On January 14th, 2021 Hanshi Steve Arneil 10th Dan, has formally confirmed by letter that he has now retired from his position as President of the International Federation of Karate (IFK).
Since 2013, it has been Hanshi’s wish that Shihan David Pickthall be his successor and this decision has been ratified by the IFK Board and the Country Representatives.
Hanshi will retain his role as Founder of the IFK and his place on the Board of the IFK.
The President of the IFK, Shihan David Pickthall, is a 7th Dan and a brief resume follows:
He started his Kyokushin career in October 1976 at Crawley dojo and still runs the dojo to this day. He has represented Great Britain nationally and internationally in both Kumite and Kata. He has participated in three World Open Championships achieving 13th place in the 5th World Open 1991 and winning the British, European, and All Japan titles. He was also a two-time silver medalist at the IKO 1st and 2nd European Kata Championships.
Shihan David was the Great British Kata Coach for the 1st and 2nd World Kata Tournaments and then took over the role of Great British Knockdown Coach from 2003-2013.
He was chosen for Vice-President of the IFK in 2013, he is also a member of the Executive Committee of the British Karate Kyokushinkai (BKK) and a member of the Executive Committee of the Kyokushin World Union (KWU).
Shihan David Pickthall announces that Shihan Liam Keaveney 7th Dan takes over the role of Vice President of IFK.
Shihan Liam assisted Hanshi Steve Arneil in founding the IFK in 1992 and became the IFK Secretary-General after resigning as EKO General Secretary in 1991. He was a BKK Executive Committee member from 1978 to 2018 and Chairman of the BKK from 1993-2018. He has traveled the world with Kyokushin both under the IKO and IFK and went to Japan in 1979, 1987, and 1991 and has trained with the founder of Kyokushin Sosai Mas. Oyama.
Source: www.ifk-kyokushin.com
