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!

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.

An Interview with Sensei Emma Markwell

The Martial Way podcasts: 

Sensei Emma Markwell is a British and World Champion in Kyokushin Karate, and podium holder of many International Kyokushin Karate Tournaments. She is a member of the International Federation Karate (IFK) and British Karate Kyokushinkai (BKK).

It was an absolute pleasure to speak to Sensei Emma. We covered her background in Kyokushin, training, her personal coaching and much more. I really enjoyed this conversation, and I hope you do as well. Osu!

Scott Heaney

Emma Markwell is the KWU World Champion, as the BKK women set a high bar

Emma taking the fight to Ficks (IFK Russia) in the final match

The KWU held the 4th World Championships in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan on 7-8th December in a hotly contested and high-level competition.

Emma Markwell, having gained silver at the previous three champioships, finally took gold and the title of World Champion in the -65kg class, in an impressive display over 2 days beating her final opponent from Russia in an aggresive and tough match.

Congratulations to Sensei Emma, our World Champion!

Hayley Beth Rowlands battled her way through 2 days to gain a very well deserved silver place in her strong -5okg category.

Congratulations to Senpai Hayley on her first world podium placing.

British Open 2019 Results

Another hotly contested tournament across all categories. See results below, and relive the action.

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Relive the action

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AREA A

Cadets U18 Boys and Girls all categories

Womens Open -60kg/+60kg

Mens Open +80kg

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AREA B

U18 England vs USA / U18 Wales vs USA / U18 England vs Wales

Novice Mens & Womens all categories
Mens Open -70kg/-80kg

British Open 2019 (Cup of Europe) will be streamed live

The 2019 British Open will be streamed live across two areas from 10am GMT - click here

Under 18s success at the 2nd KWU Youth European Tournament, Berlin Germany

On the 18-19th May, Ashley Black and Rhys Meredith from Crawley and Mountain Ash dojos respectively, represented the BKK as part of a unified Team GB alongside two members invited from the IKK (Callum Chapman and Harry Clemo), both regular England and GB squad training attendees.

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[L-R] Back Row - Wai Cheung, Meidi Divash, Norman King, Andrew Turner, Alex Kerrigan, David Pickthall, Lia Howlett, Chris Davis

Front Row - Callum Chapman (IKK), Ashley Black, Rhys Meredith, Harry Clemo (IKK)

Both Ashley Black and Harry Clemo scored waza aris in their quarter final bouts to advance to the semi finals. Both lost out in the semi-finals to Russian national champions. There was more top level experience for Rhys Meredith and Callum Chapman who had tough bouts, and can feel pleased with their performances. Twenty seven countries took part and it was also great to have such a strong judging team from the UK.

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Team GB announced for IFK European 2018 tournament

The adult and U18 GB Knockdown Team has been announced for the IFK European tournament, held in Armenia on the 7th and 8th April.

(clockwise): Gab Barbu, Blake Collins, Emma Markwell, Jaime-May Rowlands, Beth Salvi, Luke Baldwin, Hayley-Beth Rowlands

We wish them the best as they move into the final weeks of preparation. Representing IFK Great Britain will be:

U18 Team

• Jaime May Rowlands  U18 BKK Cwmbran
• Bethany Salvi  U18 BKK Crawley
• Sensei Wai Cheung Coach

Adult Team

• Emma Markwell Lightweight BKK Westcroft
• Hayley Beth Rowlands Lightweight BKK Cardiff
• Blake Collins Middleweight BKK Crawley
• Luke Baldwin Middleweight BKK Mountain Ash
• Gabriel Barbu Heavyweight BKK Crawley
• Sensei Kenny Jarvis Coach

Diamond Cup and Scottish Open round up and results

The BKK had a busy weekend with competitors going to both the Diamond Cup in Belgium and the IKKU Scottish Open.

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We had nine participants in Antwerp at the WKO event with Emma Markwell BKK securing her second diamond winning the -57kg title. In a strong field she worked her way to the final defeating Kimm Carriere from Canada in the semi.

Hayley Beth Rowlands also fought in the other semi final but lost out to the Bulgarian WKO European Champion. Its another successful step for Hayley as she works her way towards the top honours.

Also competing in the adults was Lisa Heath who made the Quarters but lost by decision to Swedish fighter Cecilia Wallin and Luke Baldwin who had a tough three rounder to the very durable Juan Carlos Auge of Spain.

The cadets had to fight with slightly different rules to what they are used to with helmets and light contact kicks to the head scoring waza ari so I don't think this suited their fighting style but it was still great experience for the three of them with Jaime May Rowlands and Jess Charsley taking joint 3rd and Luke Jones missing out to the head kick rule.

The BKK also competed in the Kata event with Janine Davies taking a credible 3rd place losing to the European Champion in the semi and Sunil Tailor missed out early on.

Meanwhile in Scotland the BKK had approximately twenty participants and they picked up lots of silverware.

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We did really well in the Novice categories with gold Weronika Oleisejuk WHW , Harry Harden MLW and Dylan Baldwin MMW. Also Invictus got 2nd in MHW with Tristan Taylor and most spirited fighter Jon Joe Lawler in tough novice categories.

In the Open categories fight of the day saw MW final teammates Blake Collins and Dawid Ozga fight a tough three round battle with Collins sneaking a 3-2 decision .

Ben Watson of Westhill also deserves a mention for a very hard earned 3rd place in MHW to show he is improving all the time.

Overall the event was a tremendous success for the BKK with lots of valuable experience and we look forward to seeing them all compete at the BKK English Open in May!

Results

Diamond Cup

WLW Emma Markwell Westcroft 1st

WLW Hayley Beth Rowlands Cardiff 3rd

CGLW Jaime May Rowlands Cwmbran 3rd

CGLW Jess Charsley Verwood 3rd

Womens Kata Janine Davies Mountain Ash 3rd

Scottish Open

MMW Blake Collins Crawley 1st

MMW Dawid Ozga Crawley 2nd

MHW Ben Watson Westhill 3rd

WHW Lyndsey Moulden Ynysybwl 2nd

NWHW Weronika Olesiejuk Melton Mowbray 1st

NMLW Harry Harden Crawley 1st

NMMW Dylan Baldwin Mountain Ash 1st

NMHW Tristan Taylor Invictus 2nd

Veterans LW Sid Moulden Mountain Ash 2nd

Veterans LW Matthew Lawler Invictus 3rd

Veterans HW Dariousz Delecta West Yorkshire 3rd

Most Spirited Fighter Jon Joe Lawler Invictus

British Open 2017 Results

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