From May 2 to 4, 2025, a prominent International Seminar and the South American Karate-do and Kobudo Championship were held in the city of Vilcún, Chile.

From Okinawa, Japan, Sensei Takashi Arakaki and Miyoshi Fukuchi participated, and from Tokyo, Sensei Shozen Arakaki and Mayumi Suzuki joined the event, visiting Chilean soil for the first time. With great enthusiasm, they engaged in training alongside practitioners from Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.

Many athletes from various countries across the continent competed in the South American Karate and Kobudo Championship. In the women’s karate kata category, Mayumi Suzuki won first place. In women’s kobudo, in the bo and sai categories, Mayumi Suzuki took second place and Miyoshi Fukuchi placed third, both demonstrating outstanding performances.

The Vilcún community enthusiastically supported the event, offering a warm welcome and continuous hospitality—reflecting the growing interest in karate and kobudo in the region.

It is worth highlighting that in Vilcún, karate-do has been incorporated into the educational and emotional development of children. During the event, visits were made to six local schools, promoting cultural exchange and the core values of karate.

We wish to express our deepest gratitude to Sensei Salomón Abdias Sepúlveda Ocares, all members of Dojo Vilcún Okikukai Uechi-ryu Chile, Mayor Katherinne Migueles Muñoz, and the entire community of Vilcún, for making this wonderful visit and the successful realization of this important championship possible.

Date: May 2–4, 2025
Location: Vilcún, Chile
Organizer: Dojo Vilcún Okikukai Uechi-ryu Chile
General Coordination: Sensei Salomón Abdias Sepúlveda Ocares