EKO NEWSLETTER [2026.09.01]
GENERAL INFORMATION
• October 2-4, European Championship J16 + U21 + Open (inc. Kata Men and Women WC-2027 2nd
selection and Women Open WC-2027 1st selection), Latvia
• December 5, Kokoro Cup (inc. Women Open WC-2027 2nd selection), Poland
This Newsletter includes some new information as well as some from the previous
Newsletter. Read carefully.
News from the Referee Committee
NEW! KUMITE RULES UPDATED 2026.02.28
The rules for kumite have been updated. See the latest rule on EKO Homepage or Ekoreferees.eu.
2.10 … _approved by Referee Committee.
16.7 … by Kansui.
16.7 … break all the boards…
9.10 No attacks to the spine.
9.11 No attacks to the head or body standing from behind.
16.2 … before the 1/4 Finals (8 best fighters) in European Championship, Open weight category championship.
19.9 any attack to the face or back of the head;
20.9 any attack to the face or back of the head;
NEW! EKO REFEREES HOMEPAGE
Referees; update your profile information as soon as possible with your grade and contact information.
COACH TEST AND PARTICIPATION FEE
All coaches must have a valid coach test. For this year a valid test must have been registered 2024, 2025
or 2026. To do the test please use this link. It can be done repeatedly until all answers are correct. Please study the competition rules and antidoping rules to be found on EKO Homepage. https://www.european-
kyokushin.org/download/
Link to the Coach test: https://forms.gle/iL9zBJa2oN9h8zC3A
ATT; The Coach participation fee of 40€ must be paid before the championship through your Country
Representative. Coach meeting on Friday 6 May at 18:30 and the Draw at 19:00 in Grand Bellagio Hotel.
NEW! EKO REFEREE LICENSE DIPLOMA
It is now possible for all referee to print the latest referee license diploma from www.ekoreferees.eu. Just
log in to your account.
RANKING
Competitors ranking for the coming draw to European Championship in Riga, Latvia will be announced
about two weeks before the competition. It will be sent by mail to Country Representatives in firsthand,
eventually on Kumite Technology. Coaches and competitors who see some errors can apply for changes
according to information given together with the ranking. The draw will be done on Friday 2 October at
19:30 in Tallink Hotel Riga.
REFEREES FOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN RIGA, LATVIA
All referee of categories EKO-C, B and A in both Kumite and Kata are welcome. New referees are also
welcome and must have its own countries highest national license and a recommendation from its
Country Representative. The championship is held in two day and on 3-4 tatamis.
The Referee Course is compulsory for referees who apply for new or refresh license. Participants shall
bring all documents (from EKO Homepage), be in referee uniform and with whistle.
The course ends with a written test. For that you need a smart phone or a computer for internet
connection, WiFi is provided. The test is in English.
All rules, regulations and license validity to study can be downloaded from https://www.european-
kyokushin.org/or https://ekoreferees.eu/
Referee application for the Referee Course and EC participation:
1. Apply at: www.ekoreferees.eu
2. Registrate at: https://app.kumitetechnology.com/en/tournament/268/
After registration you will get an e-mail 2 weeks prior the EC to make a check-in confirmation of
participation.
New licenses are 50€ and refresh license is 25€. This can be paid by card or cash at the registration before
the course and the briefing.
Schedule
All meetings in the Official Hotel: Tallink Hotel Riga
1 October Thursday. 2 October Friday
• 13:30-14:00 Registration
• 16:00-18:00 Referee briefing (compulsory in referee uniform)
• 14:00-20:00 Referee Course
• 18:30-19:30 Coach meeting,
• 19:30 Draw
REFEREE BRIEFING IN RIGA, LATVIA
Before the European Championship in Riga, EKO invites to all referees to a competition briefing on Friday
2 October at 16:00-18:00.
EKO-REGION SELECTION FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2027
Selection for World Championship 2027, Women Open category and Men + Women Kata categories will be
held at three occasions 2026.
KATA
• May 9-10, European Championship Adult + J18 (inc. Kata Men and Women WC-2027 1st
selection), Batumi Georgia
• October 3-4, European Championship J16 + U21 + Open (inc. Kata Men and Women WC-2027
2nd selection and Women Open WC-2027 1st selection), Latvia
KUMITE
• October 3-4, European Championship J16 + U21 + Open (inc. Kata Men and Women WC-2027
2nd selection and Women Open WC-2027 1st selection), Latvia
• December 5, Kokoro Cup (inc Women Open WC-2027 2nd selection), Poland
EKO REFEREE COMMITTEE
Michael Söderkvist
Chairman
TECHNICAL & GRADING COMMITTEE
NEW! EKO Black Belt Grading – 21 August 2026
Stara Wieś, Poland
The EKO Technical & Grading Committee held its annual Dan Grading on 21 August in Stara Wieś, Poland.
Normally, candidates from Shodan through Yondan participate in the annual EKO Dan Grading. This year,
however, no fewer than 11 candidates were scheduled to test for Yondan.
All candidates arrived the day before the grading, and we immediately began preparations with Kihon, Ido
Geiko and Kata, led by Shihan Remigiusz Karpiński, Shihan Anca Wallmen and myself.
We worked through the standard Kihon, followed by Ido Geiko, which is closely aligned with the Ido Geiko
used by WKO during its gradings. We also covered most of the required Kata.
After two intensive training sessions, the T&G Committee felt that the candidates were well prepared for the grading.
The technical examination consisted of Kihon, Ido Geiko, Kata and stamina. The Kumite examination was
held later in the evening, and all 10 candidates who successfully completed the technical part also passed
the Kumite test.
Unfortunately, we were very sorry that the Ukrainian Shinkyokushin Organization was informed by the
Ukrainian Ministry of Sport only a few days before the grading that they were unable to travel to Poland.
We sincerely hope that the Ukrainian team will be able to participate in next year’s EKO grading, or
perhaps in the WKO grading in 2027 following the World Championship in October.
We would like to congratulate all the candidates on their hard work and achievements.
NEW! EKO Black Belt Seminar 2027 – 10th Anniversary
We are very pleased to announce that next year’s EKO Black Belt Seminar will be held from 12–14 March
2027 in Stara Wieś, Poland.
The 2027 seminar will mark the 10th anniversary of the EKO Black Belt Seminar, and we already have
some ideas about how we can celebrate this important milestone together. More details will follow in
upcoming EKO newsletters.
Please save the dates and join us for the 10th EKO Black Belt Seminar!
We look forward to welcoming you all in Stara Wieś in March 2027.
EKO GRADING & TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
Jan Bülow
Chairman
