Watch the British Open 2024 & The Cup of Europe LIVE on YouTube!

We are thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated British Open 2024, featuring The Cup of Europe, will be live-streamed on the IFK's official YouTube channel. This is a premier event in the Kyokushin calendar, where top martial artists from across the globe come together to compete at the highest level.

Event Date: 5 October 2024
Time: 10:00 am (Check your local time zone)
Platforms: IFK Kyokushinkai Official YouTube Channel & gbkyokushinkai.smoothcomp.com for Draws and schedule

The British Open 2024 and The Cup of Europe promise a thrilling display of skill, power, and the true spirit of Kyokushin Karate. Whether you’re cheering on your favorite fighter or just looking to witness elite-level karate, you won’t want to miss this.

Key Event Highlights:

• Kumite (Full-contact fighting) between some of the world’s top Kyokushin competitors.

• The prestigious Cup of Europe, where national champions compete for international glory.

How to Join the Live Stream:

1. Visit the IFK YouTube Channel and subscribe for notifications.

2. On the event day, tune in for the live broadcast and experience the action in real time!

Don’t miss out on one of the most significant events in the Kyokushin calendar. Subscribe now to stay updated!

What’s happening in the British Karate Kyokushinkai?

The BKK Executive Committee would like to thank all BKK dojos for supporting our flagship championships the 44th British Open Knockdown Tournament 2022 incorporating the 12th Cup of Europe at K2 Crawley on the 1st of October.

The event was the largest knockdown championship the BKK has hosted with 270 participants. We hope that the introduction of the youth categories will inspire future karateka. The Cup of Europe demonstrated that this pathway is how we will build athletes of the future with our Champions: Emma Markwell and Callum Champion and runner-up Hayley Beth Rowlands leading the way.

The following International Organisations were represented: Chikara International, IKK, IKKU, IFK, IKO Matsushima, KJK, Kyokushin-kan, KWF, SBKR, Seido, Sononda Group, Tsu Shin Gen, US Oyama Karate, WKB, and WKO.

Twenty-two countries participated: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Lithuania, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Scotland, Wales, and England, and they all demonstrated that Full Contact Karate is still at the core of our ethos.

Our thanks to our Sponsors: Ride Leisure @ Wyboston Lakes and No1 Cleaning Services Limited.

Thanks also to the many who made the event such a huge success – it takes a tremendous effort to host such an event and our thanks to everyone that contributed including:

Table officials: Kath Turner, Sue Kerrigan, Helen Rowlands, Alyse Madeley, Lysha Jones, Angela Bruce, Peter, and William Laurence.

Chief Referee Shihan Andrew Turner (6th Dan) and the many national and international referees and judges.

Nick Venes and Crawley Dojo members for setting up the venue and trophies. Shihan David Pickthall (7th Dan) Organizer of the event (and the Tournament Committee) along with Gareth Jones (Tournament Manager), assisted by Chris Davies.

The Medical Team: Dr. Franz and Abi and Andy Rotherham. Kokoro, Nintai, and Milton Keynes Dojos for security. Nadia Petrova and her excellent Social Media input. Linda and Michael Keaveney on the door.

Pictures HERE

British Open 2022: Hotel reservation

SANDMAN SIGNATURE LONDON GATWICK HOTEL

This is the official hotel of the British Open 2022.

Sandman Exclusive Special Room Rate

• Standard, sleeps 2 @£99 per night, Room Only (1 King Bed)

• Standard, sleeps 3 @£109 per night, Room Only (1 Double & 1 x Single)

• Standard, sleeps 4 @£119 per night, Room Only (2 Double Beds or 1 Double & Bunks)

• Breakfast @£10 per adult

• Breakfast @£5 per child under 12 years

• Onsite parking @£10 per car, per night

• Coach parking @ £10per night

All rates are subject to availability

For reservations please contact:
RES_GATWICK@SANDMANHOTELS.CO.UK

Please quote ref BKKSEP30 to obtain your special rate

Direct Phone: +44 (0)1293 846726

Hotel main number: +44 (0)1293 561186

Getting There

The nearest train station to the hotel is Three Bridges Station which is one stop from London Gatwick Airport and on the direct line to London or Brighton. More

Visit the hotel website link here for further details.

https://www.sandmansignature.co.uk/london-gatwick

Address
18-23 Tinsley Lane South
Three Bridges
Crawley West Sussex
RH10 8XH

Fighters ENTRY will be Open soon.

British Open 2018 Fighters Preview

The BKK is set to host its 42nd British Open on Saturday 6th October 2018 at K2, Crawley in what will be an absolute hotbed of Kyokushin fighting elite and talent.

Year on year we see an increase in standard at our championships, presently there are 23 organisations from 22 countries participating in this years 42nd edition of the British Open. Here we look at some of the potential favourites and also at our BKK entries in the Cup of Europe Open categories.

Mens Lightweight

Current champion and Spanish favourite Dani Redondo is looking to take his third Crown but will have some stiff opposition with some very strong Russians including last years runner up Anton Adushkevich from Gazprom team and KWU Varna Cup Champion Maksim Voitov. Also look out for Lithuanian Champion Jonas Enimontas.

Mens Middleweight

Russia will once again have a big say in where the crown goes this year with KWU World Champions Alexandre Drozd and Victor Belyaev both vying for the title but there is some great opposition from around the globe with both last years 3rd place winners crowd favourite Clai Henry from the USA, and Zsolt Zsiga of Hungary looking to go one further and make the final. Also look out for Romanian kicker Catalin Mocanu who should excite with his fast aggressive style.

Mens Heavyweight

2018 Champ Aleksandr Karshigeev  also looks for a 3rd crown but teammate Vitalii Ishakneli will want to add to his IFK World and European titles. With some many good heavyweights its hard to pick only a few favourites but look out for Euro champs JP Jacquot of France and Eventas Guzaukas. Also we have two top fighters doing it for the over 40’s with former World Champion Samson Muripo coming all the way from Zimbabwe and multi time Euro champ Pablo Estensoro Spain

Womens LW

As Womens events go from strength to strength six time Champion Emma Markwell will look at this division and see it packed with depth. Her opponent last year Teona gazdeliani is back as a KWU World Champion, IFK World Champs runner up Rima Artemova also wants to avenge her 2014 loss to Markwell. WKO new European golden girl Skaiste Venckute will hope her high workrate can take her far and hard punching Alina Polishchuk of Russia will fancy her chances of gold. Can last years semi finalist Hayley Beth Rowlands  push for a higher ranking this year.

Womens HW

Another division packed with quality and who can pick a winner from KWU and IFK World Champion Agata Winiarska, KWU World Champion Maria Papdopoulou, Svetlana Tuchkova former IFK World Champion, Marta Lubos Poland and Sara Hagge Sweden both European Champions.

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With such a packed field, we are looking at one of the most exciting tournaments to date.