What are some great karate events and moments to rewatch?

[cblupo]

Just for pure enjoyment, I want to watch the full broadcast for some of the greatest karate events and moments. What are some recommended watchable events?

- NBA basketball has iconic playoffs with Michael Jordan's bulls, the flu game

- NFL football has some iconic superbowls: giants vs undefeated patriots and the latest one

- Hockey has the miracle on ice

- College football had an exciting first ever playoffs last year

(Great games and/or great moments)

What does karate have?

[Bulltahr]

I really enjoyed Mark Hunt vs Ray Sefo K1 heavies 91ish??? You can find on youtube, a slugfest between 2 iron jawed samoans.

Been enjoying a lot of "striker" fighter videos lately also.

[sensei8]

Welcome to KF, cblupo; glad that you're here!!

Well, there's the UFC and venues like that.

Then there's the old PKA bouts with guys like Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace and the gang.

Then there's also Don Wilson and Benny Urquidez and the gang with some great kickboxing matches.

Nonetheless, compared to the list in your OP, Karate hasn't had, imho, moments like those!! Sport Karate, lacks quite a lot in the aura in the long run!!

[JR 137]

The martial arts in general, and karate more particularly, don't have the stage the major sports do, hence lack of those big moments. Those moments had a huge build up beforehand as well, making them the moments they were. The miracle on ice wouldn't have been anything without the Cold War nor any back-story in a way. We were college students, they were pro athletes disguised as amateur athletes serving in the military; they beat us by around 8 goals in a "friendly" game a few weeks beforehand; on paper, we had no chance.

The game went the way it went. Without any background, it would have been forgotten. Like the fact that it was a semi-final game, not the finals.

If MA matches had a national or international lead-up/hype to them, the list would be easy.

I like watching Kyokushin World Championships. Can't get enough of Hajime Kazumi. He makes it look too easy. Nothing flashy, just solid basics taken to the highest level.

You could watch Fighting Black Kings. Amazon instant video has it for sale for about $7, renting it is a few dollars cheaper. Yes, it's a Kyokushin propaganda film, but it's a good documentary of the first world open full-contact karate championship. It's a real life Bloodsport meets Blaxploitation meets Kyokushin propaganda commercial. I just wish there was a way to watch the matches in their entirety. And the editing of it leaves a bit to be desired. But still one of my favorites.

[wayneshin]

the WKF Senior World championships in 2012 in Paris. The 16000 seat stadium was sold out for all 4 days six months in advance. (2014 worlds were also sold out months in advance)

All 4 finals sessions can be found in full on YouTube. This one features Female Team kata then the Men's Team kumite between France and Turkey)

Hope the link works. If not search 2012 WKF world Paris afternoon.

[sensei8]

The martial arts in general, and karate more particularly, don't have the stage the major sports do, hence lack of those big moments. Those moments had a huge build up beforehand as well, making them the moments they were. The miracle on ice wouldn't have been anything without the Cold War nor any back-story in a way. We were college students, they were pro athletes disguised as amateur athletes serving in the military; they beat us by around 8 goals in a "friendly" game a few weeks beforehand; on paper, we had no chance.

The game went the way it went. Without any background, it would have been forgotten. Like the fact that it was a semi-final game, not the finals.

If MA matches had a national or international lead-up/hype to them, the list would be easy.

I like watching Kyokushin World Championships. Can't get enough of Hajime Kazumi. He makes it look too easy. Nothing flashy, just solid basics taken to the highest level.

You could watch Fighting Black Kings. Amazon instant video has it for sale for about $7, renting it is a few dollars cheaper. Yes, it's a Kyokushin propaganda film, but it's a good documentary of the first world open full-contact karate championship. It's a real life Bloodsport meets Blaxploitation meets Kyokushin propaganda commercial. I just wish there was a way to watch the matches in their entirety. And the editing of it leaves a bit to be desired. But still one of my favorites.

Solid post!!

[Bulltahr]

the WKF Senior World championships in 2012 in Paris. The 16000 seat stadium was sold out for all 4 days six months in advance. (2014 worlds were also sold out months in advance)

All 4 finals sessions can be found in full on YouTube. This one features Female Team kata then the Men's Team kumite between France and Turkey)

Hope the link works. If not search 2012 WKF world Paris afternoon.

This was pretty cool, no matter what you think about WKF.

[P.A.L]

Tsuguo Sakumoto doing Anan kata in 1988 world championship.