The “1st World Fullcontact Karate Championship” will finally be held at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo. With this historic tournament just around the corner, I would like to express my deepest respect and gratitude to everyone who has supported dojos around the world and nurtured athletes through their daily efforts.
Even during the difficult times of the new coronavirus, you have kept the lights on in your dojo, and have remained true to our pride and responsibility as a martial artist, and this was the true strength that supported the realization of this championship.
This championship is the first step in creating a future together with organizations from all over the world coming together under the banner of the international federation WFKO. During this time, Shinkyokushinkai has quietly but powerfully supported the whole thing through its sense of unity as an organization and its accumulated training over many years. We are proud to have taken the initiative in serving the unity of Fullcontact karate, and our true value is shown in the spirit of “OSU”, perseverance, patience and determination.
Our role is to support the future of the entire karate world, transcending organizations and regions, while keeping this pride within us. I believe that this is our responsibility as Shinkyokushinkai in the current generation.
In the WFKO championship, athletes representing each country and region will compete with national pride in their hearts, aiming for the top of the world. In this environment, our Shinkyokushinkai athletes fight while representing our country while also carrying the pride and bonds to the mother organization of theirs at the same time. I believe that this multilayered sense of pride will give our athletes even more strength and dignity.
We ask that all members of Shinkyokushinkai around the world come together as one and support our athletes. To all the athletes, I hope you will complete your last training session to the fullest and face this big stage with all your might, aiming to monopolize the first places in all categories.
The performance and attitude of Shinkyokushinkai athletes at this championship will be the embodiment of our philosophy and training result, and at the same time it will provide hope and inspiration to karateka around the world. The 2nd JFKO International Championship and the 1st JFKO International Senior Championship will be held concurrently with the WFKO Championship. I hope that all the competitors competing here will take on the competition stage with pride for their country and pride for Shinkyokushinkai, just as the representatives in the WFKO Championship.
I sincerely hope that your challenges will become a light that illuminates the future of the karate world.
Together, let us persevere, be sincere, and build the foundation for a new era.
Lastly, we regret to announce the passing of Branch Chief Sebastian Scarlatta of Uruguay. Branch Chief Scarlatta was known as a prominent fighter in his county and in South America region. He remained active throughout his life as fighter, securing the 3rd place in Heavyweight category in the South America Fullcontact Karate Championship in last November. His untimely passing is truly sorrowful. I am deeply saddened by this unexpected news. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his students, fellow Branch Chiefs and instructors, including Shihan Eduardo Garcia, the Uruguay representative. May his soul rest in peace.
It is such a devastating experience to lose our dear comrade, but we still focus on our daily training and activities to promote Budo Karate and continue to devote ourselves in our activities in the honor of Branch Chief Scarlatta.
OSU
WKO President
Kenji Midori