Luca Valdesi (original) (raw)

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Italian karateka (born 1976)

Luca Valdesi
Born (1976-06-18) 18 June 1976 (age 48)Palermo (Sicily) Italy
Style Shotokan[1]
Teacher(s) Claudio Culasso, Professor Pierluigi Aschieri,
Rank Black Belt, 6th Dan
Medal record Men's karate Representing Italy World Games Gold medal – first place 2009 Kaohsiung Kata individual Silver medal – second place 2001 Akita Kata individual Silver medal – second place 2005 Duisburg Kata individual Karate World Championships Gold medal – first place 2004 Monterrey Kata individual Gold medal – first place 2004 Monterrey Kata team Gold medal – first place 2006 Tampere Kata individual Gold medal – first place 2006 Tampere Kata team Gold medal – first place 2008 Tokyo Kata individual Gold medal – first place 2010 Belgrad Kata team Silver medal – second place 1998 Rio de Janeiro Kata team Silver medal – second place 2010 Belgrad Kata individual Silver medal – second place 2012 Paris Kata team Bronze medal – third place 1996 Johannesburg Kata team Bronze medal – third place 2000 Munich Kata individual Bronze medal – third place 2002 Madrid Kata team Bronze medal – third place 2008 Tokyo Kata team Bronze medal – third place 2012 Paris Kata individual

Luca Valdesi (born 18 June 1976 in Palermo, Italy) is a Karate world champion in both Team and Individual Kata events.[2] Valdesi began his study of Karate at age six, under the guidance of his father Andrea, at several city gyms.

In 1995 Valdesi joined the prestigious Karate team of the Fiamme Gialle (the Italian Financial Police). National call-ups began immediately for Valdesi. Soon after the national call-ups, the first international wins arrived, initially with the Karate team of the Fiamme Gialle. Soon after, Valdesi began winning events as an individual. Valdesi has been winning the Italian Individual Championship since 1995 and the European Senior Championship since 2000.[3]

Valdesi is trained by the general coach of the Fiamme Gialle Karate Team, Claudio Culasso and by the general coach of the FIJLKAM National Team, Professor Pierluigi Aschieri, as well as his father, who looks after Valdesi during training sessions and at competitions.

In 2001, Valdesi married dancer Ada Spinella. In February 2004, Valdesi's son, Andrea was born. In November of the same year, Valdesi completed a degree in business economics, crediting his success to the support from his family.

  1. ^ eKarate accessed 15 August 2007
  2. ^ 2006 World Championship Results on Karate Records, accessed 16 August 2007
  3. ^ European Championship Results accessed August, 2007