ITKF Moves Forward with the Third Stage of Its Strategic Planning and Redefines the Future of Traditional Karate

Organization Expands Its Governance, Strengthens Processes, and Implements Innovation to Establish a Self-Sustaining Model

By Paulo Pinto / Global Sports
Curitiba, March 16, 2025

The International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) is taking another crucial step in its institutional transformation with the implementation of the third stage of its global strategic planning. Launched in 2019, this project has driven profound changes in the organization’s governance, sports management, and structural model, increasing its reach from 26 member countries to 75 nations across four continents.

According to ITKF Chairman Gilberto Gaertner, the ongoing reassessment of strategic planning is essential to keeping the organization aligned with the evolving demands of sports and global transformations.

Gilberto Gaertner, ITKF Chairman © Global Sports

“Strategic planning acts as an institutional GPS, guiding us toward pathways that meet the needs of our affiliated national federations while preserving the essence of traditional karate as taught by Professor Hidetaka Nishiyama. The world is changing rapidly, and we cannot afford to wait three to five years to make adjustments. Our exponential growth of 150% over the past five years demands continuous innovations in both administrative and sports management, ensuring a sustainable future for the ITKF,” Gaertner emphasized.

ITKF’s evolution: digitalization and innovation in governance

Since 2019, the ITKF has been implementing a strategic management model based on modern corporate administration concepts and technological innovation. Leading this transformation is Vinícius Sant’Ana Pinto, known as Vina, the General Coordinator of the ITKF Innovation and Technology Committee, who has been driving a forward-thinking approach.

“When we started, our goal was to structure the ITKF with a touch of corporate management, making the organization more efficient and transparent. In 2019, during the World Championship in Curitiba, we brought together officials, referees, coaches, and athletes to define a governance model that would meet the expectations of our members,” said Vina.

With a strategic vision, Gaertner and Sant’Ana project a sustainable and predictable future for the next generations of ITKF karatekas © Global Sports

Since then, the organization has fully digitalized its operations. Today, certifications, registrations, and other official records are managed digitally, allowing for precise mapping of the global karate community. This transformation has enhanced ITKF’s management capabilities, providing detailed insights into where karate practitioners are located, their technical levels, and the necessary strategic actions for each national federation.

One direct result of this strategy was the expansion of ITKF’s event schedule. In 2020, during the pandemic, member countries expressed the need for more competitions and technical courses. In response, after the second cycle of strategic planning held in Slovenia in 2022, the organization significantly expanded its global calendar, introducing regular activities across its four operational regions—Europe, Asia, Africa, and Pan-America—thus consolidating its global presence.

“Today, our events are held on a much larger scale, reaching a broader audience than ever before. This growth strengthens the ITKF and establishes it as a globally structured and innovative organization,” Vina emphasized.

Third cycle: new guidelines for a sustainable future

In this third stage of its strategic plan, the ITKF is focusing on key pillars to consolidate its organizational transformation. One of the most emblematic projects is the standardized grading examination book, recently launched, which will soon be complemented by audiovisual materials to help karate practitioners worldwide execute their grading techniques with greater precision.

Another groundbreaking initiative is ITKF’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The organization aims to align its future actions with this global agenda, promoting a positive social impact and encouraging projects that benefit communities surrounding dojos—while respecting the local customs and traditions of each affiliated country.

“Our goal is to make the world a better place through traditional karate. We will create strategic teasers and disseminate sustainable actions that resonate globally, strengthening the sport and driving real change within communities,” explains Gaertner.

Additionally, ITKF is conducting a technical review of its refereeing rules and will actively seek input from coaches of affiliated countries to simplify and standardize interpretations, reducing inconsistencies and ensuring greater transparency and predictability in decisions.

Vinícius Sant’Ana Pinto, known as Vina, General Coordinator of ITKF’s Innovation and Technology Committee © Global Sports

An important report from Europe led ITKF to reflect on the quality of its events. The organization recognizes the importance of implementing evaluation mechanisms to continuously enhance its competitions.

“We want our events to be increasingly organized, dynamic, and fair. Our goal is to ensure that all involved—athletes, referees, coaches, and spectators—leave competitions feeling satisfied and motivated to return,” highlights Vina.

Financial autonomy and sustainable growth

ITKF’s financial sustainability is also a key focus in this new phase of strategic planning. With a fully digitalized database and structured information, the organization now has precise control over its members, allowing each regional division to gain financial autonomy and grow according to its local characteristics.

Vina, who has 20 years of experience managing a multinational company, leading a team of 700 professionals with an annual revenue of $4 billion, sees this approach as essential to ensuring ITKF’s long-term sustainability.

“Our goal is to make ITKF Global financially self-sufficient, free from external dependencies. This ensures that we can continuously invest in the development of traditional karate without compromising our autonomy,” he explains.

With the participation of all affiliated federations, the project seeks a balance between tradition and innovation, reaffirming ITKF’s commitment to strategic planning that serves national federations and society while preserving the essence of traditional karate as passed down by Shihan Nishiyama © Global Sports

The greatest achievement of this transformation, according to Vina, is the unity of purpose.

“Our entire leadership team and all affiliated countries share the same objective and follow a common path. We work cohesively and consistently, and strategic planning is the instrument that materializes this vision and drives ITKF’s growth,” Vina concludes.

A new horizon for ITKF Global

With an innovative management model, continuous strategic planning, and a global vision, ITKF is writing a new chapter for traditional karate. The implementation of this third phase reinforces the organization’s status as a global benchmark in sports governance, serving as an example of modernization without compromising the values passed down by Shihan Nishiyama.

Whether in organizational structure, financial transparency, or the evolution of the sports calendar, ITKF positions itself as a future-ready organization, ensuring that traditional karate continues to grow and impact generations worldwide.

The Four Pillars of the New Management Cycle

ITKF’s 2025-2030 strategic plan is structured around four key pillars:

✅ STANDARDIZATION OF GRADING EXAMS

• Launch of the Official Dan Examination Guidebook
• Creation of audiovisual materials to guide candidates on proper technique execution

✅ SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL IMPACT

• Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Projects focused on environmental conservation, blood donation campaigns, and social inclusion
• Development of global impact initiatives for affiliated communities, respecting local customs and cultures across four major continents

✅ MODERNIZATION OF REFEREEING AND COMPETITIONS

• Simplification of competition rules for greater objectivity and clarity
• Strengthening the Technical Committee with new regional advisors
• Implementation of satisfaction surveys to enhance event organization

✅ FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND INDEPENDENT MANAGEMENT

• Goal of making ITKF financially autonomous, independent of external agents
• Growth strategy adapted to the specific needs of each continent
• Complete digitalization of administrative processes and certifications

Securing ITKF’s Future

Chairman Gaertner reinforces that the core focus of strategic planning is to ensure a sustainable and autonomous future for ITKF, guaranteeing that the organization continues to grow without compromising its identity.

“We are preparing ITKF to be strong and independent for decades to come, always respecting the traditions of traditional karate while continuing to evolve,” Gaertner concluded.

For those interested in learning all the details of ITKF’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, the complete material will soon be available on the official ITKF website. Stay tuned for the link that will be released to access the full document.