"The top-level competition area corresponds to the best ones!" Oleg Koshelev — about the tournament in the Academy of Martial Arts

We talked to chief judge and member of the Presidium of the Russian Karate Federation Oleg Koshelev at the RUSSIA OPEN international karate tournament.

The professional told us about tasks he is facing.

"My task is to organize the judging process and holding of this competition at large. It is a big job but the most important is that the process is going, that all five courts operate in unison."

Oleg Koshelev also shared the tournament program.

"We have two sport disciplines in karate. One sports discipline is called ‘kata’ or techniques, where an athlete actually performs technical exercises implied when performing the traditional karate. And referees assess correctness and sequence of these actions, strikes, movements and postures. And there is ‘kumite’ direction, a sport fight. The fight performed according to rules. These disciplines are synchronous. Some athletes perform in both of them. The others perform in a single line only and are specialists in this athletic discipline."

Furthermore, he commended conditions in the Academy of Martial Arts in Sirius.

"We are holding this competition for the first time here. Certainly, I can say this is the fantastic hall, the fantastic facility. The main competition area of the top level corresponds to the best European and world championships held."