ISKF World Championship Results: Japan Dominates in Philadelphia

The ISKF World Championship 2026 concluded in Philadelphia on 10–12 April, marking the federation's 50th anniversary with one of the most competitive fields in the event's history. **Highlights** *Men's Individual Kata* Takashi Yamamoto (JPN) defended his title with a flawless performance of Unsu, earning the highest scores of the entire championship. Runner-up Fabio Rossi (ITA) delivered an outstanding Gojushiho Sho. *Women's Individual Kata* Yuki Sato (JPN) claimed gold with Nipaipo, edging out defending champion Maria Rodriguez (ESP) in a final decided by a single point. *Men's Individual Kumite (-75kg)* The men's kumite was one of the most exciting in memory. USA's Michael Chen reached the final — the best American result in this division since 2008 — before losing narrowly to Kenji Mori (JPN). *Women's Individual Kumite (-61kg)* South Korea's Kim Jae-yeon claimed gold in the women's kumite with an aggressive, high-tempo style that overwhelmed three successive opponents. **Team Event** Japan took both team kata and team kumite titles. Brazil finished a creditable runner-up in team kata. Full results and the official video archive are available on the ISKF website. We congratulate all athletes who represented their countries with distinction.