October 21, 2026 — Sixty-five karate athletes from Belize departed on Wednesday morning for Mérida, Mexico, where they will compete in the upcoming 2026 World Shoto Cup. This delegation marks the largest contingent the Belize Shotokan Karate Association (BSKA) has ever sent to the quadrennial tournament, marking a historic milestone for the sport of Shotokan karate in the Central American nation.
Members of the delegation have expressed excitement and cautious optimism ahead of the international competition, which brings together Shotokan karate practitioners from across the globe. For many athletes and coaches, the opportunity to compete on this world stage is a rare honor that reflects years of dedicated training.
“We are very privileged. This is the biggest delegation that we are taking to such an event,” shared Floyd Lino, a BSKA representative, echoing the collective enthusiasm across the group.
Suzanne Singh, an athlete competing on behalf of the St Joseph Shotokan Dojo, described the quadrennial tournament as one of the most important global gatherings for the Shotokan community. “This is a really grand occasion. The whole world of Shotokan will be here, and I’m just really happy to be part of the group that’s representing Belize,” Singh said. She acknowledged that the months of preparation leading up to the event had been both exciting and physically demanding, and shared that she and her teammates are aiming to return home with a collection of medals.
Simeon Joseph, an instructor with the Dangriga Shotokan Karate Club, confirmed that the entire delegation has put in extensive months of training to prepare for the high level of competition at the World Shoto Cup. “We’re expecting our association to do very well. Lots of preparation has gone into this, so with that we are expecting very good results,” Joseph said.