Report first Ippon Shobu Karate League event

The first ESKA Ippon Shobu Karate League event took place at the Palacicogna Stadium, Treviso, Italy on Sunday 15th March 2026.
With over 700 entries from Italy, Switzerland, Belgium Hungary and Portugal this was a very successful event and bodes well for the remaining league championships to take place later this year in Switzerland on 23rd May, Austria on 30th May and Portugal on 12th September.
The event showcased the high standards of Shotokan karate and the excellent behaviour that we associate with ESKA championships.
The ESKA technical director Tommaso Mini and the WSKA technical director Maurizio Contipelli lead a referee and judge course for 70 officials before the championships to ensure that all were confident with ESKA rules.
In his speech welcoming dignitaries, competitors and spectators ESKA president Richard Poole acknowledged the wonderful atmosphere in the stadium and most impressively the camaraderie shown towards each other by rivals on the tatami. He also thanked Ofelio Michielan and Alessia Michielan for their hard work in organizing such a successful event