2026 European Karate Championship for juniors J16, U21 and Adults Open Weight

Dear Presidents of National Organizations, Country Representatives, WKO Branch Chiefs, Club Leaders,
On behalf of European Karate Organization and Organizing Committee, we have the honour to invite you to the:

EUROPEAN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR JUNIORS J16, U21 AND ADULTS OPEN WEIGHT.
October 3– 4, 2026 Riga, Latvia
„BTA Daugavas maneza“, Augšiela 1, Rīga, LV-1009  

1. Weight categories and number of participants

a) European championship for U21
Born in 2006, 2007, 2008 (must be 18 years old on the day of the competition)
Kumite Men: (-65, 65-70, 70-75, 75-80, 80-85, 85-90, +90) kg
Kumite Women: (-50; 50-55, 55-60, 60-65; +65) kg
Kata Men and Women, Kata Teams:
Eliminations: Geksai Dai, Gekisai Sho, Yantsu, Tsuki no kata, Saiha
From quarterfinals: Seipai, Kanku, Seienchin, Sushiho, Garyu

b) European championship for Juniors J16 Born in 2010 or 2011
Kumite Boys: (-50, 50-55, 55-60, 60-65, 65-70, 70-75, +75) kg
Kumite Girls: (-50; 50-55, 55-60, 60-65; +65) kg
Kata Boys and Girls, Kata Teams:
Eliminations: Pinan 2, Pinan 3, Pinan 4, Pinan 5
From quarterfinals: Gekisai Dai, Yantsu, Tsuki no kata

c) European Championship for Adults Open Weight
Competitors must be at least 18 years old on the day of the competition
Kumite men and women.
In the Men Open Weight category, Tameshiwari will not be required.

d) Participation limits
Maximum 2 participants per country in each Kumite and Kata category; maximum 2 Kata teams per country.
The organizing country is entitled to one additional participant in each category and one additional Kata team.
All medalists from previous European and World Championships are additionally eligible to participate in the Open Weight Kumite category.
Adult European and World Championship medalists, as well as 1st–8th place winners in Open Weight categories, are not eligible to participate in Youth (U21) Championships.

e) Preliminary information: A selection tournament for the World Championship Kata categories (Men and Women) will be organized during the event. Detailed information will be announced later.

All rules can be found at: https://www.european-kyokushin.org 

2. Preliminary schedule:
01.10.2026 (Thursday) - arrival of participants, officials and country delegations
13:30 –Referee Course registration:
14:00 – 20:00 Referee Course and Examination.

All referee of categories EKO-C, EKO-B and EKO-A licenses in Kumite and Kata are welcome. New referees are also welcome and must have its countries highest national license and a recommendation from its Country Representative. The championship is held over two days on 3-4 tatamis. The Referee Course is compulsory for referees applying for a new or license renewal. Participation in referee uniform is mandatory. The course ends with a written test. For that you need a smart phone or a computer. The test is in English. All rules, regulations and license validity to study can be downloaded from https://www.european-kyokushin.org/ or https://ekoreferees.eu/  

Referee application for the Referee Course and EC participation must be done on www.ekoreferees.eu.
Registration of referees on https://kumitetechnology.com/en/tournament/354/ . This is for notification to the organizer.
New license is 50€ and a license renewal is 25€.

Friday, October 2

• 10:00 – 15:00 EKO committees and Board meetings
• 09:00 – 19:00 Weigh-in and medical control (Tallink hotel)

· 16:00 – 18:00 Referee registration and meeting (Tallink hotel)

· 18:30 – 19:30 Coach registration and meeting (Tallink hotel)

• 19:30 Draw (Tallink hotel)

Saturday, October 3

• 06:30 Breakfast
• 07:30 Transfers to sport hall kata participants and referees
• 08:00 – 08:30 Referee briefing
• 08:30 J16 and U21 Kata teams and individuals
• 09:00 Transfers to sport hall kumite participants
• 11:30 All J16 participant march-in
  Opening Ceremony – Taiko Drum Performance
• 12:00 J16 kumite bouts on 4 tatamis till finals
• 15:00 J16 finals bouts on Centrale tatami
• 16:00 Awarding ceremony
• 17:00 Transfers back to hotels
• 19:00 EKO General Meeting (Tallink hotel)

Sunday, October 4

• 06:30 Breakfast
• 07:30 Transfers to sport hall kata participants and referees
• 08:00 – 08:30 Referee briefing
• 08:30 Adults Kata selection tournament
• 09:00 Transfers to sport hall kumite participants
• 10:50 All U21 and Adults participant march-in
  Opening Ceremony – Taiko Drum Performance
• 11:30 Adults and U21 Kumite bouts
• 17:00 Awarding ceremony
• 18:00 Transfers back to hotels

05.10.2026 (Monday) - check-out and departure.

3. Financial conditions:
Accommodation, flight tickets, transportation and meals for all participants shall be covered by participating Country Organization, Club, or participant themselfs;

EKO participation fee:
- 80 € per each participant;
- 40 € per each coach;

All payments should be paid to EKO by bank transfer until September 14th.
IBAN: NL78RABO0103302778
BIC Code: RABONL2U
Bank: Rabobank Netherlands Stationsweg 5, 8911AG, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
In name of: European Karate Organization

4. Accommodation and Championship package

5. Airport transfers:
Contact details:
Email: transfer.riga.2026@gmail.com
Phone: +371 2925 6922

6. Conditions for participating in the Championship for fighters:
At the registration and medical control, all participants must present:
Medical certificate (in English), not older than 3 months;
Declaration for participation in the tournament;
Parent’s approval form for Juniors J16;
EKO Health Information Form;
Proof of age (ID card or P assport);
EKO Passport;
All required protectors and karate gi jacket for competitor number sewing.
The organizer will provide helmets and body protectors for Junior Kumite competition.

7. Registration and contact persons:
Registration for participants and officials available online on: https://kumitetechnology.com/en/tournament/354/
GSM: +371 29811404, email: latviankyokushin@gmail.com

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 4 SEPTEMBER 2026

Kind regards,
Mareks Lavrinovičs
Latvian Kyokushin Karate Federation President