The “Guardian Girls Global Karate Project” continues its presentation around the world. Karate’s programme to fight Gender-Based Violence celebrated its fourth presentation event in Fukuoka (Japan) on the occasion of the Karate 1-Premier League there.

Following the highly successful events in Cairo, Guadalajara, and Rabat, the initiative to use Karate as a tool to help women against Gender-Based Violence was introduced in Japan to an excellent response.

UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN CELEBRATES PROJECT

The Official presentation of the project was held at the American Centre in Fukuoka. Held with the cooperation of the United States Consulate in Fukuoka, the event had the participation of the United States Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel via video message.

“Promoting gender equity and equality is a critical priority for me, but most importantly for President Biden,” said Mr Emanuel. “Seeing through our continued commitment to the values of dignity and security for women of all ages and all backgrounds, the Guardian Girls Global Karate Project builds on the United States and Japan's shared values and our shared goals. It's about preventing gender-based violence while promoting a positive message of empowerment.”

The event had the participation of the Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka Chuka Asike, KIF Co-Founder and actor Shin Koyamada, Japan Karate Federation President and WKF Honorary President Takashi Sasakawa, the Chief of the UNFPA Office in Japan Eiko Narita, and WKF General Secretary Toshihisa Nagura. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles Kenko Sone participated via video message.

The presentation included a review of the highlights of the programme, which was hosted by the President of KIF Nia Lyte and a showcase of self-defence techniques for women featuring WKF Head Instructor Amy Connell.

Read more about the presentation of the project at the American Centre in Fukuoka.

From left to right: Chief of the UNFPA Office in Japan Eiko Narita, Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka Chuka Asike, Japan Karate Federation President and WKF Honorary President Takashi Sasakawa, President of KIF Nia Lyte, KIF Co-Founder and actor Shin Koyamada, and WKF General Secretary Toshihisa Nagura

WOMEN’S SELF-DEFENCE SEMINAR IN FUKUOKA

WKF Instructor Amy Connell headed the women’s self-defence seminar in Fukuoka with the cooperation of Assistant Instructor Yumi Hasewaga. A group of young women from the Fukuoka area participated in the seminar. Olympic Games silver medallist Kiyou Shimizu also attended the event.  

WKF Instructor Amy Connell said:

“It’s been amazing to have these women with us today, learning so much about self-defence and empowerment. The atmosphere in the room was incredible, and it’s been a pleasure to teach them today.”

DEMONSTRATION OF SELF-DEFENCE TECHNIQUES DURING FINALS OF #KARATE1FUKUOKA

Live to a worldwide viewing audience on hundreds of platforms around the world, the demonstration of “Guardian Girls Karate” on Sunday, June 11 wrapped up the activities of the project in Fukuoka.

The demonstration was held during the finals of the 2023 Karate 1-Premier League Rabat and was performed by WKF Instructor Amy Connell and assistant Yumi Hasewaga.

After the events in Cairo (Egypt), Guadalajara (Spain), Rabat (Morocco), and Fukuoka (Japan) the “Guardian Girls Global Karate Project” will continue being introduced at Karate’s major events in 2023: the Karate 1-Premier League event in Dublin (Ireland) from September 8 to 10 and the Senior World Championships in Budapest (Hungary) from 27 to 28 October.

The project was initiated in October 2022 in Los Angeles (United States) where the Memorandum of Understanding of the programme was signed at the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles by the three creators, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Koyamada International Foundation (KIF), and the World Karate Federation (WKF).