To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Shihan Seiji Isobe’s opening of the first IKO South America Branch, the 15th South America Karate Championships were held in Brasilia, Brazil, on Saturday & Sunday, December 7 and 8, 2024. The championships were organized by IKO Brazil Branch Chief Shihan Riyuji Isobe with a local host Sensei Josimar Ikeda. The Brazilian Minster of Sports sanctioned this event, which welcomed 350+ competitors from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Uruguay, USA and Brazil, in Kata and Kumite categories.
In the early evening on Saturday, Dec 7, Kancho Shokei Matsui led an IKO Training Seminar with 300+ members of all ages participating.
On Sunday, Dec 8, at the Opening Ceremony, Shihan Seiji Isobe led a special demonstration with IKO South American Branch Chiefs and Dojo Operators to commemorate the 50th Anniversary.
Through this event, the IKO South American Team members were selected to participate in the upcoming 7th World Weight Category Karate Championships, this April 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.
Kancho Matsui toured South America to oversee this IKO international competitive event, and meet with local IKO members across the continent, and to conduct Training Seminars in São Paulo, & Brasilia, Brazil, as well as in Concepcion, Chile. In particular however, this South American tour was to celebrate a significant milestone for one of the IKO Kyokushinkaikan’s most legendary instructors, whose contributions to the development and recognition of the soul and spirit of the KYOKUSHINKAIKAN, cannot be overstated.
Congratulations, Shihan Seiji Isobe ~ OSU!
