4th December 1997 -- Bulletin N° 5 /1997

Dear Mr. President, dear Friends,

the year 1997 has been most successful for our newly formed confederation WKC. Starting with only a few individuals we achieved within one year a stable organization with now more than 30 member federations. We do thank you very much for your help and contribution to the aims of WKC.

A new member joined WKC:

Indian Karate & Kobudo Confederation -President: Mr. S. S. Harichandan --We welcome our karate friends from India in our confederation and wish them the best of success in their future activities.

We have applications from the following federations/associations which want to affiliate from January 1998 on:

Shi Kon Budokai, Czech Republic -- Higashi-kai, England -- Irish Amateur Karate Association, Ireland -- Federata e Karates e Kosoves, Yugoslavia -- Turk Shotokan Karate Association, Turkey

There are still more federations which asked for information: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Macedonia, Netherlands, Sweden, Trinidad & Tobago, Uzbekistan.

The preparations for the I st WKC European Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, are in full progress. We are sure to have a great event which will be organized by WKC founder members Mr. Boris Horacek and Ladislav Klementis (who is a WKC Director for Goju Ryu as well). The date of the WKC referee and technical seminar and the European Championships is 4th - 7th June 1998.

Mr. Carlo Henke, our Secretary General and Vice-President, celebrated his 60th birthday on 28th June 1997. Mr. Henke started karate more than 30 years ago in Italy and is now the president of our member federation Federazione Italiana Sportiva Karate FESIK.

We have to announce the sudden death of our friend Georg Piluris who passed away on 1st October 1997. Mr. Piluris was one of the most experienced referees of the German JKA Karate Federation since his first international tournament in 1980. In his early days of karate he was also a very successful competitor and coach. At our 1st WKC World Championships in Arezzo this year Mr. Piluris was one of the best Shobu Ippon referees.

Please note the date of the 1st WKC Children & Junior World Cup --26th / 27th September 1998 -- Locarno, Switzerland.

There will be kata events in the four main styles of WKC for all children and juniors and kumite individual from 15 years to 17 years in Shobu Ippon and Shobu Sanbon. The weight categories in Shobu Sanbon will be:

Junior male: -63 kg; -73 kg; +73 kg Junior female: -52 kg; -56 kg; +56 kg.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sincerely yours --Fritz Wendland President W K C