Olympic Karatedo?

[DWx]

Maybe karate in olympics would backfire and make a more clear split with traditional karate. Now in some case people practise sports karate and think it's effective as self-defence.

IMHO that's probably what you'd see, like what happened with Taekwondo.

[sensei8]

What else I see is that when a MA is on the worlds stage, that MA is deemed by the world as being more effective than those MA that aren't on the worlds stage. It's quite disheartening, imho.

[JohnASE]

The IOC (International Olympic Committee) has a strong relationship with the WKF (World Karate Federation). If karate gets into the Olympics, it will likely be under them. The WKF is pushing hard for 2020, but they've been trying to get in for a long time.

Over the years, the WKF has been changing their kumite rules to be more Olympics friendly. For example, to make it easier to distinguish between competitors, one wears a red belt, gloves and shin guards, while the other wears blue.

For those of you in the USA, the USA-NKF is our branch of the WKF. In Japan, it's the JKF.

Next weekend, March 29-31, 2013, is one of the USA-NKF's biggest tournaments of the year, the USA Open. It's in Las Vegas at the Paris Hotel. This event hosts some of the best competitors from all over the world. Admission is pricey though.

[xo-karate]

Looks like ranking is at:

http://www.wkf.net/index.php/organization/ranking/historical-ranking.html

[xo-karate]

I looked at some of the kumite. I still think that it's not an easy job for the referees.

Also hitting that you first straighten your arm and then step inside the striking zone

It's a children's game were you try to touch the other before the other does - is it called "tag"

[sensei8]

You know...if nothing else, I suppose that it would possibly greatly enhance ones resume for having been in the Olympics, and even more so if one medals, preferably gold.

[xo-karate]

You know...if nothing else, I suppose that it would possibly greatly enhance ones resume for having been in the Olympics, and even more so if one medals, preferably gold.

Yep - best of something is always a merit. I'd settle for being a coach.

[Wastelander]

You know...if nothing else, I suppose that it would possibly greatly enhance ones resume for having been in the Olympics, and even more so if one medals, preferably gold.

That could be, but a bronze medal in judo didn't help Ronda Rousey at all--shortly after she won it at the Beijing Olympics she was homeless and living out of her car. It seems that Olympic medals only benefit you if you were able to get attention drawn to you while you were competing (Michael Phelps, Gabby Douglas, etc.). I just don't see karate being enough of a draw to really benefit the competitors after it is all over.

[barrypardue]

I think they should it would be great to watch!

[xo-karate]

I just don't see karate being enough of a draw to really benefit the competitors after it is all over.

After watching the world championships from youtube I have to agree.

It's not fun to guess who is going to get a point - even the referees have different opinions.

Not a spectator sports - with current rules -

BUT I'd watch it ... and blame the referees for wrong calls:-)