From April 24 to 27, 2026, the city of Waldshut-Tiengen hosted a historic event — the inaugural 1st WORLD CUP RUKBO. The tournament marked a powerful launch for the development of the international RUKBO community and demonstrated strong global interest in this discipline among athletes worldwide.
The opening ceremony was conducted at a high organizational level with the participation of the international federation’s leadership. Distinguished guests included:
• President of IFAR — Yuriy Radchenko
• Vice President of IFAR — Yuriy Nassibulin
• Secretary of the CSIT Technical Commissions for Karate & Hand-to-Hand Combat — Ludo BELLEMANS
Their presence underscored the tournament’s international recognition and the high standard of its organization.
The World Cup brought together more than 250 athletes from 12 countries, clearly reflecting the growing global recognition of RUKBO. Participating nations included: Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Belgium, Ukraine, Israel, United States, Netherlands, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Slovakia. Such broad geographic representation confirms that RUKBO is rapidly developing and uniting athletes across continents.
The competition was held in an intense yet respectful atmosphere.
Participants demonstrated:
• a high level of technical proficiency
• excellent physical conditioning
• true competitive spirit
Each bout was dynamic and decisive, with a highly competitive race for medals.
Based on the results of the competition, the top national teams were:
🥇 1st place — Team Ukraine
🥈 2nd place — Team Germany
🥉 3rd place — Team Poland
The victory of Team Ukraine stands as a strong testament to the high level of athlete preparation and the strength of its hand-to-hand combat tradition. Beyond its sporting dimension, the 1st WORLD CUP RUKBO carries important social significance. International competitions of this kind promote friendship among nations, mutual respect, and understanding between athletes from different countries.
RUKBO brings people together regardless of nationality, culture, or language, demonstrating that sport is a universal language of peace. Events like this contribute to building trust, strengthening international relations, and fostering peace worldwide.
The successful organization of the 1st WORLD CUP RUKBO represents a significant milestone in the development of hand-to-hand combat as an international sport. The tournament:
• established a foundation for regular global competitions
• united national federations
• created new opportunities for athletes
The inaugural RUKBO World Cup has proven the discipline’s strong potential for future growth. It is expected that in the coming years, both the number of participants and participating countries will increase significantly, and the tournament itself will become one of the key events in the global combat sports arena.
