Alberta Open
The Alberta Open Kyokushin Karate Championships
Western Canada's premier IKO-affiliated Kyokushin tournament. Hosted every spring by Edmonton Kyokushin Karate Club, drawing hundreds of entries from dojos across Alberta, British Columbia, and beyond.
The toughest Kyokushin tournament in Western Canada.
The Alberta Open is hosted annually by Edmonton Kyokushin Karate Club and sanctioned through the IKO-affiliated network. Competitors of every age, belt, and weight category travel to Edmonton each spring to test themselves on the same mats that have produced champions for decades.
What makes the Alberta Open different from other martial arts tournaments? Two things. First, it's full-contact Kyokushin under traditional rules — no headgear in adult divisions, points awarded for genuine impact and forward pressure, decisive ippons. Second, the kata divisions are judged by senior Kyokushin instructors who have spent their lives inside the syllabus, not generic karate officials.
For Edmonton students, the Alberta Open is the centerpiece of the competitive year — and a rare chance to compete at home, in front of family, against the best in the region.
2026 Alberta Open: a record-breaking year.
The 2026 Alberta Open Kyokushin Karate Championships drew 340 entries across kata and kumite divisions — a 20% increase over the previous year — making it the largest Kyokushin tournament in Western Canadian history. Competitors traveled from dojos across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and parts of the United States.
Edmonton Kyokushin Karate Club students brought home 19 gold medals across kata and kumite divisions, plus dozens of silver and bronze placings. From first-time competitors in junior divisions to senior fighters in open weight, the EKKC team showed up at every level.
By the numbers: 340 entries · 19 EKKC golds · 60+ matches per ring · 4 rings · single-day format · livestream broadcast.
What it looks like to compete
Competitors check in early in the morning, weigh in if applicable, and report to their assigned ring. Brackets run continuously throughout the day — kata divisions in the morning, kumite divisions throughout the day, finals in the late afternoon. Coaches, family, and teammates fill the stands. Medals are awarded ringside.
For first-time competitors, EKKC offers structured tournament prep through our Fight Team monthly camps, plus dedicated kata and kumite work in regular Advanced classes.
Divisions for every age, belt, and experience level.
The Alberta Open runs separate brackets for children, juniors, teens, adult amateurs, and senior open weight — across both kata and kumite. Specific divisions vary year to year based on registration, but the structure stays consistent.
Children's Kata
Ages 6 – 9. Children's Syllabus kata: junior orange through junior brown stripe. Judged on technique, posture, and spirit.
Junior Kata & Kumite
Ages 10 – 13. KYU-graded kata divisions and controlled kumite with protective equipment.
Teen Divisions
Ages 14 – 17. Kata divisions by belt rank and kumite by weight class. Building toward adult competition.
Adult Amateur Kumite
18+, by weight. Lighter contact rules with mandatory protective equipment for newer competitors.
Senior Open Weight
Full-contact traditional Kyokushin rules. The premier adult division — knockout-eligible, no headgear.
Adult & Masters Kata
By belt rank. Pinan series, sokugi taikyoku, gekisai, saifa, seienchin, and beyond. Judged by senior Kyokushin officials.
Past tournaments.
The Alberta Open has run continuously for over a decade. Below are recent editions on Smoothcomp — full brackets, results, and competitor lists are publicly archived.
| Year | Date | Entries | Notes | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | April 11, 2026 | 340 | Record turnout · 19 EKKC golds · +20% YoY | View on Smoothcomp → |
| 2025 | April 12, 2025 | 279 | Commonwealth Recreation Centre · BC + AB dojos | View on Smoothcomp → |
Earlier years' results available on request — contact the dojo for archive links.
Want to compete? We'll get you ready.
EKKC runs a structured tournament preparation pathway for students who want to step on the mat. Whether you're a junior trying your first kata bracket or an adult preparing for full-contact kumite, the path is the same: consistent training in regular classes, supplemented by Fight Team camps as the tournament approaches.
- Monthly Fight Team camps with focused kumite drilling and conditioning
- Tournament-specific kata coaching in Advanced classes
- Sparring rounds with experienced training partners
- Weight management and competition-day strategy from senior coaches
Watch, volunteer, or compete.
The Alberta Open is open to spectators — bring family, bring kids, watch your dojo-mates compete. Tickets are typically available through the