VII Open Russian Karate Championship Finishes in Martial Arts Palace in Moscow. Don’t miss our photo and TV report!
Exclusive Comment by M.V. Slipenchuk, President of Russian
Kyokushin-kan Karate-do Federation upon the closing of the VII
Russian Kyokushin-kan Karate Championship
On 2-3 April 2011 in Moscow Martial Arts Center (118 A Varshavskoe
Highway), the Russian Kyokushin-kan Karate-do Championship Took
Place. In the framework of the championship, a cooperation
agreement was signed between the Russian Kyokushin-kan Karate-do
Federation and the Kyokushin-kan Budo Karate Federation. On behalf
of the Russian Kyokushin-kan Karate-do Federation the agreement was
signed by M.V. Slipenchuk, the Federation’s President and head of
METROPOL Group of Companies. He is confident that uniting the
efforts of the two federations will strengthen the position of
karate in this country. Mr Slipenchuk himself has been going in for
Kyokushin-kan karate for a long time and considers it a very
suitable sport for Russia. After the championship he said, “The
name of the style - Kyokushin-kan – can be translated as “absolute
truth”. This is a special style, full contact, which tempers the
spirit and, first of all, breeds respect towards your opponent and
senior people. Kyokushin-kan has a long tradition and I think it is
highly relevant for Russians today: to train yourself to protect
your family and your country. The spirituality that comes
along with this sport is characteristic of the Russian people. This
is why I believe this sport to be not only international but also
useful for the Russians. Moreover, in these times of transition,
when there is no guidance, the ideology is vague, when children
feel lost, I think this is what we need. Besides, the federation’s
structure is quite orderly: from district groups to the World
Championship. I think that any child who takes up the sport has far
reaching prospects. I, for example, took it up in much later age,
at 22. Then there was a break and I only got back in 2002, when
METROPOL was developing dynamically and I realized I needed
spiritual strength, as well as physical, to run the company. I
found it in this sport, or, rather, this art. I am still doing it
and I have a black belt and first dan. But there are 10 ranks, so
there is ample room for improvement!”