Mission & Vision

The IKU – International Karate Union is a non-political, non-profit organisation, truly democratic and transparent on the service of the national federation members and specially based on true values: education, respect and great friendship. We will demonstrate with our deeds that this is possible, by setting a new direction for karate.

 

About us

The International Karate Union (IKU) was founded by some of the most respected people with a great karate history and associations of various countries on 19 January 2013.

 

Why is the IKU needed within the current climate of World Karate?

In recent years International Karate bodies have looked to service the needs of club/associations forgetting that international competition at the very beginning was about national federations and athletes representing their country.

Is it possible to offer International opportunity to all whilst also allowing athletes true representation at World level?

IKU offers a new way for karate with a desire to bring together all clubs, associations or federations within a member country/territory under one banner and to resolve their differences or disputes through mediation and arbitration. This independent process is unique in the karate world and has a pathway to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In this way IKU hopes to contribute to the development of friendly relationships and closer links among its member national federations and the wider karate and/or sporting world.

The IKU will accept one federation or association per country and that federation or association will be obliged to ensure that all karateka within their country/territory will have access to IKU championships.

Aims and Objectives

The IKU is an organisation with non-political, non-profit, truly democratic and transparent to the service of the national federation’s members and especially based on true values: education, respect and great friendship. We will demonstrate with our deeds that this is possible, by building a new direction for karate!

The IKU respects WKF position as the IOC recognized karate body and are willing to help in any way possible to the WKF’s efforts to get the sport of karate included in the Olympic Programme.

Organisation Structure

President

Gilles Willemin (Brazil)

Gilles Willemin (Brazil)

President

 

Board of Directors

Riccardo Mosco (Italy)

Riccardo Mosco (Italy)

Vice-President

 
Sergey Rostovtev (Russia)

Sergey Rostovtev (Russia)

Director

 
Marina Regules (Argentina)

Marina Regules (Argentina)

Vice-President

B.K Bharat (India)

B.K Bharat (India)

Director

 

General Secretary

Riccardo Mosco (Italy)

Riccardo Mosco (Italy)

General Secretary

 

Technical Committee

Stefano Pucci (Italy)

Stefano Pucci (Italy)

President

 
Pawel Bomboleski (Poland)

Pawel Bomboleski (Poland)

Member

Terry Boyle (Northern Ireland)

Terry Boyle (Northern Ireland)

Member

Nicolae Iordachescu (Romania)

Nicolae Iordachescu (Romania)

Member

 
Josè Mancilla Silva (Chile)

Josè Mancilla Silva (Chile)

Member

Disability Karate

Marina Regules (Argentina)

Marina Regules (Argentina)

Coordinator of karate for athletes with disabilities

Referee Committee

Nagel Adrian (Romania)

Nagel Adrian (Romania)

President

 
Adriano Cosma (Italy)

Adriano Cosma (Italy)

Member

 
Robert Sheenan (Ireland)

Robert Sheenan (Ireland)

Member

Coordinators of Continental Referees

Luiz Adagilson Sombra (Brazil)

Luiz Adagilson Sombra (Brazil)

Coordinator of Pan-American Referees

 

Disciplinary & Arbitration Committee

Mario Conestabo (Italy)

Mario Conestabo (Italy)

Member

 
Robert Musil (Czech Republic)

Robert Musil (Czech Republic)

Member

 

Statutes and Regulations

IKU Statute

View more

The latest competition rules

View more

IKU Judges and Referees

Chief Referee

Name

Country

Qualification

S. IPPON | S. SANBON

Qualification obtained until
GRIGORY TKACHUK
RUSSIA
SS
2022
ROBERT SHEENAN
IRELAND
SI | SS
2022
SERGIO VALERI
ITALY
SI | SS
2022
 ADRIANO COSMA
ITALY
SI | SS
2022

World Referee

Name

Country

Qualification

S. IPPON | S. SANBON

Qualification obtained until
ADRIAN NAGEL
ROMANIA
SI | SS
2022
ANTHONY TAYLOR
IRELAND
SS
2022
JESSE BURKE
IRELAND
 SS
2022
GERARDO NAZZARO
ITALY
SI | SS
2022
KAREL BOURA
CZECH REPUBLIC
SS
2022
VICENZO SARAPPA
ITALY
SI | SS
2022

World Judge

Name

Country

Qualification

S. IPPON | S. SANBON

Qualification obtained until
IORDACHESCU NICOLAE
ROMANIA
 SS
2021
ANDREI TRIPA
ROMANIA
SI | SS
2022

Continental Referee

Name

Country

Qualification

S. IPPON | S. SANBON

qualification obtained until
LUIS  SOMBRA
BRAZIL
SS
2022
WAGNER ANGELONI
BRAZIL
SS
2022
OTELLO ZULIANI
ITALY
SS
2022
ALBERTO ISOLDI
ITALY
SS
2022
LUCIANO MASCI
ITALY
SS
2022
MARIUS MIRICA
ROMANIA
SS
2022
GORDON MCKEVITT
IRELAND
SS
2021
CHRISTOPHER MCFEELY
NOTHERN IRELAND
SS
2021
BRIAN CAMPBELL
NORTHERN IRELAND
SS
2021

 

Continental Judge

 

Name

 Country

Qualification

S. IPPON | S. SANBON

Qualification obtained until
DAVID BRISHAM
NORTHERN IRELAND
 SS
2021
 TONY LONG
IRELAND
SS
2021
 BRIAN WHEELAN
IRELAND
SS
2021
JOSEPH BRENNAN
IRELAND
 SS
2021
CLERSON FABRICIO FERREIRA SANTOS
BRASIL
SS
2022
ANDREEA MARIA DA SILVA
BRAZIL
SS
2022
FRANCISCO ASSIS BEZERRA
BRAZIL
SS
2022
IOANA NEAGU
ROMANIA
 SS
2022
 SOUAD BILALOGH
ENGLAND
 SS
2022
RAFAELA YASMINE DE SOUZA FERREIRA
BRAZIL
 SS
2022
INGRID PONTES
BRAZIL
 SS
2022
CLOUIS DUARTE
BRAZIL
 SS
2022
GILBERTO JORGE DE VASCONCELOS
BRAZIL
 SS
2022
VILSON RICARDO MOREIRA SILVEIRO
BRAZIL
SS
2022
JOSE DE ARIMATEIA
BRAZIL
SS
2022
RAVINDER KUMAR BHARAT
INDIA
SS
2022
RAM DAYAL P.
INDIA
SS
2022
SIKANDAR SINGH
INDIA
SS
2022
ABDULLAH AL MAMUN
BANGLADESH
SS
2022