News 2018

Posted 21st May 2018
EKF Child Protection Policy

We have updated out Child Protection policy - please read it here.

Posted 2nd May 2018
Resignation of EKF Treasurer

It is with regret that I have to announce the resignation of Mike O’Brien, the EKF Treasurer. Mike has been forced to resign due to health problems and will be finishing at the end of work today.

I, personally, will be sorry to see Mike go as he and I have been good friends for a long time. However, his health is the most important thing and, on behalf of the EKF I would like to wish Mike the very best for the future and thank him for everything he has done over the past few years.

We are very fortunate to have had Andreas Michaelides offer to take over the treasurer’s position, at least until the AGM. Andreas is an accountant and Mike has offered to be at the end of the phone to answer any questions and to help with a smooth transition.

Mike Billman

Posted 27th April 2018
WKF Statutes - Resolution

Click here to find the resolution of the WKF Executive Committee regarding activities that are incompatible with the membership in the World Karate Federation and participation in WKF events, including Olympic Games.

Parallel with this resolution, the WKF has with immediate effect revised its Statutes (subject to ratification by congress) to remove the last hindrance for athletes with Olympic aspirations - meaning that double affiliation with dissenting karate organizations is not a hindrance for qualifying. This is in line with my message given at the Congress during the 2017 World Championships in Tenerife that the World Karate Federation wishes to ensure that the Olympic dream is available to all able karate athletes around the world. The only requirement is that the aspiring athlete must take out membership in their respective national federation affiliated with WKF to participate in the qualifying process.

However, the WKF will still maintain its right to protect the safety and health of its athletes demanding that WKF athletes do not participate in open karate competitions that do not conform to WKF safety standards and are not WADA compliant.

Regards,

Antonio Espinós

Posted 11th April 2018
BKF Operation Flow Chart

In order to bring some clarity to the karate community please see BKF Flow Chart depicting how the BKF World class programme will operate - the flow chart also depicts how the Medal Support. Plan operates as a separate entity.

http://www.britishkaratefederation.co.uk/uploads/BKF%20operation%20organisation.pdf

Posted 11th April 2018
WKF information on Tokyo 2020 qualification & categories combination

NIPPON BUDOKAN: IDEAL STAGE FOR KARATE'S OLYMPIC DREAMS Martial artists around the world have one thing in common: they all know where the Martial Arts Mecca is. The Nippon Budokan in Tokyo is considered the ‘heart’ of these disciplines and the main destination for martial arts practitioners and enthusiasts.

To read more click link: https://www.wkf.net/olympic-tokyo2020.php

Link to qualification document: https://wkf.net/pdf/olympic/Tokyo2020-QualificationSystem.pdf

Posted 4th April 2018
EKF AGM 2018

The English karate Federation is holding its AGM on Saturday 2 June 2018. Notification has been emailed to all Heads Of Association.
The meeting venue is: The Holiday Inn, Hinckley Rd, Walsgrave, Coventry CV2 2HP

Posted 1st March 2018
Thank you to Hays Travel

The President of the EKF and the board would like to thank Hays Travel Ltd for their generous donation of £13,000 and greatly appreciate this kind gesture.

The EKF look forward to working closely with Hays Travel in the future www.haystravel.co.uk

Posted 1st February 2018
Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 - Olympic Charter/Rule 50 - Sport Equipment

Karate will be participating for the first time this year in an Olympic event, with the occasion of the Youth Olympic Games of Buenos Aires 2018.

As you may already know, in the case of Olympic events, participants must comply with the different rules defined on the Olympic Charter.

Read more ...

Posted 18th January 2018
2017 In Review: A record-breaking year for Karate

2017 will go down in the history of the martial art as a landmark year since never before have Karate events presented such a massive attendance of competitors. The growing popularity of the sport among youngsters and the development of the sport presentation of major tournaments have also been the main features of the discipline in 2017, according to the World Karate Federation.

Read more on the WKF website

Posted 17th January 2018
EKF KYU Grade Championships January 2018

It was a packed weekend of karate at the EKFs Kyu Grade Championships in Leicester Arena. There was great support with nearly 1100 entries from 52 club/associations. There’s some great talent coming through which bodes well for competition karate.

Veras Karate Academy came top of the medal table this year closely followed by Khalsa karate and Bushido Karate Association.

Thank you to Bobby Morton and his team, Chief referee Dale Gamble and all his officials who worked very hard all weekend. Once again Susan Dixon took some fantastic photos which are on the EKF Website and Facebook, anyone wishing to use this photos for their own use please credit Susan Dixon and where possible, to make a donation to www.samuelscharitiy.co.uk

Look forward to seeing everyone at the EKF Nationals in April

Results
https://www.sportdata.org/karate/set-online/popup_main.php?popup_action=results&vernr=3397&active_menu=calendar

Medal statistics
https://www.sportdata.org/karate/set-online/popup_main.php?popup_action=medals&vernr=3397&active_menu=calendar

Posted 3rd January 2018
EKF President, Mike Billman, was recently honoured with the award of Kudan (9th Dan)

Mike was attending a Black Belt Xmas Dinner when he was called forward by Dave Inman, the EKF & WKF Medical Commission Member, to receive this award.

Gursharan Sahota, the Federation Head of TISKA, was unable to make the presentation as he was abroad on a family holiday, and had asked Dave Inman to stand in for him.

Mike Billman has been involved in karate since the late ‘60’s, grading under Sensei’s Kanazawa, Enoeda, Kato, and Asano, with his last certificate of 8th Dan being presented by the World Karate Federation nine years ago.

He has worked tirelessly for the English Karate Federation, is Vice President of the British Karate Federation, Chairman of the European Karate Federation Technical Commission, and is the Secretary of the World Karate Federation Technical Commission. He is also regularly chosen to attend the European and World Sports Commission meetings.

He was also a founder member of the 3 person group headed by Wolfgang Weigert (Germany) that worked for 15 years to get Para Karate accepted into the World Championships.

Who can ever forget the lights dimming during the finals in Paris 2012 and Mike Billman walking Ray Morcomb, the visually impaired Australian athlete, across the arena and onto the raised tatami for him to demonstrate Unsu in front of a crowd of 17,000 spectators. Ray received a 5 minute standing ovation, and para-karate was then accepted into the WKF programme.

Congratulations to Mike on his well-deserved award.