Christophe Pinna, a name synonymous with karate greatness, expressed his deep concerns about the current state of the sport. For many enthusiasts, Pinna is more than just a World Champion; he is a symbol of karate’s golden era in the 1990s. His signature high kicks, which once dazzled audiences and left opponents reeling, remain unparalleled.Pinna’s memorable victory at the 2000 World Championships in Munich, Germany, is still celebrated. In that dramatic final, he delivered a decisive defeat to Italy’s Benetello, earning the WKF open weight gold medal—a testament to his skill and dominance in the sport.

With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, it was the perfect moment to sit down with Pinna for what we journalists call an interview, but he described as a friendly chat. This conversation is particularly timely given the recent criticism aimed at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for karate’s exclusion from the Paris 2024 Games. Critics have pointed to statistics and research from sources lacking scientific credibility and not recognized by the IOC.

Pinna’s passion for karate was evident throughout our discussion. When I brought up how the sport has evolved and how some believe its appeal has waned, he responded with a sigh of regret. “In recent years,” Pinna said, “the rules of karate competitions have become incomprehensible to the general public and are entirely inconsistent with a combat sport. Additionally, the rules change from one competition to the next, leaving even the athletes confused. Today, a referee can arbitrarily determine the outcome of a match.”

Our conversation then focused on Antonio Espinós, the President of the World Karate Federation (WKF). Pinna shared his concerns about karate’s direction under Espinós’s leadership and expressed his deep regret that the WKF has veered off course. His years with the French national karate team provided him with insight into how young athletes might be unaware of the political dynamics influencing their sport, readily accepting any surrounding propaganda.

“Pinna clarified,” we should not be mistaken: karate was not included by the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, but it was not directly excluded by the IOC. However, it is certain that recommendations were made by the IOC, and one possible reason could be that the IOC President did not want to collaborate with Antonio Espinós, who is widely perceived as lacking transparency.”

Pinna’s perspective aligns with a broader sentiment. As the homeland of the WKF, France has been a dominant force in karate, excelling in both kata and kumite. It seems unjust to demand transparency from the IOC when Espinós himself is seen as opaque. The exclusion of karate from the Paris Olympics, therefore, deserves careful consideration.

We both agreed that the WKF deserved to attain the highest levels of sports and the Olympics, but its current structure makes this seem improbable.
When I asked Pinna about the future of karate, he remarked, “Unless there are significant changes, karate will not be included in the Olympic Games. Regrettably, removing those in power is very difficult, which leads people like me to become indifferent to karate’s fate. Antonio Espinós has established a dictatorship, and politically, removing him—at least from my vantage point—seems impossible. Consequently, with a heavy heart, I watch as karate struggles.”

Talking about what has happened to karate over the years seemed difficult for Pinna. He lost his mother when he was very young, and soon after, his father succumbed to cancer. From a young age, karate had become an integral part of his life—he breathed it, lived it. Now, as he enters his fifth decade, karate remains his life’s passion. After I said my goodbyes to Christophe, I found myself momentarily lost in thought, reminiscing about the stars who once shone brightly in world championships during that era.