7th Karatedo Goju-kai ASIFIC Championships 2019, Cebu, Philippines

The event was successfully hosted by IKGA Philippines (Country Director Sensei Richard Lim, and Sensei Greg Sanger) in Cebu, Philippines, and participated by approx. 300 competitors and 17 countries from the IKGA Asia Bloc and IKGA Oceania Bloc, with competition being held for all ages from Children's categories (U10, U12, U14), Cadet, Junior, U21, Senior, and Masters 40+, Masters 50+ categories, with Individual Kata & Kumite, Team Kata and Kumite, as well as Bunkai being competed. Countries in attendance were: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Taipei.

Official results of the tournament and medal tally of the participating countries

There was also a 1 day Technical Seminar held on September 30, 2019, participated by approx. 100 participants from 19 countries from the IKGA Asia Bloc and IKGA Oceania Bloc, and the training sessions were conducted by Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi, Hanshi Brian Mackie, Gohei Yamaguchi Shihan, Hideki Wakasugi Shihan, and Shin Tsukii Shihan. Maskun Prasetia Shihan of Indonesia, who was recently promoted to 8th Dan, was also in attendance.

Promotion Announcement - Maskun Prasetia

A hearty congratulations goes out to Maskun Prasetia Shihan of Gojukai Indonesia. Prasetia Kyoshi was recently promoted to Hachidan (8th Dan) Kyoshi by Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi during the recent ACIFIC Seminar in Cebu City, Philippines in November, 2019. 

Congratulations Prasetia Shihan! 

IKGA Europe - Goju-Kai European Seminar and Championships

Goju-Kai Hungary hosted the 34th Goju-Kai European Seminar and 9th Goju-Kai European Championships in Tata, Hungary from July 13 - 19, 2019.

On July 14, 11 countries participated from across Europe: Hungary, Italy, England, Sweden, Ukraine, Slovakia, Norway, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Netherlands and Belgium. It was a successful competition with participation across all ages and ranks. Congratulations to all the participants!

Official results of the tournament:

Complete results can be found here.

COUNTRY	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE
BELGIUM			1
CZECH REPUBLIC		2	3
ENGLAND	5	10	16
HUNGARY	20	13	16
ITALY	9	5	12
NETHERLANDS			3
NORWAY	1	1	2
SLOVAKIA	1	1	3
SWEDEN	2	5	6
SWITZERLAND	1
UKRAINE	2	4	6

Gojukai Europe members also took part in the 34th Goju-Kai European Seminar taught by Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi, President of IKGA. Intense training in Goju-Kai Karatedo ran over the course of 5 days from July 15 - 19, and was followed by Dan examinations.

Photos of the seminar can be found here, and photos of the tournament are here.

Congratulations and thank you to Gerd Rebicek Shihan and the organizers for hosting a successful event. Well done!

Promotion to Shihan-Hanshi - Gonzalo Ramirez Ortiz

Gonzalo Ramirez Ortiz Hanshi
IKGA Vice-President
South America Bloc Director
IKGA Uruguay Shibucho

It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce that IKGA Vice-President Gonzalo Ramirez Ortiz has successfully passed the requirements for the title of Hanshi. Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi has approved Gonzalo Shihan's promotion as of March 1, 2019.

In addition to being a Vice-President for IKGA, Gonzalo Shihan is Shibucho for IKGA Uruguay, and Bloc Director for IKGA South America. Ramirez Ortiz Hanshi has served IKGA for many years, and has done much to promote Gojukai Karatedo across the South American continent.

Congratulations Gonzalo Shihan! We look forward to many more years of your leadership in Karatedo.