Luca Valdesi
Born	(1976-06-18) 18 June 1976 (age 47) Palermo (Sicily)
Style	Shotokan[1]
Teacher(s)	Claudio Culasso, Professor Pierluigi Aschieri,
Rank	Black Belt, 6th Dan
Medal record Men's karate Representing  Italy World Games 2009 Kaohsiung Kata individual 2001 Akita Kata individual 2005 Duisburg Kata individual Karate World Championships 2004 Monterrey Kata individual 2004 Monterrey Kata team 2006 Tampere Kata individual 2006 Tampere Kata team 2008 Tokyo Kata individual 2010 Belgrad Kata team 1998 Rio de Janeiro Kata team 2010 Belgrad Kata individual 2012 Paris Kata team 1996 Johannesburg Kata team 2000 Munich Kata individual 2002 Madrid Kata team 2008 Tokyo Kata team 2012 Paris Kata individual

Luca Valdesi (born 18 June 1976 in Palermo, Italy) is a Karate world champion in both Team and Individual Kata events.^[2] Valdesi began his study of Karate at age six, under the guidance of his father Andrea, at several city gyms.

Overview

In 1995 Valdesi joined the prestigious Karate team of the Fiamme Gialle (the Italian Financial Police). National call-ups began immediately for Valdesi. Soon after the national call-ups, the first international wins arrived, initially with the Karate team of the Fiamme Gialle. Soon after, Valdesi began winning events as an individual. Valdesi has been winning the Italian Individual Championship since 1995 and the European Senior Championship since 2000.^[3]

Valdesi is trained by the general coach of the Fiamme Gialle Karate Team, Claudio Culasso and by the general coach of the FIJLKAM National Team, Professor Pierluigi Aschieri, as well as his father, who looks after Valdesi during training sessions and at competitions.

Outside karate

In 2001, Valdesi married dancer Ada Spinella. In February 2004, Valdesi's son, Andrea was born. In November of the same year, Valdesi completed a degree in business economics, crediting his success to the support from his family.