History of Karate

In fact, no change compared to the 1964 committee (except M. BRIEF disparition). The Congress decides budget, refereeing rules, an International Cup in Cannes and ...the 1st European Championships. They are set to May 7th, 1966 in Paris, Categories: team: 5 competitors + 1 reserve, and individuals: 4 competitors per nation, without weight category and only on pools (the female competitors will compete only 10 years later). They decided that the Directing Committee will meet one month before the Championships to settle all the details.

To note: the 4 th. European Congress took place in 1963 and the 1st European Championships in 1966, what explains the 3 years gap between the Congress and European Championships numbers. For example, in 1998, was held the 36th EKF Congress, and the 33d European Championships.

On May 7th, 1966, the first European Championships were held in Paris. Surprisingly, it was a success: 300 spectators, live TV : the Italian team came with a very famous movie star: Elsa MARTINELLI. For the team competition, 5 nations entered Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Italy, France, and 6 countries for the individual competition (same ones + Austria On semi-finals, Switzerland beats Italy, France beats Great Britain. For the 3rd place, Italy beats Great Britain. In finals, France beats Switzerland. Please note that the Swiss team never competed, not even clubs competition.

On individual competition, semi-finals, BAROUX (France), beats GERONEMA (Italy); SAUVIN (France) beats SETROUK (France). In finals, BAROUX beats SAUVIN. 'The matches were very hard, many face injuries were deplored. The directors decided to discuss the problem ... which was not solved 33 years later! Great Britain (President M. SOMMERS), 69 clubs, 1000 licensed, 3 Japanese experts teach on full time: MM. SUZUKI, SHIOMITSU and TAKAMIZAWA Great Britain applies for the organization Of the 2nu European Championships. Austria (President M. Karl NEVECERAL), 4 clubs and 800 licensed. Germany (President M. BRAND): 27 clubs and 1300 licensed. KARATE

WKF History

On May 24th 1964, the 2nd Karate European Congress was held in Paris. Were attending, for Germany, M. BRIEF, for Belgium, MM. GOETZ and FANNOY, for Switzerland, M. CHERIX, for France, MM. DELCOURT and SEBBAN. Were excused, M. BELL (England), M. PAANEN (Netherlands), and the representants for Italy and Spain (their names do not appear on the minutes). After a general survey on karate in each country, the delegates decided that they had to elect an executive body and so a Directing Board was elected : President Jacques DELCOURT (France), he was to remain President until 1997, i.e. 34 years !, vice-president, MM. BRIEF (Germany), CHERIX (Switzerland), FANNOY (Belgium), General Secretary M. SEBBAN (France), assistant General-Secretary : M. GOETZ (Belgium).
These directors, of which M. Delcourt is the only one remaining on duty, are the ones who started the organization of World Karate. The 1964 Congress studied others issues such as the implementation of an international referee course, the issue of a newsletter, international matches, courses given by Japanese experts and for the first time, the delegates wished the organisation of European Championships. The 3rd European Congress took place on the 21st of November 1965, still in Paris. Ten nations were members then with 3 new members : Austria, who's President, M. Karl NEVECERAL will remain on duty until 1998 (and retire only for health problems), Yugoslavia and Portugal.
The Technical adviser, M. Henry PLEE attended the Congress thus 4 Japanese experts: MM. KONO, YAMASHIMA, TOYAMA and SUZUKI. The most important issue on the agenda is the adoption of statutes which will definitely achieve the European Karate Union : they are agreed unanimously and M. DELCOURT, deeply moved, tells the assembly that the European Union is now created. Applying the statutes which were just agreed, elections for the Directing Committee take place. Unanimously, M. DELCOURT is elected EKU President, M. FANNOY (Belgium), 1st vice-president ; M. CHERIX (Switzerland), 2nd vice president, M. SEBBAN (France), General Secretary, with the function of Treasurer, and M. GOETZ (Belgium), assistant general secretary

WUKF History

The first constituted organization was the European Karate Union (UEK). To understand the World Karate general organisation, it is necessary to start with this Union. Karate, on technical plan, was introduced in many countries, as soon as 1950, by Japanese masters from mainly the JKA (Japan Karate Association). They did teach but they did not care about creating national and international organisations, as in other sports. A French, M. Henry PLEE, was one of the most important promoters, he trained hundreds of black belts. In 1961, in France, a pupil of M. Pleee, working as a jurist, also 4th Dan black belt and Karate Teacher (he used to teach after his work at the famous « Club Franccais ») ; named Jacques DELCOURT, was elected President of French Karate, then associated member of the Judo Federation.

After having organised Karate in France from 1961 to 1963, he invited afterwards the few federations known in Europe (they were 7!) to come to France at the occasion of the 1st International Karate Event of all time : Belgium/ France/ Great Britain. On the 15th of December 1963 (remember this date, it is the departure point of the world karate), he gathers in Paris the representants of 7 known nations, it was the 1st Karate European Congress! Remember also the names of the attending persons, they are the one who began the future WKF. For Italy, M. Augusto BASILE, for Belgium, MM. AARTS Leeo and STAS, for Switzerland, M. CHERIX Bernard, for Germany, M. Karl HEINZ KILTZ for Great Britain, M. BELL, for France, MM DELCOURT et SEBBAN.

The representative for Spain, M. P. GARCIA was excused. An inventory of the establishment of Karate, then very disorganised not to say not organised at all was done. It was decided to contact the different Judo federations, which, in many countries, headed up Karate. The question of different styles and techniques was approached and the delegates noted - already! - That the unification of techniques was impossible. The question of refereeing unification, which differed significantly from a country to another, was approached and put on the agenda for next meeting. An inventory of the practitioners was done: Germany 5 to 7000, Belgium, 1200 to 1500, Great Britain around 5000, France, 4000. M. DELCOURT was in charge of coordinating actions and to prepare the next meeting.