14 competitors. 37 World Championship medals. One incredible team.

Members of Koku-Ryu Martial Arts have returned from Austria following an extraordinary few days representing England at the WMAC World Games 2026 / World Championships.

The Championships took place from 17–20 September 2026 in Bregenz and Dornbirn, Austria, bringing together martial artists for four days of international competition across fighting, forms, weapons and other martial arts disciplines.

For our small contingent of just 14 KRMA competitors, the final result was something very special:

🥇 5 Gold Medals
🥈 13 Silver Medals
🥉 19 Bronze Medals

37 World Championship medals in total.

But the medal count only tells part of the story.

A Truly International Championship

This wasn't simply another competition.

Post-event reporting described the 2026 World Games as having more than 3,200 competition starts, with martial artists from 35 countries taking part. A competition start is an entry into a division rather than an individual athlete, as many competitors entered several events.

The official competition schedule shows athletes representing nations including England, Austria, Germany, Ukraine, France, Switzerland, Hungary, the United States and many others competing across numerous areas, rings and cages throughout the event.

And some of the KRMA competitors found themselves in sizeable international fields.

Henry Igoe, for example, earned bronze in the Karate Kata Male Kids White–Green division against a field of 14 competitors, with athletes representing England, Germany, Czechia, Italy and Ukraine.

KRMA Chief Instructor Andrew Banks also earned bronze in the Adult Blue–Black Karate Kata division, which contained 14 competitors representing Britain, Italy, Turkey, the United States, Czechia and Ukraine.

That gives some indication of just how much these medals had to be earned.

The KRMA World Championship Medal Haul

Every member of the team contributed to an unforgettable weekend.

Henry — 🥇 1 Gold, 🥈 2 Silver, 🥉 2 Bronze
Anja — 🥈 1 Silver
Natasha — 🥈 1 Silver, 🥉 2 Bronze
Kara S — 🥇 1 Gold, 🥈 2 Silver, 🥉 4 Bronze
Toby — 🥇 1 Gold, 🥉 2 Bronze
Bev — 🥇 1 Gold, 🥈 1 Silver, 🥉 1 Bronze
Sam — 🥇 1 Gold
Andy — 🥈 2 Silver, 🥉 2 Bronze
Paul — 🥉 1 Bronze
James — 🥉 1 Bronze
Kara B — 🥉 1 Bronze
Becky W — 🥈 1 Silver, 🥉 1 Bronze
Lizzy — 🥈 2 Silver, 🥉 1 Bronze
William — 🥈 1 Silver, 🥉 1 Bronze

FINAL TOTAL

🥇 5 GOLD
🥈 13 SILVER
🥉 19 BRONZE

37 MEDALS

The official Kihapp results also show just how substantial the wider England performance was, with WMAC England recording 81 gold, 88 silver and 178 bronze podium results across the Championships.

More Than Medals

Of course, coming home with 37 World Championship medals is something we are enormously proud of.

But that's not actually the part of the weekend that matters most to us.

Behind each medal is a person.

There were children experiencing international competition, teenagers testing themselves against athletes from other countries, and adults stepping onto the same world stage.

There were nerves.

There were disappointments.

There were performances that went exactly to plan and others that didn't.

There were competitors supporting each other before divisions, coaches trying to find those final few words that might make a difference, families cheering from the sidelines and teammates celebrating each other's successes.

Those are the things that don't appear on a results table.

And those are often the things that matter most.

KRMA Chief Instructor Andy Banks said:

“I genuinely couldn't be prouder of this team. This was a very tough World Championships and every medal had to be earned.

But when I look back at the weekend, it isn't just the 37 medals I'll remember.

I'll remember watching our students step onto an international stage, deal with pressure, support one another and represent England brilliantly.

Every single person on that team started somewhere. Nobody walks into their first martial arts class as a World Championship medallist.

They start with a first lesson, a first technique and probably quite a few nerves.

Then, one class at a time, you discover just how far you might be capable of going.”

From a First Class to the World Stage

Perhaps that is the part of this achievement we are most excited about.

Every one of these competitors once walked through the doors of a martial arts school as a beginner.

They didn't know where martial arts would take them.

For some, the original reason for starting might have been confidence.

For others, fitness.

Learning self-defence.

Making friends.

Trying a new activity.

Or simply having fun.

Over time those first lessons became belts, new skills, competitions and bigger challenges.

And for this group, that journey eventually led all the way to representing England at a World Championships in Austria.

From North Lincolnshire to the World Stage.

That's a pretty remarkable journey.

But You Don't Have to Want to Become a World Champion

This is an important point.

KRMA isn't only for competitors.

In fact, most people who begin martial arts aren't thinking about World Championships at all.

And that's completely fine.

Competition is simply one pathway available to students who decide that they want to pursue it.

Martial arts can be about becoming fitter.

It can be about helping a child become more confident.

It can be about discipline and focus.

It can be about learning how to defend yourself.

It can be about making friends and becoming part of a positive community.

Or it can simply be something that you really enjoy doing every week.

But regardless of where that journey eventually leads, everybody begins in exactly the same place:

The first class.

Proudly Representing North Lincolnshire

For us, there is something particularly special about seeing students who train locally taking their place amongst martial artists from across the world.

KRMA operates martial arts programmes in Brigg, Barton-upon-Humber and Winterton, working with students ranging from young children through to adults.

To see members of that community wearing England colours and competing internationally is something our entire team can be proud of.

And we'd like to thank everyone who helped make the trip possible.

Our competitors.

Our coaches.

Parents and families.

Training partners.

Instructors back at home.

Supporters following the results from the UK.

And everyone who sent messages of encouragement throughout the Championships.

You were part of it too.

What a Team. What a Weekend.

Four days of World Championship competition.

14 KRMA competitors.

🥇 5 Gold
🥈 13 Silver
🥉 19 Bronze

37 World Championship medals.

But most importantly:

Memories made.

Experience gained.

Lessons learned.

Confidence built.

And a group of martial artists who can return home knowing that they stepped onto a world stage and gave everything they had.

To every member of the team:

Be proud of what you achieved.

We certainly are.

🇬🇧🐉

Koku-Ryu Martial Arts

From North Lincolnshire to the World Stage.

Ready to Start Your Own Journey?

You don't need any previous experience.

You don't need to be fit before you begin.

And you certainly don't need to have dreams of becoming a World Champion.

You just need to take the first step.

Koku-Ryu Martial Arts offers programmes for children, teenagers and adults across North Lincolnshire.

Your journey could start with your first class.