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HISTORY of SHOTOKAN KARATE DO OF UNITED NATIONS (SKDUN)

How and where we started, the journey and where we are today, 2014-05-13

The concept of a World Shotokan Karate Championship with the Shobu Ippon rules started in England with Gerry Breeze and his associates in the British Shotokan Karate Union that later expanded into Federation British Shotokan Karate Union (International) – now FBSKU(I) / SKDUN GB.

And so the GICHIN FUNAKOSHI INVITATIONAL SHOTOKAN KARATE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP was held in Bournemouth during 1993 with 6 countries entered: England, Australia, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Netherlands as the founder member countries.

Over the next 5 years the Shotokan Karate Championships grew with the inclusion of Romania, Germany and Italy which necessitated moving the Championship to a more central and accessible venue in Bath, England.  In  1998 even more countries joined including U.S.A and India.  It was at this event that the board of directors voted to advertise and promote the event (up to that point it was the quality and professionalism of the event that spread the word!), it was also decided to change the name of the organisation to SHOTOKAN KARATE DO of UNITED NATIONS – SKDUN and to offer the event to be hosted by any member country.  At this meeting the logo, constitution and a formal elected board were instigated.

The year 2013 marked the 21^st anniversary of the championship, the SKDUN now boasts over 70 affiliate countries in membership and an average of 35 countries being represented at each World Championship with approximately 1200 competitors competing over 2 days.

SKDUN is now one of the biggest Traditional Shotokan Shobu Ippon organisations in the world; it is recognised as being innovative and world leaders in its attitude and approach to making international competition open to everyone.

SKDUN holds a European championship in April and a World championship in October every year, it was the 1^st to hold a Kohai invitational competition run at the same time as the main events. It was the 1^st to hold a Masters competition as an event within the championships, this event is open to 1 male and 1 female competitor from each country who compete performing Kata and Kumite in a knock out event for the title Grand Champion.

SKDUN was the 1^st to have a ‘young’ board of directors consisting of younger senior grade karate-ka that shadow the main board to see and understand how business is conducted and with a view to succession in the future.

SKDUN will remain a democratic and non-political organisation that listens to its members and improves and grows year on year.