Illawarra fighter Jason Baltov won national and international titles in various martial arts disciplines in his heyday.

So, it pays to listen when the respected Illawarra Kyokushin Karate instructor says the next batch of fighters have what it takes to follow suit and do the region proud.

Baltov feels confident the seven fighters chosen to represent Australia at this weekend's International Full Contact Kyokushin Karate Championships in Japan will not only do the Illawarra proud, but Australia as well.

"They have been training really hard six days a week. I'm confident in their ability and believe every one of our seven fighters from the Illawarra have the ability to win their individual categories," Baltov said.

The Illawarra has a proud tradition of producing great adult fighters but the latest batch features mainly young athletes.

"We've had a lot of success with our young fighters recently because we've been able to train them for full-contact competitions," he said.

"Children start competing at quite a young age, although the young fighters are very tough and each young competitor is padded up for their safety. Our adult fighters compete without protection."

The annual International Full Contact Kyokushin Karate Championships, to be held on April 18-19 in Tokyo, attracts hundreds of fighters from all over the world who compete in the full contact form of karate.

Past and present fighters who have competed in Kyokushin include UFC champion Georges St Pierre and K1 Kickboxing champion Francisco Filho.

If past years are anything to go by, Australia's biggest competition will come from competitors from Eastern bloc nations including Russia and the Ukraine.

"Their fighters always seem to do well but you never know . . . each year throws up some surprises," Baltov said.

Illawarra's biggest team representing Kyokushin Karate includes competitors ranging in age from nine to 44.

The junior fighters are nine-year-olds Lucas Markovski and Emily Strehaljuk (Unanderra), Daniel Strehaljuk, 10, from Unanderra, 11-year-old Zayn Timev, from Unanderra and 12-year-old Primbee fighter Jamie Jovanovski.

Zayn's father Viktor Timev (35-39 years division) and Shellharbour fighter Shane Cunliffe (39 -45 division) will also represent Australia at the championships.

"I'm looking forward to the guys fighting.

"I'm sure they will do really well," Baltov said.