UFAK 2026 Regional Programme: Building the Future of African Karate

From regional championships to sustainable development

With the ongoing support and assistance of the World Karate Federation (WKF), the Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK) launched an ambitious programme of regional championships and activities throughout 2026, designed to promote, develop and strengthen karate across the African continent.

This programme reflects a shared commitment to making development a continuous process — one that reaches athletes, coaches, referees, judges, technical officials and National Federations across Africa.

For UFAK, the development of African karate cannot be achieved through isolated events. It requires consistent efforts, regular competition, technical education and close cooperation with all those who contribute to the growth of the sport.

A programme built around development

The 2026 UFAK Regional Programme was conceived as more than a series of championships.

With the ongoing technical and financial support of the WKF and UFAK, the regional events have served as genuine platforms for learning and development.

They provide opportunities to:

• Disseminate and reinforce the WKF rules and standards;
• Train athletes, coaches and technical officials;
• Test knowledge and technical skills in real competition conditions;
• Practice and gain experience on the tatami;
• Evaluate existing structures and levels of performance;
• Identify areas requiring further support;
• Improve the overall quality of African karate.

This approach places education, competition and evaluation within the same development cycle.

Five regions, one continental vision

In 2026, the programme brought UFAK regional activities to Cairo, Luanda, Nairobi, Bujumbura and Conakry, creating opportunities for karate communities in different parts of the continent to meet, compete and develop.

From the Northern Region in Cairo, to the Southern Region in Luanda, the Eastern Region in Nairobi, the Central Region in Bujumbura and the West 1 Region in Conakry, these events demonstrated the growing momentum of African karate.

Each region has its own realities, strengths and challenges. The regional programme therefore provides UFAK with an opportunity not only to organise competitions, but also to listen, observe and identify specific development needs.

The WKF–UFAK partnership: supporting African karate

The continued support of the World Karate Federation represents an important foundation of this regional development strategy.

Through its technical and financial assistance, the WKF contributes to creating conditions in which African athletes and officials can progressively strengthen their knowledge, experience and performance.

For UFAK, this cooperation is an essential part of a shared vision: ensuring that African karate develops within a framework of international standards, quality competition and continuous technical improvement.

The partnership also demonstrates the importance of solidarity and cooperation between the continental and world levels of karate.

Development is a continuous process

The experience gained through the 2026 regional championships has shown that development does not end when a competition concludes.

Every championship provides information.

Every match creates experience.

Every training session reveals areas for improvement.

Every technical official gains knowledge.

And every National Federation contributes to the collective development of African karate.

The regional programme therefore creates a cycle in which competition leads to evaluation, evaluation leads to improvement, and improvement leads to stronger competition.

From momentum to action

The events held in Cairo, Luanda, Nairobi, Bujumbura and Conakry demonstrate that African karate has significant energy and potential.

At the same time, they highlight the importance of continuing to invest in athletes, coaches, referees, judges, technical officials and organisational structures.

The lessons learned from each region will help UFAK identify priorities and shape future development initiatives according to the realities and needs of African karate.

The objective is clear: to transform regional competition into a sustainable development pathway for the entire continent.

One programme, one vision

The 2026 Regional Programme represents an important step in UFAK's commitment to decentralising the development of karate and providing opportunities across Africa.

With the continued support of the WKF, and through the commitment of UFAK, National Federations, athletes, coaches and officials, the foundation is being built for a stronger and more competitive future.

The journey does not end with the 2026 championships.

It continues with every training session, every competition, every official who develops their skills, every athlete who gains experience and every federation that strengthens its structures.

Together, UFAK and its National Federations are building the future of African Karate — with the continued support and assistance of the World Karate Federation.

UFAK – Together for the Development of African Karate.