About the federation
The Bulgarian Federation of Fullcontact Karate is a national sports federation, a non-profit association acting in the public interest. It was founded in 2015 and has more than ten years of history.
Mission and history
The Bulgarian Federation of Fullcontact Karate develops and promotes fullcontact karate in Bulgaria as a sport for all ages that builds discipline, respect and character. The Federation brings together the sports clubs across the country and provides common rules, fair competitions, and qualified referees and coaches. It supports the development of children and young athletes and prepares the national team for World and European Championships. Its work is founded on the principles of transparent governance, fair play and clean, doping-free sport.
The Bulgarian Federation of Fullcontact Karate was founded in 2015 as an association of clubs practising fullcontact karate in Bulgaria. Over the years, the Federation has built a system of national championships, tournaments and referee qualification, and has become a member of the World Fullcontact Karate Organization (WFKO) and the European Fullcontact Karate Organization (EFKO). Since 2024, Bulgarian athletes have competed in the European Championships every year – in 2024, 2025 and 2026. In 2025, the Bulgarian national team took part in the first World Championship in Tokyo, the most significant international appearance in the Federation’s history to date.
What fullcontact karate is
Fullcontact karate is a style-neutral competition discipline fought in full contact (knockdown). Competitions follow the competition rules of the World Fullcontact Karate Organization (WFKO).
Athletes from different styles and schools of contact karate take part, regardless of their style or grading system. Fullcontact karate is not a new style but a common competition format above the styles, in a way comparable to how mixed martial arts relates to the schools it draws on.
The Japanese federation JFKO, founded on 18 March 2013 as the first national federation for fullcontact karate as a discipline, holds yearly All-Japan championships. JFKO and then WFKO unified the competition format regardless of style. The member technical federations keep their own style traditions but compete under one set of rules.
WFKO and EFKO
The federation is a member of the World Fullcontact Karate Organisation (WFKO) and the European Fullcontact Karate Organisation (EFKO) and represents Bulgaria in both.
WFKO was created in January 2019 as the international federation of JFKO and finally founded on 30 May 2025 in Tokyo. It is a style-neutral world federation with the motto “All styles and organizations as one” and the stated aim of Olympic recognition for fullcontact karate.
The 1st Fullcontact Karate World Championship took place on 31 May–1 June 2025 at Ariake Arena, Tokyo, with 165 competitors from 31 countries.
EFKO is WFKO's European structure. It held the 1st European Fullcontact Karate Championship in January 2020 and organises a yearly European Cup.
Registration details
- Name
- Bulgarian Federation of Fullcontact Karate Association
- UIC
- 176888832
- Founded
- 2015
- Registered office
- гр. София, 33 Promishlena str. 1632 Sofia
- Represented by
- Георги Попов