To all friends and members of the Fullcontact karate community around the world, I hope this message finds you in good health. Here in Japan, we are entering the rainy season. Gentle showers continue to nourish the streets, and the humidity in the air hints at the arrival of summer. Amidst this atmosphere, we are moving forward, carrying the memories and excitement of last month’s historic tournament remain vivid in our hearts.
The 1st World Fullcontact Karate Championship, held on May 31 and June 1, welcomed nearly 20,000 spectators and became a truly historic celebration that brought the Fullcontact karate world together as one. The event was not only a high-level competition among nations, but also a showcase of cultural depth and diversity—featuring Showa-era historical exhibits, pavilions highlighting the legacy of each participating federation, an energetic youth demonstration team, and a powerful kata by Ms. Ieva, a blind karateka, which deeply moved the audience.
During the same period, an international meeting was held, where eight International Technical Federations, along with regional and national federations from around the world officially joined our alliance. As a result, the foundation of the World Fullcontact Karate Organization (WFKO) was established—now comprising dojos in 123 countries and regions, making it the largest competitive federation in fullcontact karate history.
This achievement represents the fulfillment of a long-cherished dream in our community—the formation of a unified world sports federation for fullcontact karate. It also lays a firm foundation for the pursuit of Olympic recognition in the future.
From here onward, each federation must continue to respect its own autonomy and traditions while working together to develop unified competition rules and a fair, transparent governance structure. I sincerely hope that in four years, we will once again gather on the world stage, each having nurtured our strongest athletes and further enhanced the value of fullcontact karate.
Together with our colleagues around the world, we share a mission: to pass karate down as a truly universal martial culture to the next generation. Let us continue to value our cooperation and friendship as we work toward the continued global development of fullcontact karate.
Wishing you all good health and the continued growth of your organizations, I offer this message with respect and solidarity.
June 2025
Kenji Midori
Chairman, World Fullcontact Karate Organization (WFKO)
