Current News

Results of the 2008 Kyokushin Challenge Open Tournament

An international tournament was held on April 5, 2008 in the Ellenburg High School. Delegates from the United States, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Chile, and others attended. Tournament results are available here.

Results of the 2007 Northwest Kyokushin Regional Invitational Tournament

A regional tournament was held on January 27, 2007 in the Ellenburg dojo. Delegates from Pullman, Davenport, Ellensburg, Redmond, and Seattle attended. Tournament results are available here.

Members of NW Kyokushin Promoted

Sensei John Adams has been promoted to 5th dan (godan) by the IKO-Matsushima. Sensei Ian Quitadamo has been promoted to 4th dan (yondan). Testing took place at Shihan John Taylor's dojo in Bondi Junction just outside of Sydney, Australia.

Results of 5th Northwest Kyokushin Regional Invitational Tournament

A regional tournament was held on January 29, 2005 in the Ellenburg dojo. Delegates from Pullman, Ellensburg, and Seattle attended. Tournament results are available here.

The 7th World Tournament Press Release

CWU Kyokushinkai Karate Has Strong Showing at the 2004 World Open Full Contact Karate Tournament in Isesaki City, Japan

Ellensburg , Wash. December 6, 2004 – The Central Washington University Kyokushinkai Karate club announced the results of the 7 th World Open Karate Tournament today. The World Tournament, a full contact bare-knuckle knockdown competition, took place over the November 27-28 weekend in Isesaki City, Japan. Preeminent fighters from nearly 30 countries competed in the most prestigious and difficult karate tournament in the world. For the four members of the CWU Kyokushin dojo on the United States knockdown team, this was also their first televised Olympic-level event.

CWU Kyokushin dojo and U.S. team members Sarah Woolley, Tomoko Tanikawa, Cameron Smith, and Collin Smith competed in the tournament. Sarah and Tomoko competed in the women’s heavyweight and middleweight divisions respectively, while Cameron and Collin both competed in the men’s open weight division. Sensei Ian Quitadamo, a CWU faculty member in Biological Sciences and Science Education, served as ringside coach for the U.S. team.

Fighters in the World Tournament competed head-to-head with full power, bare-knuckle punches to the body and kicks to the head and body. Keeping with Kyokushin fighting tradition, aside from groin and mouth guards, no body protection of any kind was allowed. Matches took place on a traditional three-foot high tatami platform in the center of a huge arena surrounded by spectators and teams from Australia, New Zealand, Iraq, Iran, Russia, Hungary, Belgium, and the U.S. in addition to many other countries.

The tournament began with a parade of nations, an opening ceremony appearance from Kancho Yoshikazu Matsushima (president of the International Karate Organization-Matsushima), and a traditional Japanese drum solo that signaled the start of the competition. In early rounds during the first day of competition Collin and Cameron Smith, both experienced international competitors, drew fighters from Iran. Despite strong punches and kicks from Cameron and Collin, both Iranian fighters prevailed by absorbing the physical punishment and returning heavy-handed punches and powerful roundhouse kicks to the legs. Tomoko Tanikawa also faced a seasoned opponent and lost to a fierce Russian fighter after exchanging powerful punches and kicks.

In her first match, Sarah Woolley soundly defeated her U.S. opponent with powerful combinations of body punches and roundhouse kicks that earned her a unanimous decision in the first round. Her second match against a larger and taller Australian fighter was more difficult. Despite a strong showing by the Aussie, Sarah defeated her opponent with repeated body punches that after two rounds left her opponent unable to continue. Sarah’s victories in day one assured her a place in the semi-finals in day two of the tournament.

On day two, matches were even more difficult as fighters from Australia, Iran, Iraq, Russia, Hungary, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S. competed for the honor of being named Kyokushin World Champion. The day was filled with intense competition mixed with amazing demonstrations of martial arts ability that included Japanese synchronized drumming, kata performances, and bare-handed breaking of cedar boards, baseball bats, and huge blocks of ice.

he only U.S. fighter left in the tournament, Sarah’s first match of day two was against the eventual World Champion from Canada. The Canadian fought toe-to-toe with Sarah for three intense rounds before she was given a mixed decision. In her final match for third place, Sarah fought a highly skilled New Zealand fighter for three rounds before losing in a close decision. Despite her losses, Sarah’s competitive spirit and strength of character earned her a 4 th place finish at the most prestigious and difficult karate tournament in the world. “It is an honor just to compete in the World Tournament,” said Quitadamo. “Simply earning a spot on the U.S. team is a considerable achievement. To place 4 th in the World Tournament is an immense accomplishment. The CWU dojo is exceptionally proud of all our competitors, and especially congratulates Sarah on her achievement.” Quitadamo went on to say that Sarah will be eligible to compete at the World Cup in Sydney, Australia in 2006, and with increased training should be competitive for top honors at that tournament.

Fund Raising for Kyokushin World Tournament in Japan

The CWU Kyokushinkai Karate Knockdown team is raising funds to support our student athletes who will compete at the 2004 Mas Oyama Memorial Cup knockdown competition in Montreal, Canada from March 13-14, 2004.

If you would like to help sponsor our athletes, please see the letter below endorsed by CWU University Recreation.

To whom it may concern:

We are currently seeking sponsors for the Kyokushinkai Karate Club at Central Washington University. The goal of our club is to use martial arts training to help people develop the confidence, motivation, dedication, and self-awareness that help them to become better citizens. CWU Kyokushinkai is one of the most successful martial arts clubs in the area, and is a licensed member of the International Karate Organization – Matsushima, a global group that is represented in over 60 countries worldwide. Our dojo (school) is a joint collaboration between CWU and Ellensburg Community Schools and is located at Morgan Middle School.

Our CWU athletes regularly participate in international competitions, including the Mas Oyama Memorial Cup (Montreal, Quebec, Canada), the U.S. National Championships (Maine), and European Championships (Belgium) each year. Every four years we also have an opportunity to send competitors to Japan for the Olympics of martial arts, the World Tournament. We also attend other several smaller competitions on an annual basis. Many of these tournaments are attended by karate master Matsushima Kancho (the world director) and draw world-class competitive athletes.

We are asking for sponsorship donations to help defer attendance and organization costs for our athletes, many of whom are from the greater Ellensburg community. For your contributions to CWU Kyokushinkai we will advertise your company's logo or slogan on some of our team items. Any support from your business or organization is greatly appreciated. While financial contributions are the most useful, we understand that not everyone can donate money. We also accept community support in the form of athletic clothing, time, or even business employees donating car wash or bake sale proceeds to our club. Monetary donations can be made out to CWU Kyokushinkai . Other types of donations can be made by contacting Dr. Ian Quitadamo (963-2745) at Central Washington University.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Ian J. Quitadamo, Ph.D.
Sensei: CWU Kyokushinkai