Athlete Lasha Gabaraev Dies in Yekaterinburg

On January 21, 2026, in Yekaterinburg, 36-year-old Lasha Gabaraev died — an athlete and kyokushin karate coach. His death was reported by the Federation of Kyokushin Karate of Russia.

‘With sorrow we announce that after a long battle with illness, talented athlete, mentor, and leader Lasha Gabaraev has passed away. We mourn and express condolences to the family, relatives, close ones, friends, and students. There are no words to describe the pain of this loss. Today our kyokushin family has lost a part of its soul,’ the organization’s official statement says.

According to acquaintances, the cause of death was cancer. Lasha Gabaraev celebrated his last birthday on December 27.

The RMK Martial Arts Academy, where he worked as a coach, also published an obituary. It notes that Gabaraev ‘faced one of the most terrible diseases and fought for his life for a long time.’ He joined the academy on the day it opened and devoted himself fully to working with students of all ages. ‘It is as a man of action that we will forever remember our sensei,’ the message emphasizes.

The farewell ceremony is scheduled for January 22 at the «Voznesenie» ritual hall. The funeral service will be held at the Church on the Blood, and the burial will take place at the Shirokorechenskoye Cemetery in Yekaterinburg.

Lasha Gabaraev held the position of vice-president of the Kyokushin Federation of Sverdlovsk Oblast and coached the team of the RMK Martial Arts Academy. In 2021, he gained fame when, after a hard hit in the European Championship semifinal, he was taken to the operating table, but then returned to the tatami and won the victory.