IKO Kyokushinkaikan Russia Branch Chief, Shihan Valery Pukas passed away at the age of 63 on December 25, 2022.

Shihan Pukas joined the IKO Kyokushinkaikan in the former Soviet Union era, and was a member of the USSR National Team. He devoted his entire life to the Kyokushinkaikan for more than 40 years, and is one of a rare few exceptional individuals in our organization to attain the rank of 7th Dan. Shihan Pukas developed the Russian Kyokushin Organization for decades, and was President of the Kyokushinkaikan Federation of Russia since 2014.

Kancho Shokei Matsui and the entire IKO Kyokushinkaikan, send our sincere condolences to Shihan Pukas' family, to his many friends, and his dedicated students. We will always remember his warmth and vivacity. May he rest in peace.

Osu