Real Federación Española de Kárate y D.A.

What Real Federación Española de Kárate y D.A. does

The Real Federación Española de Kárate y Disciplinas Asociadas (RFEK) is the official national sports federation governing karate and four associated disciplines — Kenpo, Kung Fu, Nihon Tai-Jitsu, and Goshin/Autodefensa — in Spain. Founded in 1978 after separating from the Spanish Judo Federation, RFEK is a private non-profit association (entidad asociativa privada, sin ánimo de lucro) recognized as an Entity of Public Utility and operating under the supervision of the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD). It serves competitive athletes across age categories (from Benjamin through Master), para-karate practitioners, coaches, referees, military and security forces (through the UGFAS-CCC program), and recreational practitioners affiliated through thousands of clubs under 18 regional autonomous federations covering every Spanish autonomous community.

The federation operates a calendar of national championships, the Liga Nacional and Liga Iberdrola women's league, the Copa de España de Estilos, and the Campeonato de España de Clubes, with registrations and live results processed through the external KarateScoring and LiveSportScoring platforms and event broadcasts streamed on YouTube. Its core technology stack includes the electronic Karate Scoring System for competition management and a multi-tatami YouTube live-streaming infrastructure. RFEK is a founding member of the World Karate Federation (WKF) and currently holds seats on the WKF Executive Committee, the presidency of the Ibero-American Karate Federation (FIK), and the vice presidency of the Comité Olímpico Español (COE).

RFEK generates revenue through four primary streams: recurring annual federation licenses (athletes, referees, technicians), competition entry fees, official title/belt examinations (including black belt certifications), and fees from the Escuela Nacional de Preparadores coaching certification courses (Levels I, II, III). Supplementary income derives from public subsidies (notably a 35,000 euro grant from the Diputación de Tarragona for the 2026 Club Championship), corporate sponsorships (Iberdrola as main Liga Iberdrola sponsor, DAEDO for merchandising), and regional tourism co-sponsorship. Pricing is set annually via official Cuotas y Tasas circulars and is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Real Federación Española de Kárate y D.A.

Legal name

Real Federación Española de Karate y Disciplinas Asociadas

Website

https://rfek.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RFEK is Spain's official national sports federation for karate and four associated disciplines, governing competitions, athlete licensing, coach certification, and para-karate programs for competitive athletes, clubs, and 18 regional federations across Spain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Federation Governance

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD)

Keywords

• Karate federation governance
• Martial arts regulation
• Sports licensing services
• Coach certification programs
• Athlete development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Federation Membership Licenses: Annual licenses for athletes, referees, and technicians to participate in official competitions
2. Competition Entry Fees: Fees for participation in national championships and league events
3. Official Title Examinations: Fees for belt/rank examinations including black belt certifications
4. Training Course Certifications: Revenue from E.N. de Preparadores courses for Levels I, II, III coaching certifications

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

National sports federation governing karate and four associated disciplines (Kenpo, Kung Fu, Nihon Tai-Jitsu, Goshin/Autodefensa) in Spain. Operates the national competition calendar including Liga Nacional and Liga Iberdrola leagues, manages official belt/rank gradings and coach certifications through the Escuela Nacional de Preparadores, runs athlete talent development programs, and delivers specialized close-combat training for military and security forces via the UGFAS-CCC department. License and membership fees, competition entries, certification fees, and sponsorships fund operations.

Product overview

Real Federación Española de Kárate y D.A. (RFEK) operates as a national sports federation governing karate and four associated disciplines: Kenpo, Kung Fu, Nihon Tai-Jitsu, and Goshin/Autodefensa. The organization functions as a platform delivering competitive and recreational sports services across these disciplines. Core offerings include national championship organization (Liga Nacional and Liga Iberdrola for karate, plus individual discipline championships), athlete development through the Programa Nacional de Tecnificación Deportiva (P.N.T.D.) and Escuela Nacional de Preparadores for coach certification, and specialized programs including UGFAS-CCC for military close-combat training and Conócenos Defiéndete for school-based self-defense education. The federation also manages Para-Karate for athletes with disabilities. Technology-enabled services include an electronic Karate Scoring system for competition management. Key events include Copa de España de Estilos, Campeonato de España de Clubes, and various age-category national championships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Karate Governance and National Competition Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• First Olympic gold medal in karate history won by Sandra Sanchez at Tokyo 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• JUPOL (Union of Police)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 December 2025Police union JUPOL signed agreement for combat training courses for police officers. Courses cover close combat, tactical weapons handling, and stress management training. Instructors are certified by RFEK following police standards.
• World Karate Federation (WKF)flagshipOthersInternational governing body for karate worldwide. RFEK is a founding member and the federation's president serves on the WKF Executive Committee.
• European Karate Federation (EKF)flagshipOthersContinental federation for European karate. RFEK participates in European Championships and qualifies athletes for continental competitions.
• Ibero-American Karate Federation (FIK)coreOthersRFEK President Antonio Moreno Marqueño also serves as President of FIK since 2009, representing Ibero-American karate nations.
• Union of Mediterranean Karate Federations (MKFU)minorOthersMediterranean regional federation. RFEK Vice President represents RFEK in MKFU leadership.
• Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD)flagshipOthersSpanish Higher Council for Sports exercises administrative supervision and tutelage over RFEK as the official sports federation.
• Comité Olímpico Español (COE)flagshipOthersRFEK President serves as Vice President of COE since 2022-2023. RFEK is represented in Olympic structures for karate's Olympic inclusion.
• Diputacion de TarragonacoreOthersRegional government provided 35,000 euro subsidy for the 2026 Spanish Club Championship in Tarragona, supporting event organization and local economic impact.
• DAEDOminorOthersElectronic protective equipment manufacturer. RFEK Merchandising collaboration for official competition gear.
• IberdrolacoreOthersMain sponsor of the Liga Iberdrola de Karate, the premier women's karate league in Spain.
• Turismo de TenerifeminorOthersSponsorship for the Gran Final Liga Nacional/Liga Iberdrola 2025 held in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife.
• Deportes TenerifeminorOthersSports authority of Tenerife co-sponsored the Gran Final Liga Nacional/Liga Iberdrola 2025.
• PROAD (Sports Anti-Doping Program)coreOthersCollaboration with Spanish anti-doping agency for competition safety and clean sport compliance.
• CELAD (Anti-Doping Commission)coreOthersCommission for anti-doping prevention and control in karate competitions.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Japan Karate Association (JKA): Japan's flagship karate organization, the sport's country of origin. Shares the national-federation mandate for governing karate styles, certifying instructors (dan/kyu grades), and representing Japan internationally — making it a benchmark peer for grade-exam and instructor-certification revenue.
• Real Federación Española de Taekwondo: National taekwondo federation in Spain, a peer Olympic combat-sport federation under CSD oversight. Shares the same governance model (regional federations, member licensing, coaching schools, anti-doping compliance, Olympic pathway) and competes for the same membership pool.
• USA Karate: U.S. national governing body for karate, a peer WKF national federation. Comparable in running national team selection, coach education, referee certification, and acting as the single IOC-recognized karate federation in its country.
• Real Federación Española de Judo y Deportes Asociados: Spain's national judo federation, the organization RFEK originally segregated from in 1978. Operates an identical national-federation model: member licensing, regional autonomous federations, Liga Nacional competitions, E.N. de Preparadores coaching certification, and Olympic team representation. Closest structural and operational analog in Spain.
• Deutscher Karate Verband (DKB): German national karate federation, comparable in scale and WKF/EKF affiliation. Runs parallel national league and championship structures, coach certification programs, and represents Germany at the same WKF and EKF events as RFEK.
• Federación Española de Kárate (FFK - France): French national karate federation, the most direct international counterpart to RFEK. Operates an equivalent structure of national championships, departmental leagues, coach and referee certification, and WKF-affiliated international competition pathway.

Others

• Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD): Spanish government body that delegates public administrative authority over karate to RFEK and provides funding oversight. Not a peer federation but the supervisory authority that defines RFEK's regulatory privileges, public-subsidy flow, and transparency obligations (Ley 19/2013).
• Real Federación Española de Atletismo: Spanish athletics federation, a peer Spanish national sports federation under CSD oversight. Operates a similar licensing, regional-federation, and Liga Nacional model, providing a structural benchmark for how large Spanish sport federations are run and funded.

Broad incumbents

• World Karate Federation (WKF): International federation of which RFEK is a founding member and whose Executive Committee includes RFEK's president. WKF operates at the global tier (World Championships, Olympic inclusion advocacy) and is the umbrella body for RFEK's international competition pathway.
• European Karate Federation (EKF): Continental federation that organizes European Championships and qualifies athletes for World events. RFEK is a member and hosts/competes in EKF events; structurally identical to WKF but at regional level, making it a direct counterparty rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@RFEKarate
• Facebookfacebook.com/mujerykarate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rfek

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Real Federación Española de Kárate y D.A.