We are united by the shared exclusion of the K23 category from the world stage and a collective determination to bridge the gap between elite performance and official recognition. Our team combines international talent with institutional support to ensure that every K23 athlete has a transparent, competitive pathway to Continental and World Championships.

Founders

Stefanny Hornschuch

Co-Founder | Brazil A premier K23 athlete and a leading voice for Para-Karate in South America. Stefanny brings a wealth of international competitive experience and a deep connection to the Pan-American karate community. As a co-founder, she manages international outreach and social media strategy, ensuring the K23 Global Project remains a unified, multi-lingual movement that represents athletes across both the European and Pan-American federations.

Hunter Stiles

Co-Founder | United Kingdom An elite Para-Kata competitor with a focus on technical precision and high-level performance. Having secured national-level success and represented the UK on the international stage, Hunter founded the K23 Global Project to address the structural exclusion of K23 athletes. He leads the project’s strategic advocacy and UK coalition, leveraging his background in production and disability advocacy to build a professional, data-driven case for WKF inclusion.

Ambassadors

Our Ambassadors are elite K23 athletes dedicated to showcasing the technical excellence of our category on the global stage.

Ioan Beards (UK): Elite K23 competitor and one of the project's primary technical faces.

Stefanny Hornschuch (Brazil): International lead and South American representative.

Hunter Stiles (UK): Strategic lead and founder.

Isaac Alisson

(Brazil):

A.K.I. Academy representative and a leading voice for the Brazilian para-athlete alliance.

Christian Cardoso (Brazil):

Sensei Christian Cardoso and the Tsuru-Umi dojo represent the technical precision of the Shito-Ryu lineage in Brazil.

Barbara Fava (Belgium):

Barbara Fava is an elite Para-Karate athlete representing Belgium with a focus on technical excellence and international competition.

Supporters

Our Supporters are the clubs, coaches, and organizations that provide the structural foundation for K23 athletes to thrive. By aligning with the project, these partners lend their institutional voice to our advocacy, proving that the demand for K23 inclusion is backed by the broader martial arts community.

Llandudno Karate (Wales)

Lead Coach: Sensei Richard Prendergast

Supporting the development of a professional pathway for K23 athletes and advocating for category recognition within the national governing bodies.

Instituto M. Braga Karate (Brazil)

Lead Coach: Sensei Marcelo Braga

This Institute is a premier Shotokan Karate organization and a member of the Federação Paulista de Karate. Known for developing elite competitive athletes, their support reinforces the technical standard of the K23 movement.

Revista Karate News Podcast with Willians Quirino (Brazil)

An influential digital media outlet dedicated to being the "Voice of Karate." By providing a platform for athletes and experts, Karate News Podcast helps bring the K23 mission to a global audience and ensures the community's voice is heard.

Associação de Karatê Shitoryu Tsuru-Umi

Lead Coach: Sensei Christian Cardoso

Rooted in the traditional Shitoryu lineages of Masters Tomiyama and Minakami, Tsuru-Umi provides the technical foundation for the K23 Global Project. As a strategic partner, the association ensures that our athletes are developed with world-class technical precision and authentic Shitoryu authority.

Tempo CommuniTEA | Lead Commercial & Community Partner

Tempo is the driving force behind the K23 Global ‘NeurodiversiTEA’ initiative. As a social enterprise focused on community and connection, Tempo provides the commercial infrastructure and fueling necessary to support our elite athletes. Together, we are building a national hub that bridges the gap between high-performance sport and authentic community accessibility, ensuring every sip supports a pathway for neurodiverse talent.

Technical Experts

These experts provide the technical validation and strategic oversight necessary to ensure the K23 Global Project remains the standard for high-performance K23 Karate.

Coming soon...

Check back for updates.

Join the Alliance

We are building an undeniable international alliance. Contact us to become a Project Ambassador, Official Supporter or Technical Expert and help us secure the future of K23 Karate for 2026 and beyond.

Join the Alliance

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