World Karate Federation
The World Karate Federation ( WKF ) is a world karate federation. The WKF was founded in 1992 from the former World Union of Karate Do Organization ( WUKO ). He is the only karate world association that is recognized by the IOC and has more than 10 million members in 188 countries. It covers all parts of the world and has long been led by the President and founding member Jacques Delcourt. The WKF organizes Junior and Senior World Championships ( Karate World Championships ), which are held every two years. The current President of the WKF is the Spaniard Antonio Espinos. Seat of the WKF is in Madrid, Spain.
History of creation
At the beginning of the 1960s there was in Japan many smaller organizations, all quarreling with each other. There was the JKA, the All -Japan University Karate League, FAJKO and the All Japan Karate Do Federation organization. The President of the FAJKO ( Federation of All Japan Karate Do Organisation ), Ryoichi Sasakawa, planned to bring this state of fragmentation and organize the first official karate world championships in the world. To this end, he made contact with the French karateka Jacques Delcourt. Delcourt was the founder of the EKU (European Karate Union). After lengthy discussions, they agreed on the establishment of the WUKO. Immediately after the incorporation in 1970 they organized the first Karate World Cup history in Tokyo, Japan. The second World Cup followed in 1972 in Paris, France. The Third 1975 in Long Beach ( California ), USA and the Fourth again in 1977 in Tokyo. Now it began to get complicated because Hidetaka Nishiyama, a former WUKO Vice President, after Karateeklat of 1972 ( Japan lost to England and refused again to compete ) organized its own World Championships. He founded this the IAKF ( International Amateur Karate Federation) and competed with the WUKO to the IOC recognition. His world championships he led almost the same time and place as by the WUKO World Championships. 1975 in Los Angeles and 1977 in Tokyo. 1986 changed the IAKF its name to International Traditional Karate Federation ITKF. After attempts to merge the WUKO with the ITKF what initially failed however, could 1991 finally to create unity with the ITKF. The WUKO and the International Traditional Karate Federation ( ITKF ) then formed a confederation which has been recognized two years later by the IOC as the sole world governing body for karate sport. The two organizations merged in 1993 to WKF. In 2000, the 15th WKF World Championships were held in Munich, Germany.
Olympic games
The goal of participating in the Olympic Games was still not achieved. In 2010, in addition to baseball, golf, roller sports, rugby, softball and squash and karate on the shortlist for the Olympic Summer Games 2016., The IOC Executive Board has proposed rugby and golf to participate in October 2010. For 2020, the third application was filed as a result the IOC. Besides karate following sports are on the shortlist: Sport Climbing, Baseball / Softball, Wushu, Roller Sports, squash and wakeboard. A final decision was made in May 2013 at the IOC session in Buenos Aires. The IOC decides against karate as a sport at the Olympic Games 2020. The WKF currently operates an official campaign under the slogan "The K is one the way" and still courting the inclusion of sport karate in future Olympic Games.
Categories of the World Championship
- Kumite: Team and individual scores ( men and women)
- Kata: Team and individual scores ( men and women)
World Championships
From 1970 to 1992 WUKO World Championships were held.
German successes in WUKO / WKF World Championships
Member countries
- European Karate Federation - with more than 50 member countries
- Asian Karate - Do Federation - with 39 member countries
- Afrikan Karate Federation - with 42 member countries
- Oceanian Karate Federation - with 12 member countries
- Panamerican Karate Federation - with 37 member countries