Karate Mühlbach – a success story. © KARATE MUHLBACH

Success story: 10 years of Karate Mühlbach

When the first training session of Karate Mühlbach took place on September 6, 2016, nobody could have guessed what an extraordinary development this section of ASV Mühlbach would undergo.

August 01, 2026

From: pm/det

Ten years later, Karate Mühlbach has become the largest karate school in South Tyrol. Hundreds of children, teenagers, and adults have become part of this impressive success story over the past decade. Today, Karate Mühlbach is known far beyond the borders of the market town for its top-quality training, strong sense of community, and an enthusiasm that unites people of all ages.

Supported by trust, cohesion and strong partners
As a section of ASV Mühlbach, Karate Mühlbach has enjoyed the valuable support of the sports club since its founding. Equally important is the support of Horst Nössing from the "White Lily" and numerous other sponsors and companions – above all, team outfitter Parth and Christian Untersteiner from "ChriYou". They are all united by their appreciation for the values ​​that are exemplified and taught at Karate Mühlbach: respect, discipline, community, responsibility, and personal development.

Selina Peintner during her belt test.

People who helped write history – all on a voluntary basis
Behind every success story are people who achieve extraordinary things with passion, expertise, and great personal commitment. Among the key figures of the early years was Stefano Del Nero, Martin Pezzei's long-time coach. In the first two seasons, he led the training of the children's and youth groups, laying a crucial foundation for the development of the karate school. In the following years, he continued to contribute his knowledge and provide mental training for the competitors.

Silke Marcher is an indispensable pillar of Karate Mühlbach. She has reliably supported Martin Pezzei for many years. Since 2025, she has been responsible for both children's groups, thus significantly shaping the training of the next generation.

Karate Mühlbach currently boasts a total of seven instructors: Besides Martin Pezzei and Silke Marcher, there are Margit Zerle, Mamdouh Agaybi, Florian Fischnaller, Fabian Pezzei, and Selina Peintner. Their dedication extends far beyond the actual training sessions and forms the foundation of this success story. They all contribute their time and effort on a voluntary basis – a testament to the passionate commitment behind this success story.

Big names visit Mühlbach

A total of 28 training courses have taken place in Mühlbach over these ten years. Members of Karate Mühlbach had the opportunity to learn from some of the biggest names in international karate: Olympic participant Noah Bitsch, World Games winner George Tzanos, and world champion Alisa Buchinger were among the guests, as were renowned karate masters such as Seyed Jamaleddin Nekoofar, Claudio Artusi, and Fabrizio Comparelli.

Karate Mühlbach always looked beyond its own horizons – offering coordination and flexibility training, self-defense courses, mental training, Bo workshops, posture training, and special training courses for children's trainers – all of which expanded the karate school's offerings and ensured a holistic education for its members.

With gratitude for what has been achieved – with confidence in the future
Ten years of Karate Mühlbach represent ten years of passion, friendship, volunteer work, and shared growth. They are ten years full of moving stories, unforgettable moments, and impressive sporting achievements.

"These ten years don't represent the pinnacle of Karate Mühlbach, but rather the foundation for our future," says coach Martin Pezzei. With a dedicated coaching team, a new dojo opening this fall, and a fantastic community, Karate Mühlbach looks to the coming years with optimism and enthusiasm.
The success story of Karate Mühlbach impressively demonstrates what can be achieved when passion, voluntary work, cohesion and a shared vision come together.