The European Karate Federation (EKF) held its annual Congress on Tuesday in Yerevan, Armenia, gathering representatives from across the continent on the eve of the 2025 EKF Senior Championships. The Congress brought together the European karate family to make key decisions for the future of the sport.
The main point on the agenda was the election of the new members of the EKF Executive Committee. Out of the ten positions, eight current members were re-elected, while two new faces joined the decision-making team.
The full list of elected members is:
- Yashar Bashirov (Azerbaijan)
- Jiri Bocek (Czech Republic)
- Davor Cipek (Croatia)
- Michael Dinsdale (England)
- Anton Gavrilov (Russia)
- Slavoljub Piper (Serbia)
- Pawel Poltorzecki (Poland)
- Georg Russbacher (Austria)
- Ercument Tasdemir (Türkiye)
- Wolfgang Weigert (Germany)
Alongside the elections, the Congress featured several reports and presentations. EKF General Secretary Davor Cipek and Treasurer Michael Dinsdale delivered updates on the organisation’s activities and finances. Updates from the European University Sports Association (EUSA) were also shared, along with a presentation of the 2025 WKF Youth Camp, which will take place in Porec, Croatia from June 23 to 25.
A key topic was the progress of karate’s inclusion in the 2027 European Games in Istanbul. The Congress reviewed the current state of discussions and expressed optimism about karate remaining part of the event’s sports programme.
Future events were confirmed as well. Presentations on the 2026 EKF Junior, Cadet & U21 Championships to be held in Limassol, Cyprus, and the 2026 EKF Senior Championships to be hosted in Frankfurt, Germany, were introduced by their organising committees.
Looking further ahead, the 2027 Senior Championships are set for Paris, France, and the Junior, Cadet & U21 event will return to Armenia. In 2028, Montenegro will host the seniors, with Israel welcoming the age-group championships.
EKF and WKF President Antonio Espinós said:
“Today’s Congress in Yerevan is another example of the unity and strength of European karate. Our sport continues to grow across the continent, bringing together athletes, officials, and fans with shared values of respect, discipline, and excellence. The popularity of karate in Europe is reflected in the number of countries eager to host our events and the high level of participation we see year after year.
“Organising the EKF Congress and Senior Championships in Armenia shows the reach and popularity of our karate family. Events like this give new opportunities to develop the sport in every corner of Europe. I want to thank the Armenian Karate Federation and everyone involved for their dedication and hard work. Together, we are building a bright future for European karate.”
Top Picture: The family of European Karate poses in a sign of unity after the Congress