Editing Karate (section)

== Sport ==

Karate is divided into style organizations.<ref name="google1">{{cite web|title=Tom Lapuppet, Views of a Champion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d9IDAAAAMBAJ&q=sport+karate&pg=PA62|last=Goldstein|first=Gary|date=May 1982|website=[[Black Belt Magazine]]|publisher=[[Active Interest Media]]|page=62|access-date=13 October 2015}}</ref> These organizations sometimes cooperate in non-style specific sport karate organizations or federations. Examples of sport organizations include AAKF/ITKF, AOK, TKL, AKA, WKF, NWUKO, WUKF and WKC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wkc-org.net/ |title=World Karate Confederation |publisher=Wkc-org.net |access-date=14 March 2013 |archive-date=19 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519044207/http://www.wkc-org.net/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Organizations hold competitions (tournaments) from local to international level. Tournaments are designed to match members of opposing schools or styles against one another in kata, sparring and weapons demonstration. They are often separated by age, rank and sex with potentially different rules or standards based on these factors. The tournament may be exclusively for members of a particular style (closed) or one in which any martial artist from any style may participate within the rules of the tournament (open).

The [[World Karate Federation]] (WKF) is the largest sport karate organization and is recognized by the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) as being responsible for karate competition in the Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reports/EN/en_report_677.pdf |title=Activity Report |access-date=14 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107070616/http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reports/EN/en_report_677.pdf |archive-date=7 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The WKF has developed common rules governing all styles. The national WKF organizations coordinate with their respective [[National Olympic Committee]]s.

WKF karate competition has two disciplines: sparring (''kumite'') and forms (''[[Karate kata|kata]]'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nippon.com/en/views/b06601/?pnum=2|title=The Global Allure of Karate|date=2 January 2017|access-date=20 March 2018|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090209/https://www.nippon.com/en/views/b06601/?pnum=2|url-status=live}}</ref> Competitors may enter either as individuals or as part of a team. Evaluation for kata and kobudō is performed by a panel of judges, whereas sparring is judged by a head referee, usually with assistant referees at the side of the sparring area. Sparring matches are typically divided by weight, age, gender, and experience.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |last=Warnock |first=Eleanor |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/which-kind-of-karate-has-olympic-chops-1443206488 |title=Which Kind of Karate Has Olympic Chops? |publisher=WSJ |date=25 September 2015 |access-date=18 October 2015 |archive-date=27 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327193626/https://www.wsj.com/articles/which-kind-of-karate-has-olympic-chops-1443206488 |url-status=live }}</ref>

WKF only allows membership through one national organization/federation per country to which clubs may join. The World Union of Karate-do Federations (WUKF)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wukf-karate.org/ |title=WUKF – World Union of Karate-Do Federations |publisher=Wukf-karate.org |access-date=14 March 2013 |archive-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313035040/http://www.wukf-karate.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> offers different styles and federations a world body they may join, without having to compromise their style or size. The WUKF accepts more than one federation or association per country.

Sport organizations use different competition rule systems.<ref name="google1" /><ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9s8DAAAAMBAJ&q=sport+karate&pg=PA31 |title=Black Belt |page=31 |date= September 1992|access-date=10 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fXKaaSlJJgsC&q=sport+karate&pg=PA163 |title=The South African Dictionary of Sport |author=Joel Alswang |year=2003 |page=163 |publisher=New Africa Books |isbn=9780864865359 |access-date=10 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ROJWvP4LAIMC&q=sport+karate&pg=PR6 |title=Competitive Karate |author1=Adam Gibson |author2=Bill Wallace |year=2004 |publisher=Human Kinetics |isbn=9780736044929 |access-date=10 October 2015}}</ref> [[Light contact]] rules are used by the WKF, WUKO, IASK and WKC. [[Full contact karate]] rules used by [[Kyokushinkai]], [[Seidokaikan]] and other organizations. [[Bogu kumite]] (full contact with protective shielding of targets) rules are used in the World Koshiki Karate-Do Federation organization.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.koshiki.org/ |title=World Koshiki Karatedo Federation |publisher=Koshiki.org |access-date=14 March 2013 |archive-date=26 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326023555/http://www.koshiki.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Shinkaratedo Federation use boxing gloves.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shinkarate.net/ |title=Shinkaratedo Renmei |publisher=Shinkarate.net |access-date=14 March 2013 |archive-date=12 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612051753/http://shinkarate.net/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Within the United States, rules may be under the jurisdiction of state sports authorities, such as the boxing commission.

=== Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) ===
Karate, although not widely used in [[mixed martial arts]], has been effective for some MMA practitioners.<ref name="karate UFCb">{{cite web |url=http://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/2012/2/18/2806866/technique-talk-stephen-thompson-karate-mma-kickboxing-mma-news/in/3450013 |title=Technique Talk: Stephen Thompson Retrofits Karate for MMA |date=18 February 2012 |publisher=MMA Fighting |access-date=23 May 2014 |archive-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502190329/http://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/2012/2/18/2806866/technique-talk-stephen-thompson-karate-mma-kickboxing-mma-news/in/3450013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Lyoto Machida and the Revenge of Karate|work= [[Sherdog]]|url= http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Lyoto-Machida-and-the-Revenge-of-Karate-17521|access-date= 13 February 2010|archive-date= 27 February 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100227045154/http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Lyoto-Machida-and-the-Revenge-of-Karate-17521|url-status= live}}</ref> Various styles of karate are practiced in MMA: [[Lyoto Machida]] and [[John Makdessi]] practice [[Shotokan]];<ref>{{cite web |author=Lead MMA Analyst |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1960174-lyoto-machida-old-school-karate |title=Lyoto Machida: Old-School Karate |website=Bleacher Report |date=14 February 2014 |access-date=23 May 2014 |archive-date=14 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314145739/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1960174-lyoto-machida-old-school-karate |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Bas Rutten]] and [[Georges St-Pierre]] train in [[Kyokushin]];<ref name="knucklepit">{{cite web|url=http://www.knucklepit.com/mixed-martial-arts-georges_st.pierre.htm |title=Montreal's MMA Warrior. |work=Knucklepit.com |last=Wickert |first=Marc |access-date=6 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613025253/http://www.knucklepit.com/mixed-martial-arts-georges_st.pierre.htm |archive-date=13 June 2007 }}</ref> [[Michelle Waterson]] holds a [[Black Belt (martial arts)|black belt]] in [[American Karate|American Free Style Karate]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmamicks.com/karate-hottie-who-is-ufc-fighter-michelle-waterson/|title=Who is Michelle Waterson?|publisher=mmamicks.com|date=8 June 2015|access-date=16 March 2017|archive-date=16 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316204805/http://mmamicks.com/karate-hottie-who-is-ufc-fighter-michelle-waterson/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Stephen Thompson (fighter)|Stephen Thompson]] practices [[American Kenpo|American Kenpo Karate]];<ref name="karate UFC" /> and both [[Gunnar Nelson (fighter)|Gunnar Nelson]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fightland.vice.com/blog/gunnar-nelson-in-the-style-of-iceland|title=Gunnar Nelson in the Style of Iceland|publisher=Vice Fightland Blog|author=Dan Shapiro|date=17 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214085118/http://fightland.vice.com/blog/gunnar-nelson-in-the-style-of-iceland|archive-date=14 February 2020}}</ref>  and [[Robert Whittaker (fighter)|Robert Whittaker]] practiced [[Gōjū-ryū]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/5-Things-You-Might-Not-Know-About-Robert-Whittaker-149391 |title=5 Things You Might Not Know About Robert Whitakker |publisher=sherdog.com |date=8 February 2019}}</ref> Additionally, [[John Kavanagh (martial artist)|John Kavanagh]] has been successful as coach with a [[Kenpō#Okinawan Kenpo|Kenpo Karate]] pedigree.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kavanagh |first=John |title=Win or Learn |publisher=Penguin |date=2016 |page=6 }}</ref>

=== Olympic Games ===
[[File:2018-10-18 Karate Boys' +68 kg at 2018 Summer Youth Olympics – Bronze IRL–MAR (Martin Rulsch) 18.jpg|thumb|Bronze medal match at the [[2018 Summer Youth Olympics]] in Buenos Aires, Argentina.]]
In August 2016, the [[International Olympic Committee]] approved [[Karate at the Summer Olympics|karate as an Olympic sport]] beginning at the [[2020 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news|title= IOC approves five new sports for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020|publisher= [[IOC]]|url= https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-approves-five-new-sports-for-olympic-games-tokyo-2020|access-date= 4 August 2016|archive-date= 3 June 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200603050656/https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-approves-five-new-sports-for-olympic-games-tokyo-2020|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Olympics: Baseball/softball, sport climbing, surfing, karate, skateboarding at Tokyo 2020|work= [[BBC]]|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36968070|access-date= 4 August 2016|archive-date= 5 June 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210605011857/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36968070|url-status= live}}</ref> Karate also debuted at the [[2018 Summer Youth Olympics]]. During this debut of Karate in the Summer Olympics, sixty competitors from around the world competed in the Kumite competition, and twenty competed in the Kata competition. In September 2015, karate was included in a shortlist along with [[Baseball at the Summer Olympics|baseball]], softball, [[Skateboarding at the Summer Olympics|skateboarding]], [[Surfing at the Summer Olympics|surfing]], and [[Sport climbing at the Summer Olympics|sport climbing]] to be considered for inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympics;<ref>{{cite web |date=28 September 2015 |title=Surfing and skateboarding make shortlist for 2020 Olympics |url=http://www.grindtv.com/surf/surfing-skateboarding-make-shortlist-2020-olympics/#o7ywgs7MO0zEB9MH.97 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813030631/http://www.grindtv.com/surf/surfing-skateboarding-make-shortlist-2020-olympics/#o7ywgs7MO0zEB9MH.97 |archive-date=13 August 2016 |access-date=8 August 2016 |website=GrindTV.com}}</ref> and in June 2016, the executive board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that they would support the proposal to include all of the shortlisted sports in the 2020 Games.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 June 2016 |title=IOC Executive Board supports Tokyo 2020 package of new sports for IOC Session – Olympic News |url=https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-executive-board-supports-tokyo-2020-package-of-new-sports-for-ioc-session |access-date=8 August 2016 |publisher=Olympic.org |archive-date=24 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324090445/https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-executive-board-supports-tokyo-2020-package-of-new-sports-for-ioc-session |url-status=live }}</ref> Finally, on 3 August 2016, all five sports (counting baseball and softball together as one sport) were approved for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic program.<ref>{{cite web |date=3 August 2016 |title=IOC approves five new sports for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 |url=https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-approves-five-new-sports-for-olympic-games-tokyo-2020 |access-date=22 August 2016 |publisher=olympics.org International Olympic Committee |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603050656/https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-approves-five-new-sports-for-olympic-games-tokyo-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Karate was not included in the [[2024 Olympic Games]], although it has made the shortlist for inclusion, alongside nine others, in the [[2028 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 August 2022 |title=Motorsport, cricket and karate among nine sports on shortlist for Los Angeles 2028 inclusion |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1126540/cricket-los-angeles-2028 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819172617/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1126540/cricket-los-angeles-2028 |archive-date=19 August 2022 |access-date=4 August 2022 |publisher=Inside the Games}}</ref>