Sandra Sanchez was present for the trip to Japan ©Getty Images

The Spanish Karate Federation (RFEF) has visited Japan, the home of its sport, meeting with delegates in Fujinomiya, while kata great Sandra Sánchez was on hand to perform a demonstration for the hosts.

RFEF President Antonio Moreno Marqueño led the team and was joined by vice-president Javier Pineño, technical director Jose Maria de Dios, national team coach Jesus del Moral and the Olympic champion Sánchez.

They were welcomed to the city in the Shizuoka Prefecture with a reception hosted by Mayor of Fujinomiya, Hidetada Sudo.

Later in the trip, recently-retired Sánchez - who also won two world titles and seven consecutive European gold medals - performed the kata kururunfa at the Muramatsu Sensei Dojo, with a karate goju okinawa demonstration taking place too.

The kata kururunfa is an advanced kata brought back from China, which is notably performed very quickly.

Concluding their visit, Marqueño, Pineño and Maria de Dios met with the Fujinomiya Football Federation vice-president to exchange ideas for the betterment of their athletes.

Karate made its Olympic debut last year in Tokyo, but the sport was dropped again for Paris 2024.