Kyokushin World Union

Switzerland Karate

Time to be United

The Kyokushin World Union (KWU) is an international federation of independent and equal Kyokushin organizations. The federation aims to reduce the divisions between different Kyokushin groups and work together toward a strong, united future for Kyokushin.

The KWU connects friendship, cooperation, international competition, and respect for the tradition of Masutatsu Oyama within one global structure.

The organization

Profile

An international Kyokushin union

The KWU brings together international Kyokushin organizations that retain their own identity while working together within a common structure. The federation is open to groups that share the ideals of Kyokushin and the union's objectives.

The organization is non-profit and registered in Lausanne, Switzerland. Its international operations include national federations, regional representatives, joint events, and global contacts between athletes, instructors, and officials.

The official structure consists of a General Assembly and an Executive Committee.

Over the years

History

Founded in 2011

The Kyokushin World Union was founded and registered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2011. During an international conference on Kyokushin in the modern world, the groundwork was laid for new cooperation between international Kyokushin organizations.

The founding organizations were the International Federation of Karate (IFK), Kyokushin-kan International (KI), and the Kyokushin World Federation (KWF). Their representatives signed the statutes of the new union during the founding conference on October 12, 2011.

In the years that followed, the KWU established its own international competition calendar, featuring world and continental championships for adults and youth.

Within the sport

Activities and role

Championships and development

The KWU organizes world and European championships for adults and youth. The calendar includes, among other events, men's and women's championships in different weight classes and youth tournaments.

Before major competitions, the federation organizes refereeing seminars to support the quality and consistency of officiating. National federations also organize tournaments according to KWU rules and under the auspices of the union.

Together with the Bulgarian Karate Kyokushin Federation, the KWU also supports international training camps in Kamchia, Bulgaria, where athletes from different countries and martial arts train together.

Connection

Membership and participation

National federations

Representatives of international organizations that are members of the KWU can collaborate in their country to establish a national KWU federation. This enables them to strengthen national Kyokushin practice, organize qualifying tournaments, and set up joint activities.

The national structure connects local dojos and athletes with continental and world championships. At the same time, there remains room for the individual tradition and organization of each affiliated group.

The KWU is committed to participation without discrimination and welcomes interested groups and individuals in its international activities.

Why this matters

Impact and meaning

Unity within Kyokushin

The central mission of the KWU is to renew and preserve the school of Sosai Masutatsu Oyama and bring Kyokushin practitioners together from around the world.

Through joint championships and training activities, the federation aims to strengthen the skills of athletes and judges. The union views cooperation as a way to make Kyokushin's shared values visible, without erasing the different organizational backgrounds.

This makes the KWU an international platform for connection, athletic development, and the preservation of Kyokushin.

Media and additional information

KWU and SENSHI

The KWU website describes SENSHI as a separate professional series of gala events within the KWU International Professional League. SENSHI brings together kickboxing, Muay Thai and Kyokushin Karate matches in its own professional format.

KWU itself remains the international federation with its members, championships, rules, national structures and training activities. SENSHI is the professional competition format presented alongside it within the KWU ecosystem.

More information about the Kyokushin World Union can be found at kwunion.com.