Haldun Alagaş (born 16 November 1970) is a Turkish former karateka and karate coach. Competing in men's kumite in the 70 kg division, Alagaş represented the Turkey national team, İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor and Kocaeli Büyükşehir Belediye Kağıtspor.[1][2] He became a two-time world champion by winning gold medals at the World Karate Championships in 1990 Mexico City and 1998 Rio de Janeiro.[1][2] At the European Karate Championships, he won gold medals in 1991, 1997 and 2000, a silver medal in 1989, and bronze medals in 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998 and 2001.[1][2]
| Haldun Alagaş | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | Haldun Alagaş 16 November 1970 İzmit, Kocaeli, Turkey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Turkish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 70 kg (150 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Division | 70 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | Karate (kumite) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | İstanbul B.B. Kocaeli B.B. Kağıtspor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | 6th dan black belt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Karate coach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Marmara University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career
editAlagaş was influenced during his childhood by the fight scenes in Cüneyt Arkın's Battal Gazi films and in Bruce Lee films. He began karate in 1982 in İzmit. His first coach was Muzaffer Yoldaş.[2] At his first official competition, the 1986 Turkish Karate Championships, he competed as a red belt and won the junior category.[3]
In 1988, he won a silver medal at the European Cadet and Junior Championships in Sopron, one of his first major international results. In 1989, he won the gold medal at the Senior World Cup in Budapest and the silver medal in the 65 kg event at the European Championships in Titograd. The same year, he also won the gold medal at the Mediterranean Cup in Bejaia.[2]
In 1990, Alagaş became world champion by winning the gold medal in the men's kumite 70 kg event at the 1990 World Karate Championships in Mexico City. The same year, he won the bronze medal at the European Championships in Vienna.[1][2] In 1991, he won the gold medal in the 70 kg event at the European Championships in Hannover, earning his first senior European title.[1]
In 1992, he won the bronze medal in the 70 kg event at the European Championships in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. In 1993, he won the gold medal in the 70 kg event at the 1993 Mediterranean Games in Languedoc-Roussillon, and also won the bronze medal at the World Cup in Algiers the same year.[2] In 1994, he won the gold medal at the World Interclub Team Championships in Cairo. The same year, he took the silver medal at the Mediterranean Cup in Antalya. In 1995, he again won the silver medal at the Mediterranean Cup in Bari.[2]
In 1996, Alagaş won the bronze medal in the 70 kg event at the European Championships in Paris. The same year, he also won the gold medal at the European Clubs Team Championships in Brașov.[1][2] In 1997, he became European champion for the second time in the 70 kg event at the European Championships in Tenerife. During the same season, he won the bronze medal at the 1997 Mediterranean Games in Bari, the gold medal at the World Interclub Team Championships in Budapest and the gold medal at the European Clubs Team Championships in Amstelveen.[2]
The year 1998 brought Alagaş his second world title. He won the gold medal in the 70 kg event at the 1998 World Karate Championships in Rio de Janeiro.[1][4] The same year, he won the bronze medal at the European Championships in Belgrade.[1] In 2000, he won his third European title in the 70 kg event at the European Championships in Istanbul.[1] In 2001, he won the bronze medal at the European Championships in Sofia. In 2005, he won the silver medal in the 70 kg event at the Dutch Open in Rotterdam.[1][2] At the European Regions Championships, he won team gold medals in Novi Sad in 2007 and Ankara in 2011, and team silver medals in Madrid in 2009 and Warsaw in 2010.[2]
After retiring from active competition, Alagaş began working as a karate coach. In 2010, he joined Kayseri Büyükşehir Belediyespor, where he served as a coach.[3] In his post-competition career, he also gave national and international practical training seminars in karate.[2]
Personal life
editAlagaş was born on 16 November 1970 in İzmit, Kocaeli. He completed his primary and secondary education in different cities. After finishing high school in 1989, he enrolled in the Department of Physical Education at Middle East Technical University, but left during the first semester of the preparatory year. In 1991, he entered the Department of Physical Education and Sports at Marmara University, from which he later graduated.[3][2]
In karate, he holds a 6th dan black belt and a fifth-level coaching certificate.[2] Alagaş competed for İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor between 1994 and 2005. In 2006, he transferred to Kocaeli Büyükşehir Belediye Kağıtspor, where he competed until 2010.[3]
Legacy
editThe Haldun Alagaş Sports Complex in Ümraniye, Istanbul, is named in honour of his achievements.[5] In the list of sports facilities of Ümraniye Municipality, the Haldun Alagaş Sports Complex is described as a multi-purpose sports venue owned by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.[6]
International karate tournaments bearing Alagaş's name also appear in the calendar of the Turkish Karate Federation. According to the federation's activity calendar, the International Haldun Alagaş Karate Tournament is scheduled to be held in Denizli in 2026.[7]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Haldun Alagas". Karate Records. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Haldun Alagaş" (in Turkish). Kocaeli Ansiklopedisi. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Necmettin Özdemir (29 October 2011). "Sensei Haldun Alagaş" (in Turkish). Türk Karate. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "Madalya avcıları - Karate Ustaların ustası Alagaş". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 29 October 1998. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "Haldun Alagaş Spor Kompleksi" (in Turkish). Spor İstanbul. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "Spor" (in Turkish). Ümraniye Municipality. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ "Uluslararası Haldun Alagaş Karate Turnuvası" (in Turkish). Turkish Karate Federation. Retrieved 29 May 2026.