Holding a black belt 5th Dan under the IFK (International Federation of Karate – Hanshi Steve Arneil), Shihan Steve Fogarasi is an Internationally known and respected instructor.

 Shihan Steve Fogarasi represents Canada as the President of IFK Canada Kyokushin Organization. The owner and operator of Contact Kicks Martial Arts in Toronto

 Shihan Steve Fogarasi began his martial arts career 1986, beginning with Judo in his hometown Ludus, Romania. Under the communist regime, judo was the only legal martial art. After about 6 months of judo he was introduced to Shotokan Karate, which he trained in for two years.

 At age 17 he left to attend school in Sibiu where he discovered Kyokushin Karate and joined the dojo under Sensei Bradu Gheorghe. He achieved the rank of 7 kyu, blue belt and after finishing school moved back to his hometown Ludus in 1990.

​ At age 18 and only blue belt holder back in his hometown where no karate dojos existed and not to mention kyokushin karate, he was faced with a dilemma – “how do I continue my journey in karate?” The decision came quickly – “I will open my own dojo!” … and he did! In short time he gathered students and was the first kyokushin karate dojo in the history of Ludus.

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Twice a year they would go to national seminars and training camps at the Black Sea and in The Carpathian Mountains. He tested for belts and learned from masters like: Shihan Furko Kalman, Shihan Adamy Istvan, Shihan Somogyi Zsolt, Sihan Howard Collins, Kancho Shokei Matsui, Sensei Kenji Yamaki, Sensei Brezovai Sandor and others.

Sensei Fogarasi began competing in full-contact knock-down karate in 1992, where he won 1st place at the regional championship. He competed for  another 10 years in more then 20 events and was almost always on the podium.

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• In 1996 he tested and received his black belt 1st Dan from Kancho Shokei Matsui in Szentes, Hungary.

• In 2001 tested 2nd Dan in Romania at the Black Sea Summer Camp, again with Kancho Matsui.

• In 2007 he received his 3rd Dan and the rank of Sensei from Hanshi Steve Arneil 10th Dan in the United States, Rochester NY.

• 2015 Sensei Fogarasi received his 4th Dan from Hanshi Steve Arneil at the BKK Summer Camp.

• In 2021 he was awarded the rank of 5th Dan and title of Shihan by the IFK board of directors 

 

USA

In 2001 Shihan Steve Fogarasi moved to the USA, Denver Colorado, where he lived for almost 8 years. In Denver he founded and opened Contact Kicks dojo and joined the USA IFK.  He also began training in Kickboxing Muay-Thai at 3D Martial Arts with Sensei Clarence Thacht.

In 2006 he competed again in full-contact karate, after a 5 year break. He received 3rd place at the All American International in Rochester NY. This was his last competition.

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Canada and the IFK

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Shihan Steve Fogarasi immigrated to Canada in 2010 and became the Canadian country Representative for the International Federation of Karate (Kyokushin), and established Toronto as the new home of Contact Kicks Martial Arts and the Headquarters of IFK Canada Kyokushin Organization.