Dear Branch Chiefs and Contacts,
First of all, I would like to start my message by expressing my appreciation to all of you for your warm support for our organization.
I would like to inform you that the 1st All Japan Fullcontact Karate Championship in Osaka was held in great success. A total of 370 competitors from 235 groups/organizations in Japan gathered and gave their very best to reach their goal, to become Japan’s No.1 in Full Contact Karate. Of the 8 men and women weight categories, Shinkyokushinkai competitors were able to win 3 men categories and 1 women category. We are very proud of the competitors who represented Shinkyokushinkai and fought bravely. I would like to express my sincere respect towards the competitors, for their hard effort and training for this tournament. The first ever unified tournament for the Full Contact Karate world was a big success, due to the hard effort of the competitors, the warm encouragement from the full crowd in the gymnasium, support from our sponsors and the strong determination and will of all related Karate organizations.
As you are all aware, we had the attendance of very important guests from overseas, in terms of pursuing our goal of making Karate an Olympic Sport. The attendance of SportAccord President Marius Vizer and Kyokushin World Union (KWU) Co-Chairman Yuri Trutnev was very encouraging and we were honored to have their presence at the event. We were able to exchange opinions and viewpoints, and receive advice from them concerning the future vision and path for Full Contact Karate, a calm analysis of dream and reality, and further steps that should be taken to pursue our goal. I would like to express my deep appreciation to them for finding the time in their busy schedule to attend and support the tournament.
The Japan Fullcontact Karate Organization (JFKO), the organizer of the tournament, was established in March 2013, after many series of meetings held during a 2 year period, to discuss the preparation work for its establishment. As one of the key promoters of this initiative, Shinkyokushinkai also took part in constructive discussions with our passionate comrades, and as a definite first step of activities, we planned and organized this tournament. The competition rules and referee actions, which especially took time to coordinate, was very effective in the tournament, and we received positive feedback of the fair and strict refereeing from many guests and spectators who attended the event. This was a huge accomplishment. This tournament was realized due to the kind cooperation of all related people, who all gathered and joined hands to make this event a great success.
At the end of the tournament, we received a special present from Mr. Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, in a form of a live concert. We all felt the strong bond between our friends, and the will to never give up towards our dream. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Mr. Nagabuchi for the courage he gave us.
I am relieved that Shinkyokushinkai, in strong unity, was able to fulfill the heavy responsibility of playing the leading role in organizing this event. Once again, I would like to thank everyone for their warm cooperation and support.
This is all to make Full Contact Karate, which we love, an Olympic Sport, and for the bright future of the children who practice Karate.
It is important for our WKO affiliated countries, by utilizing JFKO’s activities as reference, to organize their own Full Contact Karate federation/organization so that an international organization can be formed in the near future.
I was recently invited to the European Championship 2014 held in Baku, Azerbaijan. We observe the European Championship every year, and this year’s tournament was also of very high quality, and the Europe Region has strong potential to reach the top at next year’s 11th World Championship, which is the world’s highest stage in Budo Karate. I would like to express my respect to the hard effort and strong passion of the European competitors. During the visit, I was also able to attend the EKO (WKO Europe Region) General Assembly to make a proposal and exchange opinions and ideas. All of your serious attention touched my heart. As mentioned earlier, I have strong expectations for the forming of national Full Contact Karate organizations in various European countries. I would like to express my appreciation to the WKO Azerbaijan Branch led by Branch Chief Rustamov, for their strong effort in organizing a wonderful tournament, and their kind hospitality during our stay.
I strongly hope to continue our movement towards the realization of our dream, step by step in unity with our WKO Branch Chiefs and Contacts, and I ask for your continued cooperation and understanding.
OSU
Kenji Midori
WKO President