Soke Cup
The Soke Cup is the highlight of the International Chito-Ryu Karate Federation calendar with Chito-Ryu practitioners from all over the world converging together every three years to compete for the honor and prestige of Soke Cup gold, and the highest honor of them all the Individual Soke Cup.
The Soke Cup presents us all with a unique opportunity to extend both our competitive and cultural horizons in an environment of friendship and understanding. For many people who begin their study of karate with the ideals of achieving more than just a feeling of self-confidence and fitness, the Soke Cup is a pointed step towards discovering the intellectual and cultural enrichment that they seek.
The competition is divided into two sections kata and kumite. There are divisions for all age groups in both individual and team format. Originally the Soke Cup only consisted of open divisions which effectively limited the competition to those of a dan ranking. At the sixth Soke Cup in Toronto, Canada, kyu grades and weight divisions where added for the first time. This opened the tournament up to a much larger range of participants.
Soke Cup Hosts
1983 - Kumamoto, Japan
1986 - Kumamoto, Japan
1989 - Vancouver, Canada
1992 - Newcastle, Australia
1995 - Kumamoto, Japan
1998 - Toronto, Canada
2001 - Kumamoto, Japan
2004 - Newcastle, Australia
2007 - Bergen, Norway
2010 - Kumamoto, Japan
2013 - Hong Kong, China
2017 - Kumamoto, Japan