Kyokushin Australia

Controversy continues to haunt the Kyokushin Karate IKO1 World Tournament. Read on for details…

Let me preface this article with some thoughts…

As Dana White, President of the UFC, always says… if you leave the decision of the fight in the hands of the judges then you are open to their interpretation of the fight. Kyokushin Karate is no different to this. Judging is a hard thing to do. Judges see the fight from different angles and have their own interpretation as to what is going to win the fight. If you don’t completely dominate the fight or gain a wazari or ippon then complaining about a judges decision will get you no where.

Anyway – on to the article…

Judging again made a mockery of the so called unbiased 9th World Tournament this month.The first and second day saw complete losses to Japanese fighters but still the judges raised flags in the favour of the Japanese as well as certain favourite fighters.

The standard between judges was atrocious – it appeared ads through there was no similarities between the judges as each judged changed the tournament rules as they went along.With a strong European contingent in the crowd this year, who were happy to express their disapproval, the Tokyo Gymnasium had never seen such noise with booing and jeering coming on every bad decision.

The last fight of Day 2 saw a terrible decision (5-0) to see Uchida go through to the final 32, topping off what was perhaps the worst day of judging ever at a world tournament.

Obviously something was said as the standard of judging on day 3 increased (marginally) with Shihan Nic Cujic making decisions to knock out 2 of the Japanese fighters.

Terrible referring in the Aturo top 16 fight saw Aturo getting away with pushing, which had been stamped down on in the tournament, when finally the judge saw it fit to give Aturo a penalty. When the time ran out the flags were raised against Aturo but Matsui stepped in to save the So-Honbu fighter. Needless to say, the crowd were not very happy.

Aturo was a better fighter – but only when he pushed to move the fast attacking Japanese lightweight away from him, as this was being penalised in the tournament, perhaps he didn’t deserve to go though – in any case it took Matsui to save him – similar to the Osipov incident of the 8th World Tournament.

Topping off the terrible judging at this years tournament was Isobe’s judging in the 3rd place final. Darmen Sadvokasov vs Artur Hovhannisian. It appeared that Isobe could only see the white fighter, Darmen, constantly warning him but choosing to ignore the continued raising of red flags from all of the corner judges for Aturo’s pushing. Aturo having almost been removed from the tournament, because of the pushing, seemed to be able to do no wrong in the eyes of Isobe, as it appeared Isobe had made up his mind that Aturo was going to finish in 3rd place before the tournament has started.

Perhaps it was Isobe’s dislike for the Russians or instructions from Matsui to ensure the So-Honbu fighter placed well.

IKO1 9th World Tournament results. Read for details…

The 9th World Tournament saw some exceptional fighters and proved that the standard of Kyokushin is ever increasing.

Results

1st – Ewerton Teixeira (Brazil)

2nd – Jan Soukup (Czech Republic)

3rd – Artur Hovhannisian (Armenia)

4th – Darmen Sadvokosav (Russia)

5th – Andrey Stepin (Russia)

6th – Alejandro Navarro (Spain)

7th – Eduardo Tanaka (Brazil)

8th – Tatsuya Murata (Japan)

Tameshiwari – Lechi Krubanov (Russia) – 32 Boards

Simon Kennedy has been included in the Australia team – much to the dissapointment of Kentaro Tanaka. Read on for details…

Kentaro Tanaka was facing a some what easy first fight against Albacer Cisse from Ivory Coast – but as he has pulled out of the tournament – Simon Kennedy was given the go to fight.

Tanaka will have a tough first fight against Kennedy, being Australia’s top fighter – although there is some doubt about his preperation with no major tournament participation this year.

Simon will be fighter #95

Official English draw for 9th World Tournament (IKO/Matsui) has been release. See below for complete draw…

192 fighters, 4 Blocks. All roads lead to the … Tokyo Gymnasium!

A Block

B Block

C Block

D Block

Note (these links open up in a new window – so make sure you don’t have your popup blocker on!)

A tough road await the Australian Fighters at the World Tournament this year, while the New Zealanders have a slightly smoother path… read on for more details….

Australian fighters, Luke Leonard and Balan Balasubramaniam have drawn 2 of the seeded fighters at the 9th World Tournament, Arthur Hovhannisyan and Ewerton Teixeira.

Pictured here at 2007 Ichigeki Brazil (Teixeira winning in that match up).

With 2 of the Australian fighters facing top 8 seeds in the first round it looks like the best placed fighters for Australia are Mark Claridge and Nathan Goodin. They have a bye in the first round and can meet top 8 seeds in the fourth fight.

New Zealand on the other hand has been given a great draw. For some reason, 5 out of their 8 fighters have been give a bye in the first round. Also none of their fighters face a top 8 seed, although Kepiera Peita will face a tough first round against Andrey Stepin.

Australia

Group A
#2 Balan Balasubramania vs #1 Ewerton Teixeira (188cm, 105kg, 25yo, 2nd Dan, Brazil)

#43 Shaune O’Farell vs #43 Tatsuya Murata (172cm, 82kg, 25yo, 1st Dan, Japan)

Block B
#53 Anthony Meola vs #54 Daniel Opazo (175cm, 81kg, 28yo, 1st Dan, Chile)

#88 Mark Claridge has by first round

Block C
#106 Nathan Goodin has bye first round

#140 John Whitford vs #139 Yoshiki Yumiba (178cm, 98kg, 29yo,1stDan, Japan)

Block D
#146 Luke Leonard vs #145 Arthur Hovhannisyan (185cm, 100kg, 32yo, 3rd Dan, Armenia)

#187 Steven Cujic vs #188 Freddy Dubois (178cm, 75kg, 27yo, 1sy Kyu, Seychelles)

New Zealand

Block A
#9 Jack Tuhega has bye first round
#33 Mikaere Peita has bye first round

Block B
#63 Scott Johnson has bye first round

Block C
#118 Kevin Mamber has a bye first round
#128 Troy Freeman vs #127 Eder de Gama (175cm, 83kg, 25yo, 2nd Kyu, Brazil)

Block D
#149 Warren Gabb vs #150 Julio Nascimento (178cm, 83kg, 34yo, 1st Dan, Brazil)

#170 Kepiera Peita vs #169 Andrey Stepin (183cm, 102kg, 25yo, 2nd Dan, Russia)

#178 Eddie Ta Ahu has bye first round

Here is some information on the 8 fighters that make up this years IKO1/Matsui 9th World Tournament. More detail to come – just need to get some more photos and tournament history – if anyone can help please sent me an e-mail

#2 Balan Balasumbramaniam
Height – 177cm
Weight – 77kg
Age – 28
Rank – 1st Kyu
Dojo – Brisbane

History
2007 Australian Nationals – Best 8

#43 Shaune O’Farell

Height – 189cm
Weight – 100kg
Age – 31
Rank – 1st Kyu
Dojo – Brisbane

History
2007 America’s Cup – Competitor
2007 Australian Nationals – Best 8
2003 8th World Tournament – Competitor
2001 New Zealand Nationals – 1st Place (Heavyweight)

#53 Anthony Meola
Height – 183cm
Weight – 101kg
Age – 23yo
Rank – 1st Dan
Dojo – Sydney

History
2007 Australian Nationals – Best 8

#53 Mark Claridge (replacement for Mohamad Charafeddine due to injury)
Height – 176cm
Weight – 87kg
Age – 40yo
Rank – 1st Dan
Dojo – Sydney

History
2007 Australian Nationals – Competitor

#106 Nathan Goodin
Height – 184cm
Weight – 88kg
Age – 22yo
Rank – 2nd Kyu
Dojo – Brisbane

History
2007 Australian Nationals – 3rd Place
2007 Queensland States – 1st Place
Nephew of Wally Schnaubelt

#140 John Whitford
Height – 178cm
Weight – 97kg
Age – 34yo
Rank – 2nd Dan
Dojo – Caringbah (Sydney)

History
2007 Australian Nationals – 2nd Place
2001 World Weight Catagory Tournament – Competitor

#146 Luke Leonard

Height – 172cm
Weight – 77kg
Age – 23yo
Rank – 2nd Kyu
Dojo – Brisbane

History
2007 Australian Nationals – Best 8

#187 Steven Cujic

Height – 184cm
Weight – 92kg
Age – 23yo
Rank – 2nd Dan
Dojo – Caringbah (Sydney)

History
2007 Australian Nationals – 1st Place
2007 3 Month Uchi deshi program at Honbu Tokyo Sept-November 2006 (http://www.cujickyokushin.com/events/Japan2006.php)
2006 Australian Nationals – 2nd Place (Super Heavyweight)
2006 2nd U.S. Weight Category Championships – 3rd (Heavyweight)
2005 America’s Cup – Competitor

Here is the lastest information on the 9th World Tournament squads…

Still trying to get further information on European team. I tracked down the France fighter, but still looking for more. Anyone help??

Japan
Yoshiaki Uchida
Kentaro Tanaka
Hiroyuki Kidachi
Yoshitatsu Beppu
Makoto Ikemoto
Makoto Taniguchi
Makoto Akaishi
Yuji Kogure
Tadakuni Tokuda
Osamu Shiojima
Kengo Shimizu
Naoki Ichimura
Tatsuya Murata
Yuzo Suzuki
Yuto Watanabe
Yuki Fukui
Masahiro Sato
Kentaro Aso
Masafumi Tagahara

Brazil
Ewerton Teixeira
Andrews Nakahara
Sergio da Costa
Anderson Fabiano Silva
Diogo Silva
Eduardo Tanaka
Anderson Da Silva
Wagner Xavier
Robson Batista
Eder Gama
Claive Cordeiro
Julio Nascmento
Ricardo Prada

Russia
Artur Unezhev(???????????)
Vladmir Kozhokhin(????????????)
Andrey Chirkov(??????????)
Sergey Nikishaev(???????????)
Alexey Bykov(?????????)
Ibragim Gogaev(??????????)
Sokrat Suleymanov(????????????)?
Adlan Abzotov(???????????)
Khuseyn Elikanov(??????????)
Lechi Kurbanov(????????)
Rustam Unezhev(?????????)
Dmitry Lunev(??????????)?
Mikhail Kozlov(?????????)
Roman Vaytseshek(????????????)
Darmen Sadvokasov(????????????)
Igor Titkov(???????????)
Sergey Uvitskiy(???????????)
Evgeniy Shevnin(???????????)
Goderzi Kapanadze(??????????)
Andrey Stepin(??????????)
Nurmagamed?Mamedov(???????????)
Artem Pukas(?????????)

North American Fighters
Dominic Adam (Canada)
Johnathan Aumout (Canada)
Stephan Parent (Canada)
Stephan Beauregard (Canada)
Johnny Le Blanc (Canada)
Michi Nagase (Canada)
Victor Potvin (Canada)
Koszla Zbigniew (Canada)
Marek Kosowski (Chicago)
Zensaku Munn (LA)
Shohei Yamamoto (LA)
Masashi Odate (LA)
Michael Martinez (NYC)
Damian Kolano (NYC)
Mauricio Alvarado (Costa Rica)
Carlos Castro (Costa Rica)
Julio Del Valle (Costa Rica)
Takashi Omuro (LA:Reserve)

Australia
Steven Cujic
John Whitford
Nathan Goodin
Mohamad Charafeddine
Anthony Meola
Balan Balasubramaniam
Shaune O’Farrell
Luke Leonard

New Zealand
Warren Gabb
Kapira Pieta
Troy Freeman
Eddie Te Ahu
Lyndon Pehi
Mikaere Pieta
Jack Tuhega
Kevin Maker

Europe
SPAIN

Alejandro Navarro
Pablo Estensoro
Javier Lezkano
Hector Cabrera

France

JULIEN PORTERIE

More of European team to come…