Multiple complaints emerged regarding Carlos Fernandez, a former karate instructor active in Barcelona and its surroundings, with reports traced to El Periódico from the Prensa Ibérica group. Several allegations concern sexual abuse involving students during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The accounts describe Fernandez as a figure who had gained the trust and admiration of his students, and who used that influence to commit offenses while continuing to work in karate centers across the region. The newspaper confirms a prior arrest related to sexual abuses in 1998, and victims from La Salle Gràcia describe Fernandez as a predator whose actions left lasting harm and many potential victims.
Fernandez was taken into custody on May 18, following a complaint from the family of a minor he was teaching at Esportiu Claret. On May 20, a Barcelona court ordered him to be held as a precaution, marking the beginning of a formal legal process. The case highlights how a respected instructor could maintain a prestigious image in the Catalonia karate community while facing serious criminal accusations.
11 different centers
Fernandez began teaching karate to minors in 1982 at a Barcelona club known as Shere Khan. Four years later, he moved to a new location and later joined activities at an institution in St. Martinez de la Rosa. In 1986, the AMPA Salle de Gràcia hired him to conduct karate classes for students after school. He was arrested by the National Police on August 11, 1998.
On his private site, where he lists various career milestones, the arrest is not prominently displayed, and the timeline appears to suggest a continuation of his involvement with underage students after the incident. Despite the formal complaint and the arrest for sexual harassment, Fernandez is reported to have avoided prosecution at the time and remained in contact with underage youths who attended centers, some publicly run and others subsidized.
The year 1999 marked a move to a new club, followed by another change in 2000 and a return to a school in 2001, CEIP El Carmel. He joined as a coach in 2002 at a facility in Barcelona, and later moved through different organizations, including Club Esportiu Mediterrani in 2003 and Eixample Fitness in 2004. In 2005 he became associated with Bordeaux Sports, where a majority of complaints have since originated. In 2013 he began teaching karate outside the Barcelona area, including a dojo in Mataró.
“The best teacher”
Up until May 18, he had been working behind bars, while also maintaining classes at Esportiu Claret and two sessions weekly at Eixample Fitness. The owner of the latter facility stated that Fernandez was considered among the best teachers. He described him as someone who appeared to hold strong values and took his duties seriously, arriving early to tidy the tatami and maintain a spotless space for the students.
“I put a towel on my head”
In interviews with two former students of the university who wish to remain anonymous, the victims recount the abuse endured during their time as students. The experiences span different generations but share common details of exploitation and fear.
The first former student reported sexual abuse during several courses beginning when they were 11 years old. To gain trust, the instructor spoke of karate credentials and offered opportunities that seemed legitimate, including changes in status within the program during the first year.
They described a pattern of manipulation, where the teacher suggested they help train younger students and invited the student to use his wardrobe to change clothes personally. The abuse began to escalate in moments when the instructor used a towel or a shirt to cover the student’s face during inappropriate acts. The student recalls explicit acts and a sense of secrecy reinforced by the instructor. The student added that the teacher proposed that such behavior was normal and asked not to speak about it, leading to years of silence within the family.
The second former student, slightly older, recounts a similar sequence, including invitations to train at the Set i Mig club. For many associated with La Salle, Set i Mig represented a pinnacle of karate instruction. The student describes being taken to a basement space for a private session, with the instructor proposing a massage under the guise of relaxing the legs. The student recalls being undressed and subjected to inappropriate acts, including masturbation. The memory is painful and took years to fully understand.
During one encounter, another person knocked on the door, providing a momentary chance for escape. Yet Fernandez repeated the pattern on another occasion, taking the student to a closed area of the La Salle gym and locking the door. The student recalls realizing that help would not come and that this was a recurring danger.
Both victims emphasize the importance of other survivors coming forward to Mossos d’Esquadra and formally filing accusations. They argue that bringing these events to light is essential to protect minors and that those who speak out should not face stigma or retaliation.