The most anticipated martial arts show is coming soon to Nice

No trace of weariness in his eyes. Not the slightest sign of an enthusiasm that would inevitably have faded. Despite these minor worries and setbacks that he would have been glad to avoid.

Michel Clermont, conductor of this International Martial Arts Festival, which he has been responsible for for almost 30 years now – in addition to being director of the Essor Riviera Karaté et Disciplines Associées (ERKDA) – is a man of consuming passion. But still intact, despite the scars of time passing.

Once again, with his well-known crazy energy, he was able to get everyone on board, and in particular this squad of volunteers who have been loyal to him since the beginning, in an adventure of which he spent almost a year perfecting every detail.

Sanda, a new discipline

In order to offer an evening that is both immersive and colorful. Which will, in any case, have no trouble finding an audience at the Leyrit hall in Nice. Like the 27 others that preceded it, moreover. But which will also have a few little surprises in store… "This year, for the first time, we have included sanda (a Chinese combat sport) on the program. But we have also chosen to put taekwondo in the spotlight. We will have, among our participants, the Nice champion Anthony Malvault, but also master Park Moon Soo, who is 8 dan, and some big schools…"

So it's a Leyrit hall that's possibly packed to the rafters, and inevitably won over, which will see a series of demonstrations of taekwondo, but also kung-fu, capoeira, karate, krav-maga, aikido, and many other disciplines, on Saturday, May 31st...

In total, nine martial arts are set to take center stage, thanks to athletes who mostly have expert status and/or solid global credentials, such as world karate champion Romain Lacoste.

"A host of authentic champions"

In short, the 1,800 lucky people expected to attend are in for a treat. "We know that everyone will live up to their reputation. We have this incredible opportunity to be able to bring together a host of authentic champions in one place. In fact, at the beginning, we had to do a lot of work upfront to put together a poster that would hold up. Now, with the ever-growing success of the Festival, considered by specialists to be the second largest in France after Paris-Bercy, we are the ones who are being approached. This year, I received between 80 and 90 videos from people who wanted to participate. The hardest part was sorting through them, making a choice..."

Held under the auspices of the WUKF (World Karate Federation), the event primarily highlights the visual, aesthetic side of martial arts. From this perspective, the highly traditional Indian kalarippayat will make a much-anticipated return to Leyrit.

Reservations: online, on the usual platforms (Carrefour, Fnac, etc.). Or at 06.60.81.79.85