June 24, 2026
In this episode of the UK Karate Podcast, we are joined by one of the most influential figures in European Shotokan karate, Martin Buchstaller. Martin's journey is unique. Alongside a distinguished international karate career, he built an impressive executive career with major automotive manufacturers including Volkswagen AG, Nissan and Suzuki, eventually holding senior leadership positions within Volkswagen while continuing to contribute to karate at the highest level. As a member of the German JKA National Team from 1993–1998, Martin represented Germany at three JKA World Championships: 🥋 Philadelphia, USA (1994) 🥋 Osaka, Japan (1996) 🥋 Paris, France (1998) He also became a two-time JKA Germany Shotokan Cup Kata Champion and later dedicated himself to developing the next generation of karateka as a national coach, producing athletes who achieved success on the world stage. Beyond competition, Martin served as Vice President and later President of JKA Germany, helping shape the …