Three Puerto Rican female athletes will represent the island at an international Karate Shinkyokushin qualifying tournament in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, from November 5 to 8, 2026, as part of the qualification process for the World Championship scheduled for 2027 in Japan. The delegation consists of Ericka Paola Durán Guadarrama, 16; Jocelyn Tatiana Rivera, 33; and Neylanie Cubero Rivera, 34.
Their participation marks an important moment for the development of women’s Karate Shinkyokushin in Puerto Rico, as it is the first female team to officially represent the Puerto Rican organization in an international qualifying competition. Karate Shinkyokushin is practiced in the full-contact modality, requiring rigorous preparation that combines physical endurance, technique, discipline and mental strength.
The team is led by sensei Enrique Salaberrios, who has 35 years of experience in martial arts and 18 years leading the Karate Shinkyokushin Dojo of Arecibo, and will be accompanied in supervision by sensei Enid Guzmán. The three athletes will travel to Honduras with the goal of competing at their maximum capacity and continuing to advance toward the 2027 World Championship in Japan.