What is Karate Combat? A Beginner’s Guide to KARATE COMBAT

Karate is a popular traditional martial art that has many forms of competition, with “Karate Combat” being the youngest and already among the most popular. But what is Karate Combat, and how does it differ from other styles?

Karate Combat is a private brand that promotes and organizes the first professional full-contact karate league, contrasting traditional karate competition. Karate Combat adopts a unique set of rules and a unique fighting area to make the karate matches more exciting than traditional karate matches.

This is a brief explanation of what Karate Combat is. Continue reading to learn more about the rules, events, and how Karate Combat differs from other karate styles and competitions.

What is Karate Combat?

Karate Combat is a private promotion that organizes full-contact matches under a unique set of rules. The promotion launched the brand in April 2018 and has hosted dozens of events worldwide since then. The original founders were Michael DePietro and Robert Bryan, who both shared the idea of creating a karate league to align with modern pop culture’s demands. Simply put, Karate Combat strives to make karate a mainstream combat sport like boxing and MMA.

But surely, Karate Combat is skyrocketing in popularity, mainly thanks to the excitement of the product itself. The rules are well-established, the production is top-notch, and the matches are packed with action and highlight real finishes. Karate Combat is something you never expected karate competition to be that exciting to watch.

What are the rules of Karate Combat?

Karate Combat rules are full-contact and do not favor any particular karate style. Following is a detailed explanation of all the important rules:

The concept

Karate Combat is a professional league. This means each karateka must compete in an elimination format multiple times in a single season. The length of the season varies and is usually around 12 weeks.

The roster includes hundreds of skilled karateka, and they come from various karate styles. It doesn’t matter if their background is in full-contact styles like Kyokushin or light-contact styles like Shotokan. These styles all work in Karate Combat. Other styles are also present, such as:

Shito-Ryu
Wado-Ryu
American karate

Legal and illegal techniques

In terms of striking, fighters can use both kicks and punches to strike the opponent in both the lower and upper bodies, including the head. Unlike in most other karate competitions, there are no restrictions when it comes to how hard one can strike.

The main goal is to cause damage or knock the opponent out with every punch or kick. Karatekas are allowed to throw both high and low kicks. However, low kicks are allowed only below the knee, so there are no kicks to the thigh. This is mainly to prevent unnecessary strikes to the groin area.

Unlike other karate competitions, Karate Combat also includes grappling. Karatekas are allowed to take each other down using trips and throws from judo or even wrestling techniques. However, fighting on the ground is limited to 5 seconds.

Fighters who end up in the top position have 5 seconds to do damage with strikes, and they are not allowed to use submissions like chokes or joint locks. In terms of positioning, they are only allowed to put one knee on the opponent’s belly.

So once the match hits the ground, they have five seconds to ground and pound their opponent. However, a fighter on the bottom is allowed to use upkicks to defend. The referee would pause the action after five seconds, both fighters would be required to stand up, and reset the match.

Fighting area

Karate Combat fights take place in a 6.5m x 6.5m (21’4″ x 21.4″) square pit, and the floor is topped with a padded canvas. The combat pit is surrounded by padded walls angled at 45 degrees, making the fighting area quite unique and adding to the matches’ dynamics. For instance, the angled walls make it harder for the fighters to take each other down.

**Karate Combat fighting pit**
Photo Credit: Karate Combat

Weight Classes

Like in other combat sports, karate combat fighters are split into different weight categories based on their physical size. The main purpose of the weight classes is to level the playing field when it comes to physical size and make sure both opponents weigh roughly the same on fight night.

Women’s karate combat weight classes:

Bantamweight (no limit)
Flyweight (121 lbs; 55 kg)

Men compete across seven different weight classes:

Heavyweight (no limit)
Light Heavyweight (93 kg; 205 lbs)
Middleweight (84 kg; 185 lbs)
Welterweight (75 kg; 165 lbs)
Lightweight (68 kg; 150 lbs)
Bantamweight (61 kg; 135 lbs)

Duration of matches

Regular karate combat matches include three rounds; each round is 3 minutes long, and there is a 1-minute break between the rounds. However, if it is a championship fight, there is a possibility of two additional rounds, making five rounds in total.

Uniform and protective gear

This is where karate combat differs the most from other traditional karate. Karatekas do not wear a full gi uniform. Instead, they wear just karate trousers/pants made of thick cotton and compete barefooted and bare-chested.

Each karateka must wear hand wraps and 4oz open-fingered gloves similar to the ones used in mixed martial arts (MMA).

Additional gear also includes:

Mouthguard
Groin cup
Karate belts
Each fighter can customize their trousers with national emblems or flags
They can also choose between white and black trousers.

Scoring and criteria

At Karate Combat events, three judges sit beside the fighting pit and score the match using a 10-point must system derived from boxing. During the match, judges are not allowed to talk to each other or influence each other’s decisions in any way.

They score the match round by round. After each round, judges would write down the scores and hand them over to the officials. If the match goes to distance, the officials will sum up the scorecards and declare a winner.

The judges determine the winner of the round using the following criteria:

Effective striking (which fighter did more damage or won more exchanges)
Effective takedowns
Fighting area control
Effective aggression
Effective defense

What style of karate is used in Karate Combat?

Karate Combat is a private brand, not an official style of karate. It is a concept and platform that enables karatekas of all styles and forms to compete under unique full-contact rules. In the near future, Karate Combat may evolve into its karate style, just as K-1 kickboxing or GLORY kickboxing did with kickboxing.

However, it is important to distinguish Karate Combat as a promotion and organization from other styles like Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, Kyokushin, and others. The distinction is the same as that between the UFC as a brand and MMA as a sport. Another example of this distinction is between the NBA as a league and basketball as a sport.

What is the difference between UFC and Karate Combat?

Karate Combat and the UFC are two different promotions that promote two different sports. Here is a detailed comparison of how these two promotions differ from one another.

	UFC	Karate Combat
History	The UFC was founded in 1993 in the US.	Karate Combat emerged in 2019 in the US.
Concept	promotes mixed martial arts (MMA) matches under the Unified Rules of MMA. It is a mix of different techniques from various grappling and striking martial arts put into one system.	promotes full-contact karate matches under unique rules. It is a mix of techniques from various styles of karate.
Techniques	High/low kicks, Punches, Clinch fighting, Takedowns, Chokeholds, Joint Locks, Positioning on the ground	High/Low kicks, Punches, Takedowns, Ground and pound (limited to 5 seconds)
Rules	Match duration: 3 rounds with each round being 5 minutes long. Championship bouts are set for 5-5 minute rounds. Fighting area: MMA fighters compete in an octagon shaped steel cage. Scoring: 10-point must system used by three judges. Ways to win: KO, submission, decision, disqualification.	Match duration: 3 rounds with each round being 3 minutes long. Championship fights are 5 rounds. Fighting area: Karatekas compete in a squared PIT surrounded by walls angled at 45 degrees. Scoring: 10 point must system used by the three judges. Ways to win: KO, Decision, disqualification.
Event format	UFC events promote single matches, where the main goal is to climb the rankings by fighting various opponents and winning the title.	Karate Combat is a league where athletes compete in an elimination format until they win the tournament and become champions.

What is the difference between Karate Combat and Muay Thai?

In terms of striking, both include punches and kicks, while Muay Thai also has elbows and knees. While Karate Combat allows for some ground fighting, Muay Thai only allows for standup grappling from the clinch, such as throws and trips.

	Karate Combat	Muay Thai
History	Karate Combat emerged in 2019 in the US.	Muay Thai first appeared in the 19^th century and its origins come from military system Muay Boran.
Techniques	High/low kicks, Punches, Takedowns, attack downed opponent(*only one knee on their downed opponent), Upkicks	High/low kicks, Punches, Elbows, Knees Trips and throws, Clinch fighting
Rules	Match duration: 3 rounds with each round being 3 minutes long. Championship fights are 5 rounds. Fighting area: Karatekas compete in a squared PIT surrounded by walls angled at 45 degrees. Scoring: 10 point must system used by the three judges. Ways to win: KO, Decision, disquaification	Match duration: 5 rounds with each round being 3 minutes long. There is one extra round in case of a draw. Fighting area: Thai boxers compete in a squared boxing ring with four posts connected with four ropes. Scoring: 10-point must system used by three judges. Ways to win: KO, decision, disqualification
Event format	Karate Combat is a karate league where karatekas compete multiple times in a single season. The winner of the league is considered a world champion.	Muay Thai events host single matches. The main goal is to win enough fights to challenge the champion for a belt and become a world champion.
Uniform and gear	Pants made out of cotton, Belt around the waist, Open-fingered gloves (4oz), Mouthguard, Groin cup	Thai boxing shorts, Full padded boxing gloves, Mouthguard, Groin guard, Armbands (optional)

What is the difference between Karate Combat and K-1 Kickboxing?

	Karate Combat	K-1 Kickboxing
History	Karate Combat was founded in 2019 in the US.	K-1 was founded in the 1993 in Japan and its origins come from Seidokyokyan karate
Techniques	High/low kicks (no low kicks above the knee), Punches, Takedowns, Ground and pound(*limited), Upkicks	High/low kicks, Punches, Knees in the clinch (limited time)
Rules	Match duration: 3 rounds with each round being 3 minutes long. Championship fights are 5 rounds. Fighting area: Karatekas compete in a squared PIT surrounded by walls angled at 45 degrees. Scoring: 10 point must system used by the three judges. Ways to win: KO, Decision, disquaification	Match duration: 3 rounds with each round being 3 minutes long. Fighting area: K-1 kickboxers compete in a squared boxing ring. Scoring: 10 point must system used by the three judges. Ways to win: KO, Decision, disquaification
Uniform and gear	Pants made out of cotton, Belt around the waist, Open-fingered gloves (4oz), Mouthguard, Groin cup	Shorts or trousers, Full padded boxing gloves, Mouthguard, Groin guard

LEARN MORE: What are the Different Styles of Kickboxing? Simply Explained

Is Karate Combat real?

Karate Combat is a combat sports platform where karatekas compete under full-contact rules in continuous action. The realism of fights, strike power, injuries, and knockouts is as real as it gets.

Fighters throw each strike intending to hurt their opponent to the point they can no longer continue or knock them out unconscious. Serious injuries such as fractures, face injuries, and concussions are common, and it can be a very dangerous competition.

Unlike other karate competitions, such as Olympic karate, Karate Combat does not include “katas” or pre-arranged forms performed by karateka alone.

Karate Combat does not follow sport karate point-fighting rules where the action resets after each successful strike and emphasizes speed and precision rather than power. Instead, Karate Combat contestants compete in a continuous action without pauses and are not awarded points for each strike.

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How to watch Karate Combat

Karate Combat events are primarily aired on the company’s online streaming platform, karate.com. You can watch all the events live or rewatch the previous events for free. You can also watch the matches on social networks and even YouTube. Also, Karate Combat has partnership deals with various streaming platforms and cable networks worldwide, such as DAZN, ESPN Deporters, and many others.