38th European Shotokan Karate Championship

Elite Shotokan Karate Athletes Set to Compete for 38th European Championship Title at Portimão Arena

Portimão Arena will take centre stage on the European sporting calendar from 28 to 30 November as it hosts the 38th European Shotokan Karate Championship, bringing together more than five hundred athletes, coaches and referees from 28 countries.

Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in the international Shotokan circuit, the championship will deliver three days of top-level competition, with elite athletes showcasing their skills in both individual and team events.

With free admission, residents and visitors—including martial arts enthusiasts—are invited to witness the 38th European Shotokan Karate Championship up close, an event set to stand out for its excellence and high competitive standards, as well as for the organisational capabilities of the institutions involved.

Organised by the Portuguese Shotokan Karate League (LPKS) in partnership with the European Shotokan Karate Association (ESKA), the National Martial Arts Association (ANAM) and the Portimão Shotokan Karate School (ESKP), and supported by the Municipality of Portimão, the event further strengthens the city’s position as a premier national destination for karate.

The championship is expected to draw hundreds of athletes and team officials, underscoring its significance as a major European-scale competition with substantial impact on the municipality.

It also reflects Portimão’s growing reputation as a host for major international sporting events—chosen not only for its facilities but also for its long-term investment in sports development.

Richard Poole, president of the European Shotokan Karate Association, highlights the competition’s historical connection with Portugal, noting that in the “39 years in which ESKA has held championships across Europe, no country has hosted them better than Portugal.”
He added that “for the best Shotokan karate athletes in Europe, Portugal has become a second home.”

Portimão has increasingly asserted itself on both the national and international karate stage, regularly hosting local events that continue to gain prominence.

As the European Shotokan Karate Championship approaches, spectators can expect an atmosphere defined by discipline, precision and sportsmanship—values at the heart of the practice of Shotokan karate.

For further details about the European Championship, email eska2025.portimao@gmail.com or visit www.eska2025portimao.com