Bielsko-Biala’s City Hall was the venue for the official presentation of the 2025 EKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships, to be held in Bielsko-Biala from February 7 to 9. The event was led by Antonio Espinós, President of the World Karate Federation (WKF) and European Karate Federation (EKF), alongside Pawel Poltorzecki, President of the Polish Karate Union, and Jaros?aw Klimaszewski, President of Bielsko-Biala. EKF General Secretary Davor Cipek was also in attendance.

The tournament, taking place this week, is the biggest age-group karate event in Europe. More than 1,200 young athletes from 49 countries have travelled to Poland to compete at the highest level.

“Bielsko-Biala is the capital of Karate in Poland, and this week it will also be the European capital of the sport,” said Jaros?aw Klimaszewski, President of Bielsko-Biala. “In the last years, Karate has become the most prominent martial art here. I want to thank the Polish Karate Union for making it possible to bring this event to Bielsko-Biala.”

A major hub of Karate in the country, Bielsko-Biala is home to the Polish Open, one of Europe’s most established karate tournaments. It also successfully hosted the karate competition during the 2023 European Games. The 2025 EKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships build on this legacy, reinforcing Bielsko-Biala’s status as a key location for international karate events.

“It is an honour to organise this event in Bielsko-Biala,” said Pawel Poltorzecki, President of the Polish Karate Union. “It is the first time in the history of European Karate that we host this event under 8 tatami. Thank you to the EKF for allowing us to organise this event and thank you to the president of Bielsko-Biala for his support.”

As young athletes step onto the mats this week, the event promises to be a showcase of skill, determination, and Karate values.

“It is not the first time that we organise a major event in Bielsko-Biala, and it will not be the last,” said EKF and WKF President Antonio Espinós. “Thank you, president of Bielsko-Biala for your support in the organisation of the European Games here in 2023 and thank you Pawel Poltorzecki, President of the Polish Karate Union for being a reliable leader. We are tremendously grateful to Mr Klimaszewski and Mr Poltorzecki. We are in very good hands.”

Top picture: From left to right: President of the Polish Karate Union Pawel Poltorzecki, President of Bielsko-Biala Jaros?aw Klimaszewski, EKF and WKF President Antonio Espinós, and EKF General Secretary Davor Cipek.

EKF and WKF President Antonio Espinós thanked Mr Poltorzecki and Mr Klimaszewski for their support.

The official presentation of the event highlighted the support of the city to the sport of Karate.

The city hall of Bielsko-Biala hosted the event. 

From left to right: President of the Polish Karate Union Pawel Poltorzecki, EKF and WKF President Antonio Espinós, and EKF General Secretary Davor Cipek.