28th World Championship and 13th World Cup- Serbia 2021

From the 10-14.11.2021 we competed in the SKDUN (Shotokan Karate-Do of United Nations ) 28th World Championship and 13th World Cup. Serbia attracted over 840 competitors from more than 25 countries. The competition was held over 2 days in the picturesque Serbian city of Zrenjamin. And in this current moment, and not at the end of this article, I would like to congratulate the Shotokan Karate-Do of United Nations President Aurel Patru for a well-organized World Karate Championship. The two year wait due the COVID-19 pandemic was over, we were finally able to compete in a high ranking competition again. It felt great to be back!

Poland was represented by eleven competitors, of which 5 competed in the World Championships and 6 in the World Cup. The Polish team was under the care of four coaches (Ewa Lipińska, Katarzyna Janikowska, Marcin Jasiński and Michał Dudzik). Only competitors with black and brown belts were eligible to compete in the World Championship, while the World Cup was only accesible for competitors up to 4th Kyu.

The competitors of the Polish National Team taking part in the World Championships overall took 10th place, winning 5 medals (1 x gold, 3 x silver, 1 x brown). Gold medal-Jacek Lipiński individual kumite open master. Silver medal-Krzysztof Chałupka - individual kumite masters + 80 kg. Silver medal-Katarzyna Janikowska - individual kata seniors. Silver medal Jacek Lipinski, Krzysztof Chałupka, Marcin Jasiński - team kumite masters. Bronze medal Katarzyna Janikowska individual kumite for seniors up to 58 kg. 
4-8th place Kaja Polomska in individual kumite for seniors up to 58 kg. 4th - 8th place Marcin Jasiński in individual kumite masters + 80 kg.

The competitors of the Polish National Team taking part in the World Cup took an overall high 6th place, winning 7 medals (2 x gold, 2 x silver, 3 x bronze). Oskar Łydka - 1m in kata, 1m in kumite, Anastazja Dudzik - 3m kumite, 5-8m kata, Emilia Drożdż - 5-8m kumite, Kamil Jasiński - 2m kata, 3m kumite, Oliwia Dudzik - 4m kata, 5-8m kumite, Friemann Patrycja - 2m individual kata, 3m kumite.

Belgrade is one of the most visited Balkan capitals. Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Its long and turbulent history goes back over 7,000 years.  It is considered as a city that practically never sleeps. The number of monuments and attractions can make your head dizzy. There’s so much! Both lovers of antiquity, old fortresses, trendy pubs, charming narrow streets, museums, riverside boulevards and good food.  There are of course many other attractions here. There is something for everyone. I didn't know anyone who was there, which made me even more convinced that it was worth going. Let's start with how we got to Belgrade and what was the main reason for our trip to Serbia.

During my last start at the WUKF Karate World Championship, which took place in Romania, I had the opportunity to meet my old friend Krzysztof Chalupka, who recently returned from the SKDUN European Championship. Krzysiek began telling me about the high level of sports and organization of SKDUN and thus encouraged me to enter in the upcoming World Championships. I know the SKDUN organization because I had the opportunity a few years ago to participate in their World Championships in Germany and Romania.

The only thing that was left for me to do was to make a phone call to my good friend Tomasz Byjos who is responsible for SKDUN in Poland. After a short conversation, Tomek agreed, and this is how I and Kaja, together with Ewa, a coach, joined the Polish National Team. Taking the chance to compete, I decided to approach this competition more in terms of training. This meant checking if I could create the optimal attitude and conditions before and during the competition. I also changed a few elements in training and I wanted to complete them well.

I love such trips, the sporty aspect and a journey into the unknown. The very process of preparing for the competition and the process of preparing for the trip are two different things. As always, our team flying from London met at Luton Airport. After the baggage was checked in and the relevant documents related to tests or vaccinations were presented for inspection, we were able to drink coffee at the terminal and wait for the boarding of our plane. On the plane to Belgrade, not all the seats were taken. I was lucky that the two seats next to me were free, so I flew in comfortable conditions, watching the beautiful sky that held colours.

After landing, a gentleman waited for us who took us to the car which was rented for the duration of our stay. The hotel where we stayed was located in the city center, it was an important location for us due to easy access to restaurants, shops and the possibility of sightseeing.

For us the first day is a day of rest and acclimatization, this includes a short walk, checking and preparing the sports equipment and resting in bed. The second day is usually one of the days of the competition, and that's what it was in our case. Kaja and I had our categories on Saturday. We had an early 6:15 am wake up call, quick breakfast, toilet break and with positive attitude we set off. Within an hour and a half, we travelled to Zrenjanin, where the SKDUN World Championships were taking place. Our categories took place according to the competition schedule, we had the starting time and the number board on which a given category was held.

The sport aspect: The competition was held to a high level of sporting ability and organization. Each mat had a system of cameras recording the fights from which this recording could be used in the event of protests. All information related to the number of competitors in individual categories and the starting hours program was announced one week before the competitors' arrival. These sorts of high level competitions have the possibility of testing your skills, gaining new experience and include the never-ending process of learning and drawing conclusions. It further brings the opportunity to talk to competitors from all over the world and expand your horizons.

For Kaja, it was the first serious competition, despite the fact that she fought in other competitions and the equal lack of experience from this sort of competition, at decisive moments she did not win a medal, placing herself on the 4th - 8th position. However she gained experience and recognition in the eyes of the coaches.

Many thanks to my wife Ewa Lipinska, who was a coach, without her help in preparing for the competition and the very start I would not have achieved such a success. The words of thanks are also due to my colleague Tomek Byjos, without whom this event would not take place. The was a great atmosphere in the entire Polish Team. Team Kumite category in the squad I, Krzysztof Chalupka and Marcin Jasiński, know that we gave 200% of ourselves and supported each other, as a result taking a high second place. I am proud of us all. 

On Sunday, the competition continued, this time without our participation, we were lucky that we ended our categories the day before, so we had time to visit the capital of Sebia. The weather was fine for us, on a sunny autumn day we saw a lot, starting the tour in the morning and ending the tour in the late evening with beautifully lit buildings.

Serbia today is an energetic, rapidly developing country. Although it is necessary to remember the civil war in the region at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. Serbia is a safe travel destination, and its numerous tourist attractions and increasingly growing services for travelers allow you to spend truly unforgettable and carefree moments here. Dynamic, lively Belgrade combines Turkish and Austro-Hungarian cultural heritage with Slavic fantasy and spontaneity.

Do you know that? - There lay 4 European capitals on the Danube river: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade. - Belgrade has 16 islands on both the Sava and Danube rivers, some of which remain nature reserves. - Born in Belgrade; Novak Đoković - Serbian tennis player, Aleksandar Atanasijević - Serbian volleyball player. Nikola Milenković - Serbian footballer. - Serbian culture was shaped by the meeting of the Orthodox Church with the Catholic Church. - Meat dominates in Serbian cuisine. - From February 29, 2012, this country became a candidate of European Union status. - More than 70% of Serbia's territory is covered by mountains and uplands. - The currency of Serbia is Serbian Dinar. - Serbia is the largest exporter of raspberries, one third of all raspberries sold in the world. - St. Sava in Belgrade is one of the oldest Orthodox churches in the world. - The national alcohol is Rakija i Vinjak. - In this country, compulsory education lasts 8 years. - 25% of adults living in this country are overweight. - The average life expectancy in this country is 74 years (women - 76.3 years and men - 71.7 years). - In Serbia, 10 women give birth to 14 children on average. - Se vampire is a Serbian word. The first Serbian vampire was Petar Blagojevic, who was credited with turning into a vampire and killing 9 people in his native village. - As many as 17 out of 18 Roman emperors were born in Serbia