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)

The next WSKA championships is in Spain 19-21st September 2025!

Upcoming Events

49th Fujimura Cup
11th May 2024
Wettingen, Switzerland
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ESKA European Championships
22nd - 24th November 2024
Gondomar, Portugal
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Kent Rantzow

It is with great sadness we report that Kent Rantzow, passed away following serious illness.

Despite his illness Kent continued to contribute to ESKA and WSKA both as a senior referee and a member of the referee commission.

Following a competitive kumite career spanning 10 years, Kent qualified as an ESKA referee in the 1997 and was first elected to the ESKA referee commission and later appointed to the WSKA referee commission where

his calm, understated and decisive manner was appreciated by both competitors and refereeing colleagues.

Kent was very modest about his own considerable achievements but was immensely proud when Sandy, his daughter won the WSKA senior ladies individual kata title and later qualified as an international judge to work alongside him.

Kent was held in high regard and will be greatly missed by all. Our sympathies go to his family.

Kent pictured in September 2023 with his colleagues on the WSKA Referee Commission