Spain dominates as Guadalajara hosts the 2025 Mediterranean Karate Championships

Guadalajara, Spain – September 12–14, 2025 marked an important moment for international karate, as the 31st Mediterranean Karate Championships unfolded in the Palacio Multiusos arena. Over the course of three days, more than a dozen countries from across the Mediterranean region gathered to showcase kata, kumite, team competitions, and para-karate.

Spain, as the host nation, not only delivered a well-organized event but also confirmed its sporting strength by topping the medal standings in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.

A championship with history and expectations

Originally scheduled for Alexandria, Egypt, the Mediterranean Championships were eventually relocated to Spain. Guadalajara had previously hosted major WKF events, and its modern facilities and strong local karate culture made it a natural choice to step in as host.

The event covered the full spectrum of karate competition: cadet, junior, and senior divisions, in both kata and kumite, as well as team kumite and kata events. Importantly, para-karate also featured on the program, underlining WKF’s commitment to inclusivity.

For many cadet and junior athletes, this was a crucial opportunity to gain international experience and test themselves ahead of future continental and world events.

Highlights and standout performances

• Spain delivered across all categories, dominating kata and kumite in both male and female divisions. Spanish athletes shone particularly in cadet and junior kumite, as well as in senior kata team events.

• Italy demonstrated why it remains a powerhouse in European karate, with several senior kata and kumite golds, led by names such as Terryana D’Onofrio and Alessio Ghinami.

• Kosovo proved its emerging status, capturing key kumite victories in cadet and junior divisions, along with medals in women’s heavyweights.

• France, Greece, Portugal, Montenegro, Turkey and Croatia all contributed champions across various weight classes and age groups, making this one of the most balanced Mediterranean Championships in recent years.

• In para-karate, Spain, Italy, and Croatia led the way, with standout wins in intellectual disability categories and wheelchair kata.

Beyond the medals

  Hosting the event successfully further consolidated Spain’s role as a central hub of karate in the Mediterranean. The competition also offered a glimpse into the future of the sport: young talents gaining ground, nations like Kosovo and Montenegro rising in stature, and para-karate cementing its place within the championship framework.

The championship also carried political weight, with ongoing debates around the participation of certain delegations under neutral symbols. Yet the overriding narrative remained one of athletic excellence and Mediterranean solidarity.

2025 Mediterranean Karate Championships – Guadalajara

Venue: Palacio Multiusos, Guadalajara, Spain
Dates: September 12–14, 2025
Disciplines: Kata & kumite (cadet, junior, senior), team kata, team kumite, para-karate, Beach Kata
Participating nations: 14

Beach Kata – Senior (16+)

• Female Kata: 1) Claudia Campos Calderat (ESP) 2) Katarina Vlahovic (MNE) 3) Danka Stojkova (MKD), Vladanka Avramova (MKD)

• Male Kata: 1) Juan Manuel López Villanueva (ESP) 2) Gerard Gombau Socias (ESP) 3) Izan López Tomás (ESP), Faris Ramić (BIH)

Team Kata

• Cadet & Junior – Female: 1) Spain 2) Greece 3) Spain (A), Bosnia & Herzegovina

• Cadet & Junior – Male: 1) Portugal 2) Spain (B) 3) Spain (A)

• Senior – Female: 1) Spain (Bilbao/Ruiz/San Francisco) 2) Spain (B) 3) North Macedonia

• Senior – Male: 1) Spain (Balbuena/Lozano/Martín/Galán) 2) Spain (B)

Cadet – Individual (selection)

• Female Kata: 1) Victoria Bazyuk (POR)

• Female Kumite −47 kg: 1) Elaia Gómez Fontaneda (ESP)

• Female Kumite +61 kg: 1) Lanika Rexhepi (KOS)

• Male Kumite −70 kg: 1) Georgios Troumpoukis (GRE)

• Male Kumite +70 kg: 1) Prijam Gashi (KOS)

Junior – Individual (selection)

• Female Kata: 1) Rita Marques (POR)

• Female Kumite −59 kg: 1) Suela Arifi (KOS)

• Female Kumite +66 kg: 1) Irene Nasarre Sánchez (ESP)

• Male Kumite −61 kg: 1) Jorge Pérez Lorite (ESP)

• Male Kumite −76 kg: 1) Korab Gashi (KOS)

Senior – Individual (selection)

• Female Kata: 1) Terryana D’Onofrio (ITA)

• Female Kumite −61 kg: 1) Mar Trenado Martínez (ESP)

• Female Kumite −68 kg: 1) Silvia Semeraro (ITA)

• Male Kata: 1) Alessio Ghinami (ITA)

• Male Kumite −60 kg: 1) Balša Vojinović (MNE)

• Male Kumite −75 kg: 1) Daniele De Vivo (ITA)

• Male Kumite +84 kg: 1) Ivan Kvesić (CRO)

Team Kumite – Highlights

• Female Senior: 1) Turkey 2) France 3) Portugal, Spain (B)

• Male Senior: 1) Spain (A) 2) Montenegro 3) Portugal, Turkey

Para-karate – Highlights

• K21 Female (Intellectual disability): 1) Lucía Sánchez Rosado (ESP)

• K21 Male (Intellectual disability): 1) Carlos Huertas Ruiz (ESP)

• K30 Male (Wheelchair): 1) Pietro Merlo (ITA)

Medal table (Top nations)

(figures based on WKF official results)

Looking ahead

With Spain once again asserting dominance, and Italy, Portugal, and Kosovo all showing depth, the Mediterranean region appears more competitive than ever. For the cadet and junior divisions, Guadalajara served as a launchpad for many future stars.

The baton now passes on to Egypt, with Alexandria expected to host the next edition. Expectations are high that the championship will continue to grow in visibility and prestige, while maintaining its unique role as a showcase of Mediterranean karate unity.

Mediterranean Championships, Pristina (Kosovo) – WKF

2025 Mediterranean Karate Championships Set to Begin in Guadalajara, Spain – WKF

Spain Shines as Host of the 2025 Mediterranean Karate Championships in Guadalajara – WKF

Karate 1-Series A in Salzburg – A Karate Celebration

Pictures: JM Rodriguez /RFEK