EKO passport
An EKO passport is the official membership and registration booklet (the "karate passport") issued by the European Karate Organisation (EKO), the governing body for Shinkyokushin (Kyokushin full-contact) karate in Europe.
Shinkyokushin EKO passport order especially for dojos. Dojo managers can place the order for their dojo, after which coordination regarding delivery and payment will take place.
Within the Shinkyokushin style, this passport is an essential document for every karateka. It functions as an official logbook that tracks your entire martial arts journey.
The EKO passport contains and records the following information:
- Belt Ranks (Kyu and Dan degrees): Every time you pass a grading exam (from 10th kyu up to black belt/dan ranks), it is officially recorded in your passport with stamps or official seals. This serves as international proof of your rank.
- Seminar and Camp Participation: National and international training camps (such as the well-known Summer or Mountain Camps) are registered here.
- Tournament Records: Your participation in (full-contact) kumite or kata tournaments is logged in the passport.
- Access to Official Tournaments: For major (inter)national competitions and European Championships, presenting an up-to-date EKO passport (often with an annual membership stamp or sticker) is mandatory during weigh-ins and medical checks to be allowed to compete.
- Referee Licenses and Courses: If you act as a referee or corner judge within the organisation, your certifications and experience are kept track of in this booklet.
In practice, you usually purchase this passport once through your own dojo when preparing for your very first belt exam (10th kyu).