team of France, took place in Siemianowice Slaskie　(south of Poland). Polish team defeated French team 9 to 6.
   Teams consisting of 15 competitors, both men and women competed in EKKO standard kumite weight categories. 
   President of Siemianowice Slaskie City Jacek Guzy was the honorary guest. Opening ceremony was done by Shihan Andre Drewniak  and Sensei Andrzej Manecki organiser of the event. Tournament director was Sensei Dariusz Lyczko and co-organiser was Sensei Andrzej Zacharski.
   Chief of judges was Sensei Jose Pernas. Polish national team coach was Shihan Eugeniusz Dadzibug, and French national team coach was Sensei Frank Pertel. Awards for the winners were handed by Shihan Jacques Legree.

GALLERY

   On October 24, in Badalona The Spanish Open Kyokushin Karate Tournament Catalunya 2009 took place. Karateka from France, Poland, Switzerland and Spain participated in the competition of Men, Women and Juniors.
   The event was organised by Spanish Kyokushin Karate Organisation. Main judge was Shihan Antonio Pinero.

GALLERY
photos: Galdric Pearroja

   Ukrainian Autumn Kyokushin Karate Camp took place from September 10 to 13, in Kiev. The camp was lead by Shihan Kazuhito Gorai and Shihan Stanislav Bliznyuk. Approximately 80 participated in the camp, that was organised by
Ukrainian National Kyokushin Karate Organization.
   Members from all over the country, black belts and dojo leaders including: Shihan S. Vsevolodov, Sensei A. Nebesnii, Sensei V. Maximov, Sensei V. Sukovatiy took part in the event.