The first K1 of the season has just ended at the Sportzentrum in Berlin. The finals offered a fantastic show. Unknown to the public, the young Japanese fighter Sakiyama beat Rafael Aghayev (-75 kg). A striking and symbolic victory that shows the Olympic race will be complicated for everyone.
By Florian Fournier in Berlin / Photos : Kphotos
-60 kg : Crescenzo takes the lead
Final
Angelo Crescenzo b. Yugo Kozaki, 5-4
In a very close fight where the Italian and the Japanese first answered each other with crossed mawashi geri shudan, Angelo Crescenzo finally gets the victory with a kizami tsuki jodan 15 seconds from the term.
Bronze
• Firdovi Farzaliyev b. Kaisar Alpysbay 2-0
In this semifinal, the logic is respected. Stronger than his opponent on paper, Farzaliyev wins bronze in control.
- Amir Mehdizadeh b. Darkhan Assadilov, 5-0
The reigning world champion Amir Mehdizadeh of Iran, who did a great bout with a yoko geri chudan, a mawashi geri chudan and a gyaku tsuki, won 5-0 against Kazak Darkhan Assadilov.
- Crescenzo (Ita)
- Kozaki (Jap)
- Farzaliyev (Aze) and Mehdizadeh (Ira)
-67 kg : Luca Maresca, a senshu winner
Final
Luca Maresca b. Vinicius Figueira, 1-1
The 2015 European champion in -60 kg, Italy’s Maresca managed well the transition in the -67 kg. Opposed to the winner of the PanAmerican championships, Brazil’s Vinicius Figueira, Maresca wins at senshu. A victory marked by an excessed celebration.
Bronze
- Hiroto Shinohara b. Dionysios Xenos, 4-0
Without any difficulty, Japan’s Hiroto Shinohara wins bronze against Greece’s Xenos, a little shy in this fight to dominate the Japanese fighter.
- Steven Da Costa b. Jordan Thomas, 5-4
He scored first and, then, well manage the fight, but Steven Da Costa is surprised by a sweep of his opponent which allows Jordan Thomas to lead 3-1 and then 4-1. Steven Da Costa’s talent thus speak and he scores an Ura Mawashi geri jodan to get back to the score (4-4). He finally scores the last point by counter-attacking with a gyaku tsuki that offers him the victory.
- Maresca (Ita)
- Figueira (Bre)
3.Shinohara (Jap) and Da Costa (Fra)
-75 kg: Sakiyama surprises the King
Final
Yusei Sakiyama b. Rafael Aghayev, 6-3
The U21 Asian champion, Yusei Sakiyama, wins the best victory of his young career. Not many inflicted a defeat like this one to Rafael Aghayev. A sweep followed by a punch and a celebration by tapping on the nipon flag of his kimono.
Bronze
- Thomas Scott b. Erman Eltemur, 3-2
US Thomas Scott wins at the last second on a counter with a gyaku tsuki in a fierce fight from both karatekas.
- Ken Nishimura b. Noah Bitsch 4-1
Ken Nishimura of Japan gave a sublime Mawashi Geri Jodan to win against a home-grown Noah Bitsch.
1.Sakiyama (Jap)
- Aghayev (Aze)
- Scott (USA) and Nishimura (Jap)
-84 kg: Araga makes his fists speak
Final
Ryutaro Araga b. Daniyar Yuldashev 3-0
Vice-champion of Asia 2017, the Kazakh Yuldashev did not weigh heavy against the Japanese world champion Ryutaro Araga. Mastering perfectly his fist techniques, Araga remained master of his fight. Like his Japanese compatriots, he already announces himself as the big favorite of the category.
Bronze
- Zabiollah Poorshab b. Ugur Aktas, 2-1
In a tough fight between two fighters who never not give up, Iran’s Zabiollah Poorshab won bu finished hobbling.
- Timothy Petersen b. Jessie Da Costa, 8-0
Timothy Petersen was merciless with France’s Jessie Da Costa. Opening the score with a 3-0 face leg technique, the Dutchman then showed a cool head to build his victory and win before the time runs out.
- Araga (Jap)
2.Yudashev (Kaz)
- Poorshab (Ira) and Petersen (Ned)
+ 84 kg : The World champion is the champion
Final
Sajad Ganjzadeh b. Gogita Arkania 4-1
He did a season of ups and downs following an injury but the Iranian World champion, Sajad Ganjzadeh is back ! In the final, he gets his karate back to beat the experienced Georgian Gogita Arkania.
Bronze
- Andgelo Kvesic b. Herolind Nishevci 3-1
It missed 5 seconds to Herolind Nishevci to win the bronze. Andgelo wins the medal with a mawashi geri jodan symbol of last hope.
- Jonathan Horne b. Shahin Atamov 7-0
Yoko geri, Mawashi geri and Ura mawashi geri. Jonathan Horne was in a great shape and his victim, Azerbaijan’s Atamov didn’t see anything coming.
- Ganjzadeh (Ira)
- Arkania (Geo)
- Kvesic (Cro) and Horne (Ger)
FEMALE
-50 kg : Ozcelik does not miss the start
Final
Serap Ozcelik b. Ayaka Tadano, 0-0
This opposition between Turkey’s Ozcelik, several times world and European medalist, and Japan’s Ayaka Tadano ended in a spectacular 0-0. Both fighters could not find the opportunity did not skimp on the techniques. In the end, the victory returned to the 5-0 flags at Serap Ozcelik.
Bronze
- Radwa Sayed b. Shara Hubrich 1-0
Egypt’s Radwa Sayed has had a hard time to defeat Germany’s Shara Hubrich.
- Endo Chinatsu b. Alexandra Recchia 2-1
Opposed to the five-time world champion, France’s Alexandra Recchia, Japan’s Endo managed to take the lead in the fight and never give up. A performance she is not ready to forget.
1.Ozcelik (Tur)
2.Tadano (Jap)
- Sayed (Egy) and Chinatsu (Jap)
-55kg : Anzhelika Terliuga easy
Final
Alexandra Grande b. Leila Heurtault, 3-1
Already winner of three other French registered (Brito, Ignace, Philippe), Alexandra Grande beats Leila Heurtault in the final. This victory is a first for this fighter that we will now monitor as usual.
Bronze
- Haya Jumaa b. Giana Lotfy, 1-0
the Canadian fihter wins in a tight fight where the show was not at the rendezvous.
• Gwendoline Philippe b. Ayami Moriguchi, 2-0
In full recovery phase after her KO last July, France’s Gwendoline Philippe won a beautiful bronze medal wby winning over Japan’s Ayami Moriguchi in a controlled battle from start to finish.
1.Grande (WKF)
2.Heurtault (Fra)
- Jumaa (Can) and Philippe (Fra)
-68 kg : Eltemur with the way
Final
Eda Eltemur b. Irina Zaretska, 7-4
In a category where a dozen fighters will have their words to say for the Olympic qualification, Turkey’s Eda Eltemur starts the race with the best way. Leading 7-0 in her final, she managed to stop the return of the current Azerbaijan’s Irina Zaretska, the reigning European Champion.
Bronze
- Silvia Semeraro b. Miroslava Kopunova, 3-1
More experienced on the international scene, Italy’s Silvia Semeraro played on this aspect to win the fight on Sunday.
- Kayo Someya b. Elena Quirici 0-0 (4-1)
In this fight between the 2012 World champion and the reigning European champion, the Japanese, after a tactical fight, wins on the flags (4-1).
1.Eltemur (Tur)
2.Zaretska (Aze)
3.Semeraro (Ita) and Someya (Jap)
+ 68kg : Uekusa like the boss
Final
Ayumi Uekusa b. Clio Ferracuti, 5-1
The world champion has left no hope to her opponent. Building her fight point after point, Ferracuti could not exist in this duel. Already leading the world ranking, Uekusa increases her lead over the other competitors.
Bronze
- Laura Palacio b. Meltem Hocaoglu 6-4
In this lively fight where the two fighters scored a leg technique in the head, Spanish’s Laura Palacio wins the bronze medal.
- Ayaka Saito b. Shymaa Aboualyazed 0-0
Nothing much happen during this final. At the end of the 2 minutes of combat, the Japanese had the favor of the referees (4-1).
1.Uekusa (Jap)
2.Ferracuti (Ita)
3.Palacio (Esp) and Saito (Jap)
Kata Male
Finale : Ryo Kiyuna (Anan) b. Issei Shimbaba (Chatanyara Kushanku), 4-1
In this all-Japanese final, Issei Shimbaba, the long-time runner-up of Ryo Kiyuna, lost once again to n°1. Kiyuna already marks his footprint from the beginning of the race to the Olympics as the man to beat.
Bronze
- Kazumasa Moto vs Damian Quintero 2-3
After two defeats of rank against the Japanese, Damian Quintero wins this colorful duel between these two champions. His Suparinpei was more convincing in the eyes of the judges than the Moto Unsu yet fast, powerful and author of a twirling jump to the delight of the public.
- Ali Sofuoglu b. Yuta Hibi 4-1
European runner-up, Turkey’s Ali Sofuoglu offered a gojushiho daï of quality to overcome Japan’sYuta Hibi , the vice-world cadet champion in 2017, were proposing Papuren.
1.Kiyuna (Jap)
2.Shimbaba (Jap)
3.Quintero (Esp) et Sofuoglu (Tur)
Female
Kiyou Shimizu (Chatanyara kushanku) vs Sandra Jaime Sanchez (Papuren) 3-2
In a duel that fits in the inevitable karate and kata, the Japanese Kiyou Shimizu wins against the Spanish Sandra Jaime Sanchez. Performing Chatanyara Kushanku, the Japanese took the measure of the Spanish Papuren to win a new K-1.
A highlight of this meeting, the two young women celebrate the birthday of Sandra Jaime Sanchez with the public. One of the highlights of this competition.
Bronze
- Natsuki Shimizu vs Emiri Iwamoto 0-5
In a first 100% Japanese duel, Emiri Iwamoto and his Papuren, one step up in all the compartments that Natsuki Shimizu and his Suparinpei won bronze.
- Ohuchi vs Viviana Bottaro 0-5
Like Emiri Iwamoto, The European vice champion Viviana Bottaro in blue as the Japanese won the bronze medal with the same kata. His Papuren was rewarded with the Kosokun sho of Japanese Ohuchi.
- Shimizu (Jap)
2.Sanchez
- Iwamoto and Bottaro
Team Kata
Men
- WKF
- Spain
- Turkey and Italy
Women
- Italy
- Russia
- Spain and Austria
