ISF and WKF Strengthen Cooperation in Education Worldwide

Mar. 17, Belgrade, Serbia – ISF and the World Karate Federation (WKF) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today in Belgrade, marking an important step forward in strengthening cooperation between the two organisations in the field of education in school sport.

The signing ceremony was hosted by the Ministry of Sport of Serbia, in the presence of Zoran Gajić, the Minister of Sport. The agreement was signed by ISF President Željko Tanasković and WKF President Antonio Espinós.

Both ISF and WKF are IOC recognised International Federations, sharing a common commitment to promoting sport as a tool for education, development, and international exchange among young people.

Within the framework of this new agreement, ISF and WKF will work closely to further develop Karate in schools globally. The cooperation will focus on key areas such as ISF Academy educational programmes and PE teacher and coach training. By combining WKF’s expertise in Karate development with ISF’s global school sport network, both organisations aim to expand participation opportunities for students and reinforce the educational dimension of sport.

Karate is one of the most widely practised disciplines within school sport worldwide, with a strong grassroots presence across all continents. Its core values — including respect, self-control, discipline, and personal development — make it particularly well-suited to educational environments.

This agreement also reflects the broader cooperation between ISF Members and partner organisations. In parallel, a similar MoU has been signed at the continental level between the European School Sport Federation (ESSF) and WKF, further strengthening the development of Karate within school sport systems.