18th World Shotokan Karate-do Association Championships – San Fernando, Spain
Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 4:17PM The 18th Championships of the World Shotokan Karate-do Association took place in San Fernando, Andalucía, Spain, from 19–21 September 2025. For many, San Fernando is a familiar destination, having previously welcomed the European Shotokan Karate Association, but this was the first occasion that WSKA itself brought its world championships to the city.
Hosted by the Asociación Shotokan Karate-do Tradicional (ASKT), under the leadership of its President, Francisco Javier Artero Terán, and supported by the tireless work of the organising committee, the event was marked by the warmth and hospitality for which both the Spanish people and San Fernando are renowned. Newly re-elected president Richard Poole on behalf of WSKA expressed his gratitude to ASKT and the city for their outstanding commitment in staging these championships. The WSKA Congress elected the first female Executive Board member in the organisation's history when Catarina Ferreira from Portugal became the new Director of Administration.
The opening ceremony was honoured by the presence of María José Foncubierta Delgado, 2nd Mayor of San Fernando, whose welcome symbolised the importance of this event to the city and region.
This year’s championships marked a historic milestone in WSKA history. A total of 468 athletes from 28 teams with 808 entries, made this championships the largest ever staged by WSKA. Over three days of competition, athletes from every region of the world came together in the spirit of friendship, respect, and dedication. From the youth and cadet categories to the senior and veterans divisions, competitors demonstrated the highest standards of traditional Shotokan Karate. As one of the few remaining shobu ippon world championships, WSKA continues to preserve the high standards of traditional competition, where discipline, courage, and technical precision are on full display.
WSKA, founded in 1990 in Ferrara, Italy, remains steadfast in its mission: to be a democratic, non-profit making, non-political organisation dedicated to fostering and developing traditional Shotokan competition worldwide. The 2025 championships reaffirmed that vision, strengthening bonds across continents and celebrating the unity of the WSKA family.
As we reflect on the success of San Fernando 2025, we also honour the memory of valued members of our community whom we have sadly lost since the last championships: Kent Rantzow (Sweden), Ilya Gouliev (Russia), and Sensei Hiroshi Shirai (Italy). Their contributions to Shotokan Karate and to WSKA will not be forgotten.
At the closing ceremony, the WSKA flag was formally handed over to Yuri Francesca Shirai, 5th Dan, daughter of Sensei Hiroshi Shirai and President of FIKTA Hiroshi Shirai Karate Do, by WSKA President Richard Poole. This moment symbolised both continuity and respect, as WSKA looks ahead to the future.
The 18th WSKA Championships stand as a milestone in our history - the largest gathering to date, a testament to the growth and strength of our organisation, and an inspiration for the future. As one of the few remaining shobu ippon world championships, it reaffirms our commitment to the traditional spirit of Shotokan Karate, where a single, decisive technique defines victory. We now look forward with pride and anticipation to meeting again in 2027 in Busto Arsizio, Italy, on 17th - 19th September where the WSKA family will once again unite to celebrate excellence, tradition, and the enduring spirit of Shotokan Karate.
