ISTANBUL, September 27, 2026 — Around 200 athletes from 16 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas gathered in Istanbul from September 24 to 27 for the 8th Nanbudo World Championship, making the Turkish city the centre of the international Nanbudo community for three days of competition.
Athletes competed across the discipline’s technical and combat events, producing strong performances and closely contested finals. Croatia finished as the most successful team overall with 28 medals, while Switzerland delivered an outstanding performance in Kata and Cameroon proved particularly strong in the combat disciplines.
The championship highlighted the increasingly international character of Nanbudo, with athletes from four continents competing alongside one another and demonstrating a wide range of technical styles and fighting skills.
Beyond the results, Istanbul provided an important meeting point for the Nanbudo community. Athletes, coaches and officials from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas shared the competition floor and the experience of a major international championship.
The event was hosted by the Turkish Nanbudo community, which faced significant financial constraints and organizational challenges in preparing the championship. Despite these difficulties, the Turkish team succeeded in bringing the World Championship to Istanbul and providing the participating delegations with the opportunity to compete on the world stage.
The 8th World Championship closed with strong performances from Croatia, Switzerland and Cameroon, but also with a broader message: Nanbudo continues to bring practitioners from different continents together through sport, competition and a shared martial arts tradition.
