Kancho Hideyuki Ashihara

“Ashihara kaikan” is an authentic, direct (full contact) Japanese martial art that was founded by Kancho (great master) Hideyuki Ashihara (December the 5th 1944 – April the 24th 1995). The official name of the organization that gathers representatives of this skill is the New International Karate Organization (NIKO) – Ashihara kaikan.

The essence of this martial art is known as Sabaki Method that implies setting a fighter beside or behind his opponent thus providing the most favourable position for manipulating the rival’s balance and counterattack. This base taken from the basic Aikido postulates was build by two other skills: karate and judo. There are about 80 percent karate kicks and punches in this martial art and 20 percent judo throws, sweeps and retreats. Adding to this numerous original techniques developed by Hideyuki Ashihara himself we have got a fighting system with Full Contact rules - a dynamic, powerful, very attractive fighting skill that captivates at first sight.

The most famous international competition in this fighting style is ‘Sabaki Challenge Spirit’. The purpose of this competition is to gather the best fighters of Ashihara Kaikan annually in order to test the principles and theories representing the components of Ashihara training, with personal improvement and Ashihara Kaikan full development as the final goal. Likewise, this is the opportunity for fighters to test their endurance, speed, strength, accuracy, technique and what is most important to test their Sabaki Method. However, it is much more important for fighters to check in practice their perseverance, sports spirit and self-discipline, mentally and emotionally.

In December 2006 Sensei Svetlan Skenderovski, Kyokushinkai master, trainer with numerous trophies and the President of the Serbian Kyokushinkai Association from 1987 to1990 became the founder of the new martial art in Serbia . Sensei Svetlan Skenderovski as the leader, Sempai Željko Mandic and his asistent Dusan Mandaric with ‘TORA’ club, Sempai Saša Andelic with ‘TSORU’ club, Sempai Svetlan Spasic with ‘OOKAMI’ club and Sempai Sandra Spasic with ‘IRUKA’ club established in February 2007 Serbian Ashihara Kaikan Association that in the first month of its existance had assembled about 250 members.

Ashihara Trainers

Due to the authority and respect that Sensei Svetlan Skenderovski enjoys among martial arts masters in Europe and all over the world, Serbian Ashihara Kaikan Association has got an invitation and started to participate at the 13th World Championship (13th Sabaki Challenge Spirit) traditionally held in Viborg, Denmark from April 7th 2007. For the first presentation to NIKO (New International Karate Organization) Ashihara Kaikan Federation, the Serbian national team was represented by 10 members.