Gold and Bronze on the International Stage – Rebels Clean Up at the Styrian Open 2025
What a day for Rebels Karateclub Wien! On May 3, 2025, Lorenz Hellmer proved at the Styrian Open in Graz that the Rebels spirit knows no bounds. He returned from one of Austria’s most prestigious international karate tournaments with a gold and a bronze medal – writing a new chapter in the still-young international history of our club.
What Are the Styrian Open?
The Styrian Open are among the most significant international karate tournaments in the German-speaking world. Every year, athletes from across Europe compete here in the disciplines of Kata and Kumite. The tournament is known for its top-tier field of participants: alongside ambitious club fighters, national team athletes from performance centers also compete. For any karateka wanting to prove themselves at the international level, the Styrian Open are a benchmark – and that’s exactly the challenge Lorenz Hellmer was seeking.
Lorenz Hellmer’s Path to Kumite Gold in the -75 kg Class
Right from the first fight of the day, Lorenz made it unmistakably clear that he hadn’t come to Graz just to watch. With explosive footwork, razor-sharp timing and tactical maturity that goes far beyond his tournament experience, he dominated his opponent so clearly that the fight had to be stopped early – the point difference was simply too high. A statement right from the start.
In the following rounds, Lorenz continued to improve. Particularly noteworthy: in the semifinals and final, he faced fighters from the Styrian Performance Center – one of Austria’s strongest karate training facilities. Against athletes who train daily under professional conditions, Lorenz proved that technical precision paired with mental strength and the indomitable will of a Rebel can make the difference. With controlled aggression and lightning-fast counters, he secured 1st place in the Kumite Individual -75 kg category – and the gold medal at the Styrian Open 2025.
Bronze in the Open Weight Class
As if gold weren’t enough, Lorenz took on an even greater challenge: the open class with no weight limit. Here he faced significantly heavier opponents – and performed brilliantly. With courage, speed and clever distance management, he fought his way to third place and secured a well-deserved bronze medal. Two medals at his first international tournament – that speaks for itself.
The Role of the Coaches: Sonja Anderl and Carlos Posada
Behind every successful athlete stands a strong team. Sonja Anderl and Carlos Posada not only prepared Lorenz optimally in training for this tournament, but also accompanied him on competition day as his support team. The right tactics between fights, the motivating words in crucial moments and the years of experience of our coaches – all of this contributed to this success. A big thank you to both for their tireless effort!
What This Success Means for the Rebels Karateclub
The Styrian Open 2025 mark a milestone for our club. Until now, the Rebels Karateclub has been primarily successful at the national level – now it’s clear that our athletes are also competitive on the international stage. Gold against the Styrian Performance Center is more than just a medal: it’s proof that consistent training, passion and the right spirit can lead to top performances even without the resources of a performance center.
For the coming season, the Rebels Karateclub has ambitious goals. More international tournaments are on the schedule, and the foundation has been laid. Anyone who wants to be part of this success story – whether as a competitor or a beginner in Shotokan Karate – is warmly welcome. Come by for a trial training and experience the Rebels spirit for yourself!
Lorenz, we tip our hats – two medals at your first international tournament, that’s Rebels spirit at its best!