adminYouth Championship in Moscow, Russia, in December.
The inaugural Kyokushin-kan World Youth Championship will only cater for kumite and will take place in the Russian capital on December 3 and 4.
The event will be hosted by the Kyokushin-kan Karate-Do Federation of Russia and Zimbabwe was recently asked to send a full team of 92 young fighters for this big international karate tournament.
According to the local Branch Chief of the karate style of kyokushin-kan, Tendai Marange, the tournament will cater for different age-groups, ranging from under eight-year-olds to Under-17s for both boys and girls.
Marange said admission to competitions is granted to two national teams from each country, one being the national team of the national organisation – the member of the Kyokushin-kan International.
The second national team must comprise of best fighters of other kyokushin or karate organisations who recognise the competition rules of Kyokushin-kan International.
Marange said each national team can include one official representative team; one coach; one team doctor; up to two fighters in each category (maximum 92 fighters) and judges.
“Russia, being the organisers of the championship, have the right for a special quota of three fighters in each category for each of the two Russia teams,” Marange said.
The seasoned kyokushin-kan instructor said they were already in the process of identifying local talented young fighters for the World Youth Championship in kumite in Moscow.
“In fact, the organisers of this big event have indicated that they will give us six free air tickets provided we pay a registration fee of US$1 000 before the November 1 deadline.
“Although the organisers of this tournament have indicated that they would like us to send a full team of 92 fighters, we are looking at sending a team of only 12 fighters.
“We have also been asked to arrange a medical insurance policy for each fighter, covering cases of accident (casualty), and is applicable during their stay in Russia and participation in the championship,” Marange said. The local kyokushin-kan Branch Chief also said that they were sending a small team of 12 fighters because of the prohibitive costs of taking part in the Moscow championship.
“Participation fee amounts to US$50 for each fighter representing a kyokushin-kan organisation, and US$100 for each fighter representing any other organisation,” Marange said.
He, however, added that the Kyokushin-kan Karate-Do Federation of Russia will provide all team members with meals during the two days of competition.
“They will also assist the visiting teams in getting cheap or affordable accommodation in Moscow,” Marange said.
Marange, one of the most decorated karate instructors in Zimbabwe, is likely to travel with the team to Russia.
Online Reporter