On April 18, the Kyokushin Karate Belgrade Trophy 2009 was held. Competitors from Poland, Russia, Montenegro and Serbia took part in this event, organised by Serbian Kyokushin Karate Organisation led by Sensei Zarko Petkovic.
   Main judge was Sensei Marek Urbanski from Poland.

   On the weekend of April 4-5, Shihan Antonio Pinero lead a technical seminar in Paris with more than 70 participants from the French Kyokushin Karate Organization. The purpose of the course was to train new Kata: Tekki and Bassai-dai. Seminar was organised under the supervision of Shihan Jacques Legrée and Sensei Jose Pernas.

   Today, Artur Hovhannisian from Armenia successfully completed the 100 Man Kumite test and became the 8th karateka in history, who achieved that. The test took place in Tokyo, Ichigeki Plaza Ebisu Dojo. Kancho Shokei Matsui, Shihan Yuzo Goda, Shihan Seiji Isobe, Shihan Francisco Filho were present there, as well as Glaube Feitosa and Ewerton Teixeira who won their K-1 fights the day before.

PHOTO GALLERY

   On March 14-15, 2009 the Ukrainian Weight Category Kyokushin Karate Championships took place in the city of Kiev.
   200 competitors from 16 regions of Ukraine and 1500 spectators gathered at the event. This tournament was a selection for the European Championships, that will take place in the same place in May. Several meetings with representatives of clubs and regions had place during this championships. Organizer was Ukrainian Kyokushin Karate Organisation led by Shihan Stanislav Blizniuk.
   Shihan Blizniuk reported to EKKO Board that the preparations for The 23rd European Weight Category Kyokushin Karate Championships are going very well and Ukraine is looking forward to meeting all national teams in Kiev on May 23, 2009.

   On March 28 in Paris-Bercy the 23rd Martial Arts Festival took place. This annual event which gathers 18000 spectators and is organised by "Karate-Bushido" magazine, this year was combined with Kyokushin Karate mini tournament.
   Eight European fighters, including three European Champions participated: Jean Luc Vedapodagom (France), Maxime Demeautis (France), Baptiste Delaunay (France), Mohamed Elkholfi (France), Boris Kaczowska (France), Petar Martinov (Bulgaria), Krzysztof Habraszka (Poland) and Alejandro Navarro (Spain). Shihan Jacques Legree was the co-organiser of this tournament.
   Winner of the tournament was Alejandro Navarro - current Open Category European Champion.