The Bulgarian karate fighters have proven once again that they are a global power. Seven gold, 6 silver and 10 bronze medals with men and women, aged over 21 – that is our results from the Poland-held 22nd SKDUN World ShotokanKarate Championship. The event was organized by the Shotokan Karate Do of the United Nations /SKDUN/, the Bulgarian Shotokan Karate-do Federation /BSKF/ being among its representatives. The entire competition level was really high, with the participation of more than 1,200 karate fighters from 50 countries, with 4 – 5 matches played on average for the reaching of a final. Bulgaria was ranked 3^rd in the world in the number of medals and titles, although quite many competitors suffered injuries, Chair of the Federation Aleksandar Slavkov resumed. The Bulgarian world champions in kumite /free sparring/ are named Hristo Shterev /65 kg/, Plamen Kirilov /70 kg/, Radoslav Penov /85 kg/ and with women: Nadejda Mladenova /55 kg/, Adriana Ganeva /60 kg/ and Borislava Ganeva /+60 kg/. Some of the names repeat at the team rankings for women, aged over 21 – Adriana Ganeva, Borislava Ganeva, Lora Ruscheva and Kristina Svilenova. Actually there are 8 and not 7 gold medals, as Ivo Arsov won one at the attractive vets’ competition that is outside the rankings, the federation points out.

The good results of this country are due not only to the qualities of the Bulgarian sports persons, but also to the BSKF policy, which works actively with coaches and instructors in this sports discipline from across the country. Thus the level of skills throughout all halls is a good one.

Hristo Shterev /65 kg/ marked a double victory in the competition – besides a world champion in kumite, he became a vice champion in the Masters category – the most prestigious one at the competition. Two disciplines are played at the same time within this category – kata and kumite, both with the same partner. Another curious detail: for the first time the talented sisters Adriana /60 kg/ and Borislava /+60 kg/ received the gold together – each of them in her own category. The duo also contributed to the team victory with women.

Karate means not only fighting, but also philosophy, a system of values at a high level. The federation starts initiatives, aiming to popularize and develop mass sport, as well as charity events with the participation of the world champions. “Those titles, traditional now, mean nothing in their number, though a lot of labor stands behind them. We want to pass on this enthusiasm to more young people, to make them train, feel the spirit of karate, also touching the hearts of children with disabilities – the ones with autism, together with the I Can Too international foundation, with Antonio Banderas being its face,” said Dimitar Todoranov, a senior coach of Bulgaria’s national team. “The idea is to hold various demonstration practices and to collect money, in order to make these kids’ life a bit more interesting,” Todoranov went on to say.

It also turned out that the BSKF would be a candidate to host the 2016 European Championship.

Shotokan Karate-do has been practiced in an organized manner since the 1980s. The first club – Khan Asparuh was officially registered in 1988. In 1993 the Bulgarian karate fighters had the first chance to work under the guidance of Japanese masters and as of 1996 it has become a regular practice. The Japanese master Kato Sensei has been holding open lessons twice a year here ever since. The man is a chief instructor of the international Japanese Shotokan Karate Association, said Lachezar Nenov, deputy chair of the BSKF.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev