The development of Karate in the Americas was further highlighted this past week at the 2023 PKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships.

In addition to the tournament, which crowned the future stars of the sport in the continent and qualified the PKF representatives to compete at the 2023 World Combat Games in Riyadh, meetings were held ahead of the event to ensure that the foundations of the structures of the organisation were maintained.

The Executive Committee of the PKF gathered on the eve of the event to discuss ways to continue extending the progress of the sport in the continent. Headed by PKF President and WKF Vice President José García Maañón, the meeting stressed the importance of continuing to develop the sport in the region, especially at the grassroots level.

As the increasing role of women in Karate’s leading positions is at the core of the strategic plan of the PKF, as well as it is for the WKF, a PKF Women’s Congress was held in Santiago. With ways to continue ensuring the leadership of women in the organisation on top of the agenda, the meeting was headed by the PKF Women Commission, chaired by Monica Irungaray.

A Medical Congress headed by Commission chairman Juan Silva and a Technical Congress directed by Technical director Juan Carlos Landaburu were also held in Santiago.

WKF President Antonio Espinós said:

“I want to thank the PKF and its president José García Maañón for the successful event in Santiago. The PKF has become a trailblazer in the development of Karate, especially in terms of improving the presence of women in leading roles of National Federations. The organisation of activities such as the PKF Women’s Congress showcases how much Karate has progressed in putting women at the forefront of our sport, and I am sure that these standards will be replicated in other continents.