Kyokushin karate-Joel Pinchon ready to fight in Japan |14 August 2009

He will be accompanied by five Kyokushin karatekas. Two will play the role of officials and the other three are supporters.

Organised by the International Karate Organisation (IKO), the International Youth Karate World Championships will take place at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba, Tokyo, and will attract over 1,500 karatekas from more than 50 countries, competing in both kata (forms) and kumite (fighting). The Women’s World Karate Championships, Senior World Karate Championships and the 4th World Weight Karate Championships will take place at the same time, from August 21-23.

Pinchon will compete only in the under-80kg kumite. He was selected last year to fight in Japan after he impressed Shihan Kenny Uytenbogaardt, 7th dan, with his fighting ability.

Pinchon will write a piece of history as this is the first time a Seychellois junior male karateka will fight in Japan.

At the end of the tournament, the karatekas will take part in a training seminar to be conducted by Kancho Shokei Matsui, the current head of the Kyokushinkai organisation.

So far, only male and female karatekas from the Kyokushin school have been representing Seychelles in tournaments in Japan since 1987. They fought in the Men’s World Open Tournament held every four years, Men’s World Weight Tournament and Women’s World Weight Tournament held every two years.
    
The team would like to thank Laxmanbhai & Company, Barry Galvin & Sons, the National Sports Council and the Seychelles Karate Federation for making the Japan trip possible.