Fighters

Roman Nesterenko

Russia

DOB: 12/09/1979

Age: 32
Height: 185 cm
Weight:  86 kg
Grade: 2^nd dan
Trainings years: 15 years
Favorite Technique: Joudan geri (Head Kicks)
History: 2006 & 2010 All Russia Tournament 1^st place

Lukas Kubilius

Lithuania

DOB: 3/3/1983

Age: 28
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 110 kg
Grade:  1^st dan
Trainings years: 12 years
Favorite Technique: Ushiro Geri (back spinning kick)
History: 2008 European Championship Heavy Weight Division +90 kg 1^st place

Zsolt Balogh

Hungary

DOB: 13/2/1988

Age: 23          
Height: 183 cm
Weight:  86 kg
Grade: 2^nd dan 
Trainings years: 15 years
Favorite Technique: Gedan Mawashi Geri (round house kick to thigh)
History: 2011 European Championship 2nd place

Daniel Trifu

Australia

DOB: ……

Age: 37
Height: 182 cm
Weight:  95 kg
Grade: 3^rd dan
Trainings years: ……
Favorite Technique: Kakato Otoshi (Axe kick on head)
History: 2000 & 2004 South Pacific Champion , Australian Champion

Yoshinoro Nagano

Japan

DOB: 10/03/1987

Age: 24
Height: 173 cm
Weight:  79 kg
Grade: 1^st dan
Trainings years: …..
Favorite Technique: Joudan Geri (head kick)
History: 2009 & 2011 All Japan Weight 2^nd & 3^rd place

Sandor Kovacs

Hungary

DOB: 25/03/1988

Age: 23
Height: 186 cm
Weight:  91 kg
Grade: 2^nd Kyu
Trainings years: 8 years
Favorite Technique: Joudan Hiza Geri (knee kick to the head)
History: 2010 & 2011 Hungarian Tournament 1^st place

Sandor Kovacs may not be a household word when it comes to full contact karate. However, he may be at some time in the future. Here is information that you may not know about this man and some of his accomplishments in martial arts.

Born in a small town called Nyirbator Hungary on March 25, 1988, he has the same name as his father and his mother is no longer living. He has one sister and her name is Krisztina. At the young age of fifteen the aspiring martial artist begins to train. This is the year 2003 in the city of Sopron. Sopron is on the border of Austria and has a rich history that extends all the way back to the time of the Roman empire.

Martial arts have had a lasting effect on Sandor. His training has helped him realize the importance of setting goals in life. This has inspired him to achieve all that he can.

Mr. Kovacs has been a member of the Hungarian National Karate team since the year 2008. In this year, he joins the Victory Martfu Kyokushin Karate Club. He claims that the members provide him with a great deal of encouragement and they inspire him to push himself to the limit.

He has many accomplishments and has taken several belt exams. He also has done very well in Hungarian Karate tournaments. He takes first place in the heaviest division in 2010, and he successfully defends this championship the next year. He also is the favorite for the 2012 Hungarian Tournament.

In 2011 Sandor fights for the championship in the European finals. This kind of competition is full contact karate and it is a very demanding sport. It takes people that have unbelievable fitness and stamina. The training is extremely difficult and it is challenging for the mind, body, and spirit. Only a select few can withstand the constant rigors of training.

In the European challenge, fierce competitors from all over the world come to compete against each other. The fighters train with clubs and team members. However, when it is time to compete, it is just one person against another. There are no special weapons or equipment used. Bare hands and bare feet are the only weapons allowed.

This competition is not point karate where striking is not permitted. The fighters do not train for twelve rounds like in boxing. Instead, they must give it their all in a three minute bout. Yet, these bouts can have up to two extensions, so there is a fine line between using all your energy and conserving what you might need. They must pace themselves, but at the same time deliver an all out effort, if they want to win. Being knocked out is a possibility at any time.

Sandor Kovacs comes up a little short in the 2011 European tournament. However, he has not given up and continues to train very hard. You can expect to see this young man at the top of many tournaments over the next few years. He is one of those kinds of people that refuse to accept anything but victory.

Alex Kocic

Australia

DOB: June 26th 1989

Age: 22
Height: 194 cm
Weight:  101 kg
Grade: …..
Trainings years: ….
Favorite Technique: Mawashi Geri (round house kick)
History: 2009 & 2010 National Open Heavyweight Champion

Rafael Cardoso Garcia

Brazil

DOB:14/07/1986

Age:25
Height:186 cm
Weight: 96 kg
Grade: 2^nd dan
Trainings years: 12 years
Favorite Technique: Mawashi Geri (round house kick)
History: 2010 All American Championship  1^st place