Sensei Petko Chirpanliev from the Bulgarian Karate Kyokushin Federation received the prestigious “Golden Belt 2025” award in the category “Best Coach of the Year” at the official ceremony held in Varna, Bulgaria, on December 5.
“This is a great responsibility. Being a coach is a path where, if you receive such recognition, it gives you even more motivation. I kept thinking about how happy the people at the club would be — that is the greatest reward,” he shared in an interview for the program “Bulgaria Sutrin.”
Karate has had a clear tradition since its inception — everyone who studies karate must also teach it, so that it is passed on from generation to generation, Sensei Chirpanliev emphasized.
How Champions Are Made
“They go through very tough training programs. In the end, they are happy when competitions come. For them, competing is almost relaxing. After that, they get some rest,” the guest on Bulgaria ON AIR said.
“We prepare different age groups, and their training process is not the same. You must experience everything together with each athlete so you know what they need and what to say to truly influence them,” the karate coach revealed. According to him, motivation comes from the athletes themselves, while his role is to earn their trust.
“You cannot lie to a child. They feel the coach’s support — that is how trust is built over the years. They accept everything 100% as something that must be done, and then the work becomes easier,” Petko Chirpanliev stressed.
Karate Passed from Generation to Generation
“My coach is Senpai Stefan Vangelov. He has given me everything — both as an athlete and as a coach. I have remembered many things from him, and I pass them on to the next generations,” he noted.
“There are many children and adults who want to practice martial arts. In my opinion, five is an appropriate age to start. First they build physical culture, habits, and discipline. After that, they move on to the technical part. When they reach the age to compete, they are sufficiently prepared to perform well,” Sensei Chirpanliev explained.
According to him, losses teach more than victories, and it is up to the coach to create a positive and supportive atmosphere.
“Keeping children in the dojo depends greatly on the parents. If they show no interest, the child sees it as something unimportant and gives up,” the Kyokushin coach pointed out.
You can watch the full interview with Sensei Petko Chirpanliev on the Bulgaria ON AIR TV website.
