NAKMAS

UK martial arts chief calls for new leadership after Olympic karate failure

The chairman of the National Association of Karate and Martial Arts Schools (NAKMAS) has called for the immediate resignation of Antonio Espinos, the World Karate Federation President, following the decision not to include karate in the 2016 Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided not to include karate in the 2016 Games prompting NAKMAS chairman Joe Ellis, a former Karate England president, to call for a management clear out of the sport's world governing body, WKF.

NAKMAS has pointed to WKF's non-inclusive rules as hindering the sport's Olympic ambitions.

Joe Ellis, chairman of NAKMAS, says:

"While we recognise the large contribution that Antonio Espinos has made to international karate the IOC's decision not to include karate in the 2016 Games, as well as London 2012, indicates that the leadership of the WKF is a hindrance rather than the driving force behind the progress and development of karate on a global scale.

"The IOC's decision will come as a major blow to Britain's karate athletes and the sport as a whole, but it is the WKF which has prevented karate from qualifying for the Games. The international karate community needs fresh leadership in the WKF."

NAKMAS has written to the WKF President calling for his resignation and points out that WKF governing rules have prevented the sport from meeting the IOC's criteria.

Joe Ellis says: "The IOC states inclusiveness and good governance are criteria Olympic qualification, but WKF's rules state that member clubs of the WKF cannot have links with non-members, which in my view is anything but inclusive and goes against the equality policies that sport demands.

"While NAKMAS and other national governing bodies have embraced equality and inclusion initiatives, the WKF have sadly failed, and that means karate will not get the global recognition it deserves on the Olympic stage. It's time for change."

Ends

Notes to editors:

The National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools (NAKMAS) National Governing Body is a non-funded national governing body and is a member of CCPR (the Central Council of Physical Recreation). With its Head Office based in Kent, NAKMAS governs all forms of traditional and modern martial arts and has over 73,000 members within the UK.

NAKMAS is an approved insurance provider via Zurich and holds a National and International Quality Standard Certificate via the BSI (British Standards Institute). NAKMAS has also been accredited to the Equality Standard: A Framework for Sport.

For further information, please contact:
Joe Ellis, Chair of the NAKMAS National Governing Body
Tel: 01227 370055 / 07976 736404
Fax: 01227 370056