The "2013 The 5th World Weight Category Karate Championships" was held on April 28th at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. 16 fighters in each of the 4 weight categories (total 64 fighters) gathered from around the world to fight for the World's No.1 in Karate Weight Category. In a tournament where the best fighters from around the world participated, Takaichi Onuma (JAPAN) won the light weight, Zenjyuro Mori (JAPAN) the middle weight, Alejandro Navarro (SPAIN) the heavy weight and Shoki Arata (JAPAN) the super heavy weight. Japan maintained their previous success from the 4th World Weight Championships 4 years ago, by producing champions in 3 categories.

【Light Weight（－70kg）】
The key here was the proven veteran fighter up against the new comers in the light weight category. Japan's rising star Naoya Kimura beat Russia's Roman Semchenco 4-1 by decision in the first extra round. Then Kimura lost to the 4th World Weight 3rd place Pitor Moczydlowski (POLAND) at the sudden-death Tameshiwari (Board breaking contest) after 2 extra rounds and Moczydlowski went on to the final.
In the other side of the draw last year's European light weight champion, 18 year old Eldar Ismailov (UKRAINE) who was rumored as 'one to look out for' before the tournament, won the first round and quarter final as expected winning both fights with combined "Ippon"(two Wazaari). Last years All Japan light weight champion Onuma won the first round and quarter final in first extra rounds. In the semifinal he fought Ismailov and in the main round he went behind with a 1-2 decision against him but came back in the first extra round to win 4-0 by decision to make it to the finals.
In the final, 27 year old Onuma came out aggressively and got an advantage against 30 year old Moczydlowski (POLAND) with a combination of strikes and Gedan Mawashigeri (low kick) and won 4-0 in the main round to bring the first title to Japan. Ismailov (UKRAINE) was awarded the "ICHIGEKI award" with his two combined Ippon.

【Middle Weight（－80kg）】
Current World and All Japan Middle Weight Champion Zenjyuro Mori (JAPAN) and current All Japan Weight Category 2nd place, Yuta Sawamura (JAPAN) are the two key fighters in the middle weight. Sawamura believes "beating Mori means becoming the World Middle Weight Champion". They had great expectations and they did not disappoint with both making it to the finals.
Sawamura defeated Lucian Gogonel (ROMANIA) the 3rd World Light Weight Champion in 2005 (who he previously lost at the one match fight in Paris last march) by a 4-0 decision in the main round in the quarter final. He then went on to beat US Weight Champion Shohei Yamamoto (USA) also 4-0 by decision in the main round to make it to the final. Sawamura was in good condition winning all his first 3 bouts in the main round.
On the other hand Mori was dropped on the mat in the early minutes of the quarter final getting hit with an accurate right knee for a "Wazaari" from Andrei Zuborev(RUSSIA). Mori desperately tries to come back without success but in the dying seconds, his jumping roundhouse high kick connected with Zuborev's temple to earn him a "Wazaari" to make it a draw in the main round and force the fight into extra rounds. The bout back to square one, Mori makes a marginal victory winning by decision 4-1. In the semifinal he beat Igor Titkov (RUSSIA) 4-0 in the main round.
In the final, both Mori and Sawamura knew each other back to front making the bout tight but at the end of the first extra round Mori strikes right and left with his knee kick. This flurry of blows made the difference and Mori wins 4-0 by decision which makes him back to back middle weight champion following the 4th World Weight Tournament 4 years ago.

【Heavy Weight（－90kg）】
The heavy weight was the most competitive category of the tournament with last years All Japan Open Champion Alejandro Navarro (SPAIN) leading the pack with 4th place Darmen Sadvokasov(RUSSIA), 5th place Ilya Karpenko (RUSSIA), 10th world open 7th place and last year's European heavy weight champion Oleksandr Ieromenko(UKRAINE) all competing. It was considered that these top four will fight it out for the title but Ieromenko lost a point in the first round hitting his opponent in the face and lost in his first bout. In the quarter final, last years All Japan Open 7th place Shohei Kamada (JAPAN) beat Sadvokasov 4-0 by decision in the main round to put a crack in the top four. Kamada kept up his momentum in the semifinal and defeated 19 year old new comer Ivan Mezentsev (RUSSIA) 4-0 by decision in the first extra round.
On the other side of the draw last years All Japan Heavy Weight Champion Daiki Kobayashi (JAPAN) lost to Karpenko 5-0 by decision in first extra time in the quarter final. Navarro defeated Diogo Silva (BRAZIL) 3-0 and Karpenko 5-0 in the main round in the quarter and semifinal to secure a place in the final.
The final started with all Japanese expectations were lying on Kamada's shoulders because the heavy weight category has been the only category that Japanese has kept champions in all the past 4 World Weight Championships. Navarro and Kamada fought in the world open 2 years ago with Navarro coming on top so for Kamada it was a must win fight to get even. It was a promising start with both trading attacks with Kamada's specialty Spinning Back Kick and Navarro's Jumping Upper Roundhouse Kick cutting the air. After a 1-0 decision to Navarro in the main round Navarro stepped it up with his trademark wave of attacks when Kamada started to tire earning him a 5-0 win by decision in the first extra round showing why he is the current All Japan Open champion.

【Super Heavy Weight（＋90kg）】
Past winners of the Super Heavy Weight Category Francisco Filho (1st in 1997), Ewerton Teixeira (3rd in 2005) have went on to make a big impact at the World Open Tournament. Also it is the only category Japan could not win at the last tournament, thus the super heavy weight is the key for Japan's ultimate goal "Win all categories". First, last years All Japan Weight Category champion and All Japan Open 3rd place Shoki Arata (JAPAN) got off to a good start fighting against last World Open 6th place Nicolai Davidov (RUSSIA) by getting inside the range of the 192cm height and striking two effective thrusts for a combined Ippon. In the semifinals he came up against World Open 5th place and 2 time All American Champion Zahari Damyanov (BULGARIA) who he fought 2 times in the past (1win, 1 Lost) winning 4-0 by decision in the main round to earn himself a ticket to the final.
On the other side of the draw Yoshikazu Muraoka (JAPAN) who entered the tournament as a reserve fighter lost to Djema Belkhodja (FRANCE) in the first round with a Left Upper Roundhouse Kick (Wazaari). Satoru Araki (JAPAN) defeated new comer Patryk Sypien (POLAND) by weight difference after the extra round, but in the quarter final lost 3-0 by decision in the main round to World Open 3rd place and last years All Japan Open runner up, Goderzi Kapanadze (RUSSIA), the man closest to the getting the super heavy weight title. Kapanadze's semifinal opponent was Steven Cujic (AUSTRALIA) who currently trains at Honbu. He won 5-0 by decision in the main round to make a grand finale with the promising Arata, but Kapanadze was not in good condition before the final and the doctor's decision was to stop the fight. Arata went on to win the heavy weight champion without fighting.

【Kancho Matsui's overview】
Kancho Matsui praised the Japanese fighters, hoping they will improve further more towards the next World Open tournament, saying in his overview "This was a tournament where Japanese fighters did well. You could see the vast improvement of the young Japanese fighters who competed in the last Open World tournament. In last years All Japan Open tournament although the final was between non-Japanese fighters, you could also see them improving more in this tournament.
I hope this will continue towards the World Open tournament in 2 years' time. Overall in recent years I had the impression of Japan being far being from the top 2 Russia and Brazil, but looking at the results I think you could say that Japan has caught up or even is leading the pack. If you think at it that way I feel that Japan and Europe is getting stronger and each country is getting level and the balance of powers is settling down.
In 2 years' time the Japanese fighters who fought today will be at their prime, so Japan reclaiming the World title could become a reality. In 2 years I think the overseas fighters with improve further so I hope the Japanese fighters will improve as well to match those fighters."
Last but not least, Shihan Francisco Filho of Brazil was award a 6th Dan by Kancho Matsui for his continual contributions in Kyokushin.