The European Open Karate Championships and European Cup Karate Championships were held at Katowice, Poland on December 5th and 6th, 2015, and hosted locally by IKO Poland Branch Chief Shihan Jacek Czerniec, and IKO Poland Dojo Operator Sensei Dariusz Lyczko. Though the event followed just 2 weeks after the IKO Kyokushinkaikan's momentous gathering, the 11th World Open Karate Championship in Japan, the European Open Karate Championships drew an enormous number of competitors and spectators, and welcomed IKO President, Kancho Shokei Matsui and International Department Director, Shihan Katsuhito Gorai to oversee. 412 competitors from 19 countries participated including members from Russia and New Zealand. On the 1st day of the event, Junior, Senior, Kata and Team Kata divisions were held. Kancho's training seminar was conducted in the morning of the 2nd day, and then the Men's and Women's Open competitive events were held as the afternoon's Main Event. The weekend proved another exceptional Kyokushin gathering in Europe, and brought many new talents to the forefront. The next IKO Europe event will be the European Weight Category Karate Championships in Varna, Bulgaria on May 21st and 22nd, 2016.