GREAT SUCCESS OF THE FIRST TRADITIONAL KARATE MEN’S WORLD CUP
After Sensei Nishiyama’s speech we had a chance to participate in a ceremony of decorating with state awards conferred by the President of Republic of Poland Mr. Aleksander Kwasniewski. Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama was awarded with Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Republic of Poland for his great contribution to the development of traditional karate. Mr. Wlodzimierz Kwiecinski was awarded with Silver Cross of the Order of Merit of Republic of Poland for service to traditional karate and great coach’s achievements. The Minister Marek Dukaczewski – Under-secretary of State in the Chancellery of the President of Republic of Poland made that official decoration. Then Mr. Hidetaka Nishiyama, on behalf of both gentlemen, expressed his deep appreciation and thanks for that prize.
The Minister Marek Dukaczewski read out a letter of the President of Republic of Poland Mr. Aleksander Kwasniewski, too.
Another person to take part in the Opening Ceremony was the Minister of the Embassy of Japan Mr. Nobuaki Ito. He officially greeted Polish nation on behalf of Japanese people. With great joy did he state that he had met with very friendly attitude of Poles towards Japan. He also expressed his great surprise with the fact that traditional karate, which represents Japanese values is so popular in Poland. He concluded then that our nations have a lot in common in the spirit dimension. Mr. Ito uttered his hopes that the World Cup would cause tightening of bonds between our nations.
Undoubtedly, Gala Budo – performances of Far East martial sports and arts has become magnificent attraction of the tournament. We had a chance to see the performance of masters of Iaido and Kendo directed by Andrzej Kustosz 3 Dan Iaido, 5 Dan Kendo. There was spontaneous reaction of the audience during Traditional Karate show presented by a team led by Maciej Grubski 3 Dan, fivefold world champion in en-bu. In further part of Gala Budo could we watch performance of Taekwon-do ITF under management of Roman Hoffmann 5 Dan. Later there was Karate Kyokushinkai presented by brothers: Tomasz, Waldemar, Krzysztof and Piotr Kecko and Kung- fu/Wu-shu performed by a team led by Tomasz Rybotycki. Gala Budo finished with Judo presented by Antoni Zajkowski – silver medallist of 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Marian Talaj- bronze medallist of 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal and Rafal Kubacki – threefold world champion. Judo performance was directed by legendary instructor of Judo – Mr. Waldemar Sikorski.
Competitors started with great nervousness. They competed in kata in the first round. Eventually it finished with the following results:
1. JUSTO GOMEZ (Argentina) – 10 points
2. SILVIO CAMPARI (Italy) – 8 points
3. KRZYSZTOF NEUGEBAUER (Poland) – 6 points
4. CORNEL MUSAT (Romania) – 1 point
In further rounds athletes had a chance to compete in kumite. They received the following scores:
1. CORNEL MUSAT (Romania) – 10 points
2. AVI ROKAH (USA) – 8 points
3. KRZYSZTOF NEUGEBAUER (Poland) – 6 points
4. JUSTO GOMEZ (Argentina) – 1 point
The finishing phase of the World Cup turned out to be most exciting. That is a result of the World Cup formula, which is thought to rise emotions and intensity of feelings from fight to fight. However the real dramatic moments take place at the very end of the tournament. The winner’s fate hung in the balance to the last minute. Chances of Krzysztof Neugebauer for success decreased almost to zero after defeat with Cornel Musat. However Polish athlete has confirmed his refined class once again. He realised that the only way to victory is to win two last fights. And so he did. He won with Ricardo Buzzi from Brazil and in the last fight of the evening, with accompany of deafening cheers of the audience, he beat Vladimir Pucha from Ukraine. Thus he got the highest score and is the winner of Traditional Karate Men’s World Cup.
The second Polish competitor – Radoslaw Olczyk made a great job, too. Even though he didn’t manage to get to the first four, he won two fights by ippon (as the only athlete of the World Cup).
Final results of the World Cup are as follows:
1.KRZYSZTOF NEUGEBAUER (Poland) – 12 points
2.JUSTO GOMEZ (Argentina) – 11 points
3.CORNEL MUSAT (Romania) – 11 points
4.SILVIO CAMPARI (Italy) – 8 points
5.AVI ROKAH (USA) – 8 points
6.RADOSLAW OLCZYK (Poland) – 0 point
7.VLADIMIR PUCHA (Ukraine) – 0 point
8.RICARDO BUZZI (Brazil) – 0 point
During the Closing Ceremony Mr. Janusz Cieliszak – Spokesman of Polish Television Co. Ltd handed the Cup of the Director of Polish Television Co. Ltd to the best Polish competitor of the World Cup – Krzysztof Neugebauer.
Moreover Krzysztof Neugebauer was rewarded with Seat Ibiza for victory in Traditional Karate League of Poland 2001 funded by Spider Company. Mr. Robert Dwernicki – Director of the Spider Company officially handed the keys to the car during the Closing Ceremony.
Traditional Karate Men’s World Cup finished with great sport as well as organisational success. The sport hall was overcrowded for the first time in its history. Almost 6 thousands people came to Warsaw to see that magnificent international event. The traffic around the sport hall was paralysed by strings of cars and crowds of karate fans. Besides there was half an hour of live transmission of the World Cup in the major Polish TV channel for the first time, too. Twelve camcorders were recording efforts of all competitors and marvellous atmosphere which accompanied the tournament. There will be also 2,5 hours of re-transmission of the event in that channel and many other reports and programmes concerning the World Cup in other Polish TV stations.