Ilya Gouliev

We report with great sadness the death of Ilya Gouliev, President of USKO (United Sport Karate Organisation) of Russia and former Vice President of ESKA. 

Ilya will be remembered for his loyal and enthusiastic support of both ESKA and WSKA, which he joined in 1993. 

Since his election as president of USKO in 1995 the organisation rose to become a dominant force in both ESKA and WSKA. 

His legal expertise coupled with his sense of humour won him many friends in the karate world, who will miss him greatly. He leaves behind an impressive legacy of success in uniting and developing leading traditional shotokan practitioners in Russia. 

Our condolences go to his wife, children and grandchildren.

WSKA 2025

The 18th Championships of the World Shotokan Karate-do Association takes place in San Fernando, Spain between 19-21st September and we are confident that all WSKA members will experience characteristically warm hospitality of both the Spanish host organization and the local population of San Fernando. We are grateful to the organising committee of the ASKT for all their hard work in order to stage the 2025 WSKA championships in Spain.

 

For those unfamiliar with WSKA championships, attendeeswill experience some of the World’s finest and most exciting examples of traditional Shotokan karate; all of which is based on the principles established by the founding father of Shotokan karate Gichin Funakoshi and his successorMasatoshi Nakayama.   On the WSKA website there is a downloadable bulletin which includes a schedule of events other useful information.

I look forward to welcoming you to the Championships.

Richard Poole

President

World Shotokan Karate-do Association 

Event Bulletin

Competition Specification

Competition Rules

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Message for WSKA members:

We wish all WSKA members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you in Spain in September 2025

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Message for WSKA members:

We wish all WSKA members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you in Spain in September 2025

Sensei Hiroshi Shirai passed away

It is with great sadness that we report the death last night of one of the icons of Shotokan karate - Sensei Hiroshi Shirai.

Sensei Shirai 10th Dan and former JKA grand champion, founded the Istituto Shotokan Karate in Italy and heavily influenced the development of traditional Shotokan karate in Italy and much further afield.

He will be greatly missed within the karate world.

Our condolences go to his family and the many thousands of students who have been inspired by his teaching.

(the picture which shows Sensei Shirai, along with Ofelio Michielan and Richard Poole at the 2017 WSKA championships in Treviso)