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.
On January 13th, we held the annual Kagami Biraki Training at Gokokuji Temple. Over 100 participants, with their high hopes for the year displayed in their energetic Kiai, gathered and trained in the windy winter weather, beside the grave of Sosai Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate. We as followers of Kyokushin Karate, on any day, must make sure to feel the soul of Sosai Oyama, the origin of Kyokushin, and never forget to appreciate the beginning in our continuous training.
I must say that the mail goal for this year’s activities is to lead the World Cup to a great success. The battle for the World Cup has started with the announcement of the tournament draw for each category. We invited WKO Board Member Romas Vitkauskas from the host country Lithuania to Japan, and after many rounds of careful thinking, organized the tournament draw in a fair and just manner. The power balance of the tournament was fixed objectively based on the past tournament records of all competitors, and the placement and balance of various regions were carefully considered, and such tournament can be said to be quite wonderful. In addition to the tournament draw, practical matters such as the current state of organization in the host country and the cooperation of various issues with WKO Headquarters were discussed, and it seemed as though the preparation work is progressing smoothly. As for the Lithuania Branch, I believe the preparation work will become harder as the tournament day approaches. I would like to express my deepest appreciation and respect to this hard effort, and would like to sincerely ask for the warm cooperation of all WKO Branches to the host country.
For the competitors, I believe you will train even harder to prepare for the tournament. Please be sure to leave no regrets, to never forget your appreciation towards the organizers of the event, and to make full use of every moment in your every day training, in order to challenge for the battle to decide the world No.1 in Karate.
The international meetings that will be held along with the event are very important as well. Since these meetings are the foundation of our progressive and democratic WKO, please carefully confirm the documents related to the meeting that will be sent from WKO Headquarters in future Newsletters. In addition, we will see an important development this year concerning the 2020 Olympic Games. The host country and a new competition category will be decided. It will also become a big turning point for our Full Contact Karate. As I have mentioned before in my previous messages, various people are taking part in various activities and measures to make the inclusion of Karate in the Olympic Games a reality. While appreciating and respecting all of this hard effort and support, WKO is prepared to actively cooperate with all directions and groups. To move forward in the path that we believe in with like-minded people, while gathering accurate information and making correct situational judgments. Although it is a difficult task for our Full Contact Karate, let us move forward in our dream with a strong spirit.
WKO is our organization and not an organization for one person. The road we must take must be developed and decided by us. Let us use this opportunity to reconfirm that WKO is supported by each of our voices, and I would like to ask for your warm and generous support.
OSU
Kenji Midori
President
WKO