At 23, Burak Uygur became the target. But he shots faster than his opponents and, finally ; it’s him that hit first the bull’s eye. Two-time European champion (-67 kg), 2018 Grand Winner and World n°1, he is logically the big favorite for the World champion title in Madrid (November 6-11). 

But he does not say he is the best, he speaks of honor when we talk about Grand Winner, and thanks his coaches, including his father. A cool guy dressed in the Making of Great.

By Ludovic Mauchien / Photos : Kphotos

Burak Uygur is the typical profile of the dreamed son-in-law. Rather good-looking, always smiling, discreet, very polite, respectful and, in addition, he has talent and he wins ! The ideal profile. Almost... He is often away from the marital home. « Since I got married, at the beginning of the year, I saw my wife only 3 to 4 days a month. My whole life is now focused on Karate ».

Karate is his life. His karate is to win. His martial way ? Follow the path to realize his childhood dream : become Senior World Champion.

In his mind, it is not an empty word. It's even more a will than a dream. In November 2015, in the wake of his U21 world title, he told us : « Since I was little, I dream of being Senior World champion. Before each fight, I dream that I will win, that I will be the champion. (Today), I accomplished a part of my dreams. I have the 2nd half to write. I love how it feels to be U21 World champion. I cannot even imagine how it is in Senior ! I will do everything to achieve it ».

That’s even what he has been doing since he is 5 years old. First trained by his father, Zeki Uygur, until his teenage years, he was then coached by Murat Delihasan in the national team. « I want to thank my teachers, including my father. He loves Karate and he has a club in Istanbul. I can say that I am professional since the age of 5 », he laughs. Translation : Daily training before even going to school. But in Turkey, Karate is very popular. It's not enough to show your teeth. It is also necessary to tighten the jaw and to lengthen the Mawashi to make you a place. This has never really been a problem for Burak Uygur (-67 kg, 1.78 m) !

« I FEEL IT ! I DREAM ABOUT IT !! I WANT IT ! »

At 16, in 2011, he joins the national team, he becomes U18 European champion in 2013 and ranks 3rd in the Mediterranean Games in 2014. In 2015, he is invited to the Senior European championships. In Istanbul, in front of his audience, he reaches the final, only beaten by Azerbaijan’s Aliyev. But blood will out, the one of a champion. A month later, in Baku, in... Azerbaijan, he takes his revenge on Aliyev in the ½ finals of the 1st European Games, before winning the event.

He retains the lesson from this lost final. Since then, out of the 8 he has played, he has lost only one (Dubai 2018). In addition to his U21 World title at the end of 2015, he also wins the U21 European championships early 2016, his jubilee in Youth categories.

Aside from the 2016 Worlds (5th), Burak Uygur is each time on time. With the Turkish team, two-time European champion, of which he is a pillar, but also in -67 kg. At 23, he is the target to beat. He is a two-time reigning European champion, 2018 Grand Winner thanks to his victories in Rotterdam and Tokyo and his final in Dubai, and logically World. He is the best, though ? !...

« Being Grand Winner is an honor. And I can not say that I am the best. I am « the best favorite » for the World championships », he smiles. « I always fear about arrogance ». A humility befitting the Great. He is not one to rest on his talent. With confidence and without arrogance, he moves towards the Worlds, towards this gold medal that makes him dream for so many years. Victorious in Tokyo, for the final tournament before Madrid, he is gaining strength to hope to reach his peak in Spain.

« My victory in Japan proved to me again that I could do it. I feel like I can be World champion. I dream about it ! I want it ! I train very, very hard every day for that. I hope this will become reality. But only God knows it ». In any case, do not count on him to pass by and be intimidated or overwhelmed by the event. His mental is one of his strong point !

BURAK UYGUR

Born April 14, 1995 in Istanbul

Country : Turkey

Category : -67 kg

Height : 1,78 m

Records

European Champion in 2017 and 2018. 2nd in 2015

Winner of the European Games in 2015

3rd of the Mediterranean Games in 2014

U21 World champion in 2015

U21 European champion in 2016

U18 European Champion in 2013

European team champion in 2017 and 2018

Karate 1 : 3 wins (Istanbul 2015, Rotterdam and Tokyo 2018), 4 podiums (2018 : 2nd in Dubai)