Karate Combat

Karate Combat is a brand which promotes the first professional, full-contact karate league, hosting worldwide events since April 2018. The private company[1] is headquartered in New York under CEOs Michael DePietro and Robert Bryan. The business 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.[2] Former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten hosts Karate Combat venues alongside special guests.[3]

Karate Combat
TypePrivate
IndustryKarate promotion
FoundersMichael Depietro
Robert Bryan
Headquarters
New York
,
U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Michael DePietro (CEO/Chairman)
Jamie Roberts Seltzer (Director)
Robert Bryan (COO/Director)
Sebastiaan "Bas" Rutten (League Ambassador)
Websitehttp://www.karate.com/

Contestants compete in a seasonal championship in which the winner is awarded a golden belt.[4] They consist of karateka from various styles of karate like Shotokan, Shito Ryu, Wado Ryu and American Karate,[5] who are expected to abide by karate-do etiquette and specific tournament rules.[6]

The organisation puts emphasis on innovation and technology with the use of video game-style analytics of fighter's biometrics, nutrition and DNA-based data in real-time. As part of marketing, actor Danny Trejo announced fighters and rounds at the event on January 24th 2019 in Hollywood.[7]

Starting September 27th 2020 new episodes appear every sunday on Youtube featuring fights in a Mixed Reality environment created with the Unreal Engine as reported by NBC Sports.[8] In 2020 rights to Karate Combat have been acquired by beIN SPORTS. The media group broadcasts the second season of Karate Combat in 37 countries.[3]

Championships and accomplishments

Current championships
Championship Current Champion(s) Reign Date won Days held Event Venue Location Previous Champion(s)
Karate Combat Golden championship Josh Quayhagen 1 9 November 2019 441+ Karate Combat Unknown Unknown Jerome Brown

Events

Karate Combat events feature male and female karateka from a roster of over 100 professional fighters. The first five events were held in front of an invite-only audience. Later events incorporate CGI effects and original music in order to achieve a modern appearance and appeal to a younger demographic.[9] Event locations favor optimal camera angles and cinematic scenery over a big live-audience. Thus locations like the 102nd floor of the One World Trade Center were chosen hosting a selected audience with black-tie dress code.[10] The events attracted the notice of American television[11] and newspaper.[12] Recordings of all events can be accessed for free via the company's website. Past events have also been streamed via UFC Fight Pass.[13][14]

Past events
# Event Date Venue Location VOD
6 Karate Combat: Anger Wat September 27, 2019 Unknown Unknown https://www.karate.com/events/anger-wat-episode-1
5 Karate Combat: Evolution September 21, 2019 KC-1 Unknown https://www.karate.com/events/evolution
4 Karate Combat: Hollywood January 24, 2019 Avalon Los Angeles, U.S. https://www.karate.com/events/hollywood
3 Karate Combat: One World September 27, 2018 One World Trade Center New York City, U.S. https://www.karate.com/events/one-world
2 Karate Combat: Olympus July 28, 2018 Zappeion Courtyard Athens, Greece https://www.karate.com/events/olympus
1 Karate Combat: Inception April 26, 2018 Miami Beach Miami, U.S. https://www.karate.com/events/inception
0 Karate Combat: Genesis February 3, 2018 Secret Warehouse Budapest, Hungary https://www.karate.com/events/genesis

Rules

Fighting takes place in a 6,5m x 6,5m (21'4" x 21'4") square combat pit surrounded by 45° angled walls. A match consists of 3 rounds each lasting 3 minutes with the possibility of 2 additional rounds for championship fights.

Scoring uses a 10-point must system and is based on aggression and effectivity of attacks. Three judges evaluate each fight from a position around the combat pit. Scoring cards are omitted in case of a knock-out.

Equipment consists of 4oz gloves, mouthpieces, groin protectors for male contestants, karate belts and officially designed long karate trousers with national emblems or flags.

Wrestling, submissions, knees, elbows and uppercuts are not permitted. A grounded opponent may use upkicks while the standing opponent may use ground punches. After 5 seconds any grounded opponent will be brought back to a standing position by the referee.[6]

See also

References
  1. "Karate Combat linked.in company register". linkedin. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  2. "About Karate Combat". Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  3. "beIN SPORTS Acquires Second Season of Karate Combat Across 37 Countries". GlobeNewswire. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  4. "Karate Combat: Evolution Coverage". www.themix.net. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  5. "Karate Combat Fighters Roster". Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  6. "Karate Combat Rules & Regulations" (PDF). Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  7. "Bas Rutten and Danny Trejo bring you... Karate Combat!". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  8. "Marshawn Lynch will provide color commentary on 'Karate Combat'". NBC Sports. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  9. "Reuters Article about Karate Combat". reuters.com. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  10. Nick, Laham. "ESPN coverage of Karate Combat event on Oct 9, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  11. "Karate Combat coverage on CBS Miami". Youtube. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  12. "USA Today's News Article on Karate Combat: Inception". USA Today. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  13. "Karate Combat hits UFC Fight Pass". UFC. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  14. "UFC Fight Pass: Karate Combat: One World". UFC. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
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