26/09/2026
FROM COMPETITOR TO REFEREE TO ESKA DIRECTOR
Over the past 40 years, many people have experienced ESKA both as competitors and officials. As we celebrate ESKA's 40th anniversary, we're catching up with some of the people who have been part of that story.
Leslie Jensen began karate at the age of 16 in Helsingborg, Sweden.
Just a year later, as a yellow belt, he entered his first national competition and won silver. He went on to become a permanent member of the Swedish National Team, winning medals at ESKA, WSKA, EKF and WKF Championships.
In 1991, Leslie became ESKA Senior Men’s Individual Kumite Champion.
His involvement with ESKA continued long after his competition career ended.
Inspired by his Sensei, Ted Hedlund, Leslie began refereeing while he was still competing. He qualified as an ESKA Kata and Kumite Judge in 1993 and as an ESKA Referee in 1994.
In 2013, Leslie was appointed ESKA Director of Finance, continuing a journey with ESKA that has taken him from Competitor to Champion, Referee and member of the Executive Board.
We asked Leslie what has remained special about ESKA through all those years:
“The biggest thing about ESKA was and still is the mutual friendship that we enjoy, gathering around a part of the traditional karate that we all love.”
40 Years of ESKA | 1986–2026
www.eska-karate.org
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