Arthur Hovhannisyan — IKO Shihan, World Open medalist, and the first Armenian to complete hyakunin kumite

Biography

Arthur Eduardovich Hovhannisyan is one of the most prominent Armenian Kyokushinkai fighters, an IKO Kyokushinkaikan Shihan, holder of 5th dan, and a master of sport of international class.

He was born on September 11, 1975, and began competing in tournaments actively in the early 1990s. Throughout his career Hovhannisyan achieved serious results at the European, Japanese, and World Championships, and became the first Armenian and Russian citizen to successfully complete hyakunin kumite — the legendary test of 100 full-contact bouts.

Since 1999 Arthur has served as Vice President of the Kyokushinkai Federation of Armenia, and since 2005 he has worked as an instructor at the So Hombu of the International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan in Tokyo. He is considered the only non-Japanese person officially teaching karate at the Japanese Hombu of IKO Matsui.

Path in Kyokushinkai

Hovhannisyan’s athletic career began very early. Even in his youth he was winning major IFK tournaments and Russian kata and kumite competitions.

In the 1990s Arthur competed successfully at the Moscow, Russian, British, and international championships, gradually becoming one of the most recognized Armenian Kyokushinkai fighters.

He later moved to the IKO system, where he continued his international career and achieved serious results at Japanese and world-level tournaments.

In 2013 Arthur opened his own dojo, «Kawaguchi Dojo,» in Tokyo, which received the status of an official branch of IKO Hombu.

World Open Results

Arthur Hovhannisyan’s greatest achievement on the world stage was a bronze medal at the 9th IKO Absolute World Championship in 2007.

He also competed successfully at major Japanese tournaments:

  • 2006 — bronze medalist at the Japan Championship;
  • 2007 — silver medalist at the Japan Championship;
  • 2007 — bronze medalist at the 9th IKO Absolute World Championship.

These results made Hovhannisyan one of the most successful Armenian fighters in the history of world Kyokushinkai.

Competition Achievements

World Championships

  • 2007 — bronze medalist at the 9th IKO Absolute World Championship.

European Championships

  • 2003 — bronze medalist at the IKO European Championship;
  • 2005 — IKO European Champion.

Russian Championships

  • 1998 — 4th place at the IFK Russian Championship;
  • 2000 — 4th place at the IKO Russian Championship.

All Japan Open

  • 2006 — bronze medalist at the IKO Japan Championship;
  • 2007 — silver medalist at the IKO Japan Championship.

IKO International Tournaments

  • 2001 — silver medalist at the IKO Open Moscow Cup;
  • 2004 — winner of the K-1 vs. Kyokushinkai team match;
  • 2006 — bronze medalist at the IKO American Championship.

Early IFK Results

  • 1992 — winner of the Open North Caucasus Junior Tournament;
  • 1995 — Champion of Armenia;
  • 1996 — Russian Champion in kata;
  • 1997 — IFK British Champion;

multiple-time winner of Russian and international IFK tournaments.

Special Awards and Achievements

Hyakunin Kumite

On March 29, 2009, Arthur Hovhannisyan successfully completed the hyakunin kumite test at IKO Hombu in Tokyo.

He became the first Armenian and Russian citizen to pass the legendary «100 fights» challenge.

Results:

49 wins;

12 losses;

39 draws.

Among the wins:

2 ippon;

22 wazari;

25 wins by judges’ decision.

This achievement is considered one of the most demanding tests in world Kyokushinkai.

Master Ranks

  • 2014 — successfully passed the 5th dan examination and received the title of Shihan.

Arthur Hovhannisyan is one of the most respected figures in international IKO Kyokushinkaikan. World and Japan Championship podium finishes, successful completion of hyakunin kumite, and work as an instructor at IKO Hombu in Tokyo have made him a unique figure in world Kyokushinkai.

Today Hovhannisyan is considered one of the best-known Armenian masters of full-contact karate and one of the few foreign shihans officially teaching at the Japanese IKO Hombu.