Karate (空手), also karate-do, is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts under the influence of Chinese martial arts. While, Modern Karate is primarily a striking art that uses punches and kicks, traditional karate also employs throwing and joint locking techniques. A karate practitioner is called a karate-ka (空手家).
Kyokushin (極真) is a style of karate originating in Japan. It is a full-contact style of stand-up fighting and is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline, and hard training.
A combat sport, or fighting sport, is a contact sport that usually involves one-on-one combat. In many combat sports, a contestant wins by scoring more points than the opponent, submitting the opponent with a hold, disabling the opponent, or attacking the opponent in a specific or designated technique. Combat sports share a long history with the martial arts.
Hybrid martial arts, also known as hybrid fighting systems or sometimes eclectic martial arts or freestyle martial arts, referred to as mixed martial arts or fighting systems that incorporate techniques and theories from several martial arts. While numerous martial arts borrow or adapt from other arts and to some extent could be considered hybrids, a hybrid martial art emphasizes its disparate origins.
Alexander Evgenevich Gerunov, is a Russian Karateka who won the World Championships (2004), European Championships (2004) and World Games (2005). He is also an instructor of the School of Combat Skills "Soyuz". Gerunov was born and trained in Tolyatti by trainer, Valerie P. Kokshin. He's trained in Shotokan, Wado-ryu Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu and Taekwondo.
Rafael Mahir Aghayev (Azerbaijani: Rafael Ağayev; born March 4, 1985, in Sumgait, Azerbaijan is an Azerbaijani karateka. He won the silver medal in the men's kumite 75 kg division at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He is a five-time world champion, and eleven-time European champion in his discipline. Aghayev is currently signed by Karate Combat and is the reigning welterweight champion in the promotion with a record of 5-0.
The European Karate Federation (EKF) is the governing body of competitive karate in more than 50 countries across Europe. The EKF's stated goal is to promote, organize, regulate, and popularize the sport of karate. It is one of the five continental federations recognized by the World Karate Federation.
The European Karate Championships are organised by the European Karate Federation each year.
The World Combat Games is an international multi-sport event featuring combat sports and martial arts. The games were founded by SportAccord as a way of bringing various martial arts and combative sports to an international audience. The World Combat Games are also accompanied by a cultural program that reflects the ancient traditions and values of martial arts as well as their contribution to modern society. The games are recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
The 2013 World Combat Games were held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, from October 18 to 26, 2013.
Cheryl Murphy is an American martial artist. She is a member of Team USA and a current Shotokan Karate fighter. She is stated to be a world class competition kumite competitor.
Maša Martinović is a Croatian karate athlete competing in category kumite female +68 kg.
Kūdō is a Japanese hybrid martial art. It is a full-contact combat sport that aims to achieve safety, aggression, & practicality, a style of mixed martial arts practised with headgear and gloves. It features stand-up striking, with throwing and grappling techniques being also allowed in the competition, including restraint, locks and chokeholds.
Sakura Kokumai is an American karateka. She won the gold medal in the women's individual kata event at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru and the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. She represented the United States in the women's kata event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Alexandra Recchia is a French karateka. She is a two-time gold medalist in the women's kumite 50 kg event at the World Karate Championships and a two-time gold medalist in this event at the European Karate Championships.
Kristina Mah is an Australian karateka. She is a gold medalist at the World Karate Championships.
Sandy Scordo is a French karateka. She is a two-time silver medallist at the World Karate Championships in the women's individual kata event, both in 2012 and in 2014.
Karate Combat (KC) is a brand which promotes the first professional full-contact karate league, hosting worldwide events since April 2018. The private company is headquartered in Dubai and was founded by Robert Bryan. The brand also encompasses sports equipment, a worldwide Dojo network and mobile apps for viewers. Karate Combat was founded in order to promote karate as a sport and martial art to the new generation of sports fans. Former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten hosts Karate Combat venues alongside special guests.
Douglas Santos Brose is a Brazilian karateka. He is a three-time gold medalist in the men's kumite 60 kg event at the World Karate Championships. He also won the gold medal in the 2009 World Games, the 2015 Pan American Games, as well as being an eight-time Pan American Karate Championships champion.
France (FRA)
Azerbaijan (AZE)
Japan (JPN)
Egypt (EGY)
Russia (RUS)*
Iran (IRI)
Turkey (TUR)
Croatia (CRO)
Mexico (MEX)
Venezuela (VEN)
Australia (AUS)
China (CHN)
Italy (ITA)
Latvia (LAT)
Morocco (MAR)
Spain (ESP)
United States (USA)
Brazil (BRA)
Colombia (COL)
Germany (GER)
Tunisia (TUN)