High-flying action! Taekwondo and karate kick-off EUC Combat 2025
Day one in Warsaw saw spectacular performances in taekwondo poomsae and karate kata and kumite, with free-style routines of the first one stealing the show.
The European Universities Combat Championships got underway in Warsaw with a day full of skill, precision, and creativity. While karate opened with kata and kumite preliminaries, taekwondo crowned its first champions in poomsae.
Inside the University of Warsaw’s Faculty of Management, taekwondo competitors demonstrated why poomsae is often called “the art of fighting shadows”. The discipline rewards technical mastery, balance, and style rather than direct combat. Yet the intensity was unmistakable—especially in the free-style category, where athletes brought music, acrobatics, and personal flair to the mat.
“Recognized poomsae is rooted in tradition. Free-style lets us push the limits—adding acrobatics, more movement, and showing who we are as athletes,” explained Pierre-Malo Tranchant of Paris Nanterre University, one of the day’s standout performers.
Women’s Poomsae: Portugal Strikes Gold
Carolina Costa of the Catholic University of Portugal edged out Turkey’s Buse Yavuz (Anadolu University) in a nail-biting final, 7.482 to 7.466. Britain’s Renee Marshall (Loughborough University) and Croatia’s Lucija Jazić (University of Zagreb) shared the remaining spots on the podium.
Men’s Poomsae: French Champion Delivers
Pierre-Malo Tranchant lived up to expectations, defeating Finland’s Frans Salmi (University of Vaasa) 7.866 to 7.666 for the men’s title. Bronze went to Tristan Hery (Panthéon-Assas University) and Yusuf Emre Akbiyik (Istanbul Zaim University).
Free-Style brings "the wow factor"
The free-style events electrified the crowd as athletes performed choreographed routines to music—each with just one shot at glory. In the women’s division, Anadolu University’s Gulsena Karakuyulu Ertunc struck gold ahead of Rabia Nur Balmuk (Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University). Bronze was shared by Roberta Spoljar (University of Zagreb) and Buse Yavuz (Anadolu University).
Croatia’s Borna Pecko wowed the judges to claim the men’s crown, while Tranchant collected silver—his second medal of the day.
“I came here determined to perform at my very best. Winning two medals, including a gold, shows the work is paying off,” said Tranchant.
Jonathan Sun (King’s College London) and Akram El Moutia (University of Paris) took bronze.
Karate finals still to come
At Ursynów Arena, karate competitors got their campaigns underway in kata and kumite, with bouts in men’s +84kg, -84kg, -75kg, and women’s +68kg and -68kg. But the big prizes are yet to be decided—all karate finals are set for Monday.
More information: https://combatsports2025.eusa.eu/
Results: https://results.eusa.eu/index.php?page=multi&id=123&menu=1&ln=en
Txt: Krzysztof Sędzicki
Photo: Łukasz Szeląg