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The Birth of Sport Karate
THE BOOM YEARS 1980s–1990s | Teams, Rivalries & Tournament Culture
THE BOOM YEARS 1980s–1990s | Teams, Rivalries & Tournament Culture
1950s-1970s | The Tournament Era Begins
The Birth of Sport Karate in America
The first karate tournament in the United States was held in 1955 by Robert Trias, president of the United States Karate Association. The Arizona Karate Championships took place in Phoenix and included competitors from the Arizona Highway Patrol.
Trias, who taught karate at the Boys’ Club, developed the first set of rules for karate competition in the United States. Those rules would go on to influence competitive karate for decades.
Later that same year, Trias organized another tournament at the Phoenix Madison Square Garden, attracting an estimated 80–100 competitors.
Karate Takes the National Stage
In 1962, the North American Karate Championships were held at Madison Square Garden in New York, marking another major milestone for American karate. Japanese karate legend Mas Oyama made a special appearance at the event.
The following year, the first U.S. Karate Championships were held in St. Louis. Later in 1963, Chicago hosted the 1st World Karate Tournament, bringing competitors and judges together from across the country.
The Rise of Major Tournaments
Ed Parker played a major role in the growth of competitive karate with his legendary tournament, The Internationals, in Long Beach, California. The event attracted some of the country's top fighters and forms competitors and gained national attention through coverage in BLACK BELT magazine.
The Internationals also became famous for its demonstrations, including a memorable appearance by Bruce Lee in 1964.
Meanwhile, tournament karate was gaining momentum across the country. In Texas, Allen Steen launched the U.S. Karate Championships in 1962, which became one of the nation's premier elimination tournaments.
In 1964, Jhoon Rhee introduced the National Karate Championships in Washington, D.C. The event became the first karate tournament to receive national television coverage.
The Birth of Sport Karate
Competition continued to evolve throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Aaron Banks introduced team competition in New York in 1967, while Joe Corley and Chris McLoughlin launched the Battle of Atlanta in 1970, establishing a major tournament presence in the South.
Together, these pioneers, tournaments, and emerging leagues helped create the foundation of Sport Karate as we know it today.
THE BOOM YEARS 1980s–1990s | Teams, Rivalries & Tournament Culture
THE BOOM YEARS 1980s–1990s | Teams, Rivalries & Tournament Culture
THE BOOM YEARS 1980s–1990s | Teams, Rivalries & Tournament Culture
Sherman Oaks Raiders Dominated in the 80’s & 90s
A Team Built on Second Chances
The story of the Sherman Oaks Raiders began in 1981, when Pops Krasnoo, the team’s head coach, purchased the Sherman Oaks Karate school. From the beginning, however, the school became about much more than teaching kicks, punches, and forms. Pops believed martial arts could provide structure, discipline, purpose, and—perhaps most importantly—a place to belong.
That philosophy shaped the Raiders in a way that set them apart. Pops opened his doors to people who were homeless, struggling to find direction, or attempting to rebuild their lives after being released from prison. Rather than defining people by where they had been, he offered them an opportunity to prove where they could go. Karate became a vehicle for that transformation, providing expectations, accountability, mentorship, and a community that depended on one another.
For many members, the Raiders became more than a competition team. They became a family. Athletes trained together, traveled together, competed together, and represented something larger than themselves when they stepped onto the tournament floor. The same discipline required to improve as a martial artist—showing up, working through setbacks, controlling emotions, accepting correction, and continuing to improve—could also be carried into life outside the dojo.
That sense of family helped create a team culture built not simply around trophies, but around loyalty and second chances. People from very different backgrounds could stand beside one another wearing the same uniform and representing the same team. What mattered was what they were willing to put into the opportunity they had been given.
As the Raiders became part of the competitive martial arts scene, that philosophy remained at the heart of the team. Their story serves as a reminder that some of the most important legacies in sport karate cannot be measured by tournament results alone. The Sherman Oaks Raiders demonstrated how a martial arts team could become a community—and how a dojo could provide someone with a place to start again.
The Early 2000s: A New Era for Martial Arts
Sport Karate: 2020–Today — A Sport Reimagined
The Early 2000s: A New Era for Martial Arts
Global Competition, Creativity & the Internet
The early 2000s brought major changes to the martial arts world. Competition continued to grow internationally, while martial arts began reaching larger audiences through television, DVDs, and the rapidly expanding internet.
Sport karate became increasingly organized and competitive, with major tournament circuits attracting elite competitors from across the United States and around the world. Organizations such as NASKA and the World Sport Martial Arts Association (WSMA) helped create opportunities for competitors to travel, compete, and establish themselves on the national and international stage.
The decade also saw the continued growth of extreme and creative forms, musical forms, weapons, and high-level tricking. Competitors began incorporating increasingly athletic movements, jumps, flips, and creative choreography into their performances, helping create the spectacular style of competition seen today.
At the same time, mixed martial arts exploded in popularity, particularly following the growth of the UFC and the emergence of stars such as Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, and Georges St-Pierre. MMA's popularity brought martial arts to an entirely new audience and sparked increased interest in combat sports worldwide.
The internet also began transforming the martial arts community. Websites, online forums, early video platforms, and digital media made it easier for competitors, schools, promoters, and fans to connect, share footage, promote tournaments, and follow athletes from around the world.
The early 2000s helped lay the groundwork for the modern martial arts landscape—more international, more connected, more athletic, and increasingly driven by competition and media.
The Digital Decade: the 2010s
Sport Karate: 2020–Today — A Sport Reimagined
The Early 2000s: A New Era for Martial Arts
Social Media, Livestreaming & a More Connected Sport
The late 2000s and 2010s ushered in a new generation of sport karate competitors. Major tournament circuits continued to grow, attracting elite athletes from across the United States and around the world. Competitors increasingly traveled internationally, creating a more connected and competitive sport karate community.
Forms and weapons continued to evolve, with competitors pushing the boundaries of speed, athleticism, creativity, and choreography. Extreme forms, tricking, and innovative weapons performances became major attractions at tournaments, while traditional forms and fighting divisions continued to maintain strong followings.
The rise of YouTube and social media had an enormous impact. Competitors could now share performances with audiences around the world almost instantly. Athletes began building personal brands, gaining followers, and attracting attention beyond the tournament circuit. A great performance could reach thousands—or even millions—of viewers without needing television coverage.
The decade also saw the continued development of international sport karate organizations and world-level competition. Events such as the US Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships and the WKC World Championships helped bring competitors from different countries together and gave athletes opportunities to compete on increasingly larger stages.
Perhaps most importantly, the 2010s helped sport karate become a more visible and professionalized sport. Sponsorships, athlete promotions, livestreams, online rankings, and professional divisions became increasingly common.
By the end of the decade, sport karate looked very different from the tournaments of its early days. It had become faster, more athletic, more international, and more accessible than ever before—setting the stage for the next generation of competitors and the continued growth of the sport.
Sport Karate: 2020–Today — A Sport Reimagined
Sport Karate: 2020–Today — A Sport Reimagined
Sport Karate: 2020–Today — A Sport Reimagined
Resilience, Reinvention & the Next Generation of Competition
The 2020s began with an unprecedented challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic brought tournaments and in-person training to a halt, forcing martial artists and promoters to find new ways to stay connected. Online training, virtual competitions, livestreams, and social media became important tools for keeping the martial arts community active.
As tournaments returned, sport karate came back with renewed energy. Major events once again brought competitors together from across the United States and around the world. Established circuits continued to grow, while new events and organizations created additional opportunities for athletes to compete.
The 2020s have also seen sport karate become increasingly athletic, creative, and media-driven. Forms and weapons competitors continue to push the limits of performance, while point fighting, continuous fighting, team competition, Sport MMA, and other divisions continue to attract competitors of all ages and experience levels.
Breaking has also emerged as a growing part of the competitive martial arts landscape. Major events now feature dedicated breaking championships, including the ISKA World Breaking Championships held alongside the US Open.
Technology has become an even bigger part of competition and promotion. Livestreaming allows fans to watch major events from anywhere, while social media gives athletes and promoters the ability to reach audiences around the world. Major championships are increasingly presented as complete entertainment experiences, combining competition, professional divisions, awards, and live broadcasts.
Today, sport karate is more connected and accessible than ever. What began with small tournaments and a handful of pioneers in the 1950s has developed into a global competitive community, with athletes traveling internationally, new disciplines emerging, and technology continually changing how the sport is experienced.
The story of sport karate is still being written—and the next generation of athletes is already shaping what comes next.