PWF - a kempo team, which is essentially a family.

Fundraising to recover equipment that "Kristin" took... PWF is a team, but above all a family that we chose, and nobody gets left behind.

We were forced to leave our home, but we have already managed to restart training at the facilities provided by the Moinhos de Carvide Recreational Association, in 03/2026.

It is important to mention that the building where we carry out our activity is rented. However, the owner has already initiated the necessary procedures and has committed to rebuilding it as soon as possible.

Besides the walls, a lot of material disappeared.

In addition to replacing lost equipment, the PWF also needs to acquire new, essential equipment for the physical recovery of athletes after training and competitions, such as:
✔️ Sauna
✔️ Ice bath
✔️ Recovery equipment (massage guns)

These resources are essential for preventing injuries, improving performance, and ensuring the well-being of our athletes.

Furthermore, there is the need to purchase sports equipment which, individually, represents a high cost for the families of our athletes.

Furthermore, many official competitions require travel for the team and athletes, representing significant costs. Every year, the association co-finances the participation of athletes with greater financial difficulties, ensuring that no one is left behind due to lack of resources.

Despite the regular support from the Leiria City Council and the Monte Real Parish Council, both through financial assistance and the provision of a vehicle for transporting athletes and equipment to competitions, the acquisition of a 9-seater van is becoming increasingly necessary to ensure greater autonomy and responsiveness in the team's travels.

Every gesture counts. Together, we can recover, evolve, and continue to develop athletes and people.

The interaction between all team members, from the youngest kids to the masters, brings everyone together — whether on days of celebration, difficulty, or sadness. At PWF, this connection is what makes us stronger and keeps us united in any challenge.

Our challenges are not just about competition, but also about collaborating with the community, regardless of where it is located.

We support important causes, and this time it is we who need our cause to be supported.

[Youtube:https://youtu.be/lwhUzkmqPrs]

Above all, PWF is not just another club — it's a family.

About the author

The Piranha World Fighters Sports Association of Leiria (PWF) is a martial arts club, specifically for kempo, based in Moinhos de Carvide, Leiria district, and has changing rooms, reception, office, kitchen, leisure area and a training area.

We are the only kempo club in the Leiria region, with over 120 athletes, making us one of the clubs with the most practitioners of this sport nationwide. The athletes range in age from 3 to 72 years old.

Let's be family. Let's be friendship and fair play. Let's be better every day. Let's be evolution! Above all, let's be resilience, "Insist, persist and don't give up!", and never forget, "It's only considered impossible until it happens!".

Marco Carvalho, athlete and coach, who became world kempo champion in 2019, 2022 and 2025, and current captain of the National Kempo Team.

At the World Kempo Championships held in Caldas da Rainha in April 2025, three athletes were crowned world champions. In total, PWF athletes won 16 gold, nine silver, and eight bronze medals at a single world championship.

The main disciplines practiced by PWF athletes:

✔️ Semi kempo

✔️ Light Kempo

✔️ Full Kempo

✔️ Knock down

✔️ Submission

✔️ Submission no-gi

✔️ Forms/katas

✔️ Self-defense

✔️ Gladiators.

Within the PWF we currently have 2 athletes who are part of the National Team:

✔️ Marco Carvalho – founder, athlete and coach | Captain of the National Team | World Champion

✔️ Emilia Oliveira – athlete with international titles | European Champion

Former members of the National Team:

✔️ Beatriz Matos – athlete with international titles | World runner-up

✔️ Lara Luís – World Youth Champion

✔️ Rafael Prior – athlete with international titles | World champion

✔️ David Oliveira – athlete with international titles | European champion

Team Values

✔️ Friendship

✔️ Attitude

✔️ Determination

✔️ Commitment

✔️ Sacrifice

✔️ Resilience

✔️ Discipline

✔️ Patience

✔️ Humility

✔️ Persistence

✔️ Respect

✔️ Companionship

It is for these athletes and all the athletes in this enormous family, who insist, persist and resist, that we continue to fight.

Budget and due dates

Regarding the estimated budget for our association's needs, the target amount is €75,000.00.

Distributing it as follows:

✔️ Individual equipment for athletes to use both in training and competitions (shin guards, helmets, gloves, vests);

✔️ Training equipment (plastrons, boxing bags, gym machines, tatami mats)

✔️ Pre- and post-workout and competition equipment (sauna, ice bath, massage gun)

✔️ Adaptation of the infrastructure to our team (tatmi area, changing rooms, reception, gym, leisure area, kitchen)

✔️ Vehicle for transporting athletes and equipment (currently shared among several team members to ensure no one is excluded)

The investment plan will begin with individual equipment, followed by the vehicle, and we intend to complete the rest as soon as possible after the reconstruction of the building is finished, which has been assured to us by the owner.

The goal is to have it completed in less than 12 months, although some parts are subject to deadlines that we are not aware of.

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