Karate World Championships

Karate World Championships
Competition details
DisciplineKarate
TypeKumite and Kata, biennial
OrganiserWorld Karate Federation (WKF)
Divisions
Current weight divisionsMale -60Kg,-67Kg, -75Kg, -84Kg and +84Kg. Female -50Kg, -55Kg, -61Kg, -68Kg and +68Kg.
History
First edition1970 in Tokyo, Japan
Editions26 (2023)
Final edition2023 in Budapest, Hungary
Most wins Japan (188 medals)

The Karate World Championships, also known as the World Karate Championships, are the highest level of competition for karate organized by the World Karate Federation (WKF).[1][2][3][4][5] The competition is held in a different city every two years.[6] Championships in the 2000s included Madrid in 2002, Monterrey in 2004, Tampere in 2006, Tokyo in 2008, and Belgrade in 2010.[7][8] The competition was initially riddled with controversy regarding karate styles and the ruleset.[2][9][10][11][12]

In 1980, women were first allowed to compete in the championships.[9]

  1. ^ Coleman, Jim (September 1992). "Questions and Answers with Wuko's Head Man". Black Belt Magazine. 30 (9). Active Interest Media: 30–33. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Black Belt". Active Interest Media. February 1974. p. 34. Retrieved 21 December 2014 – via Internet Archive. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  3. ^ Malaysia welcome extra category. Thestar.com.my (2008-11-19). Retrieved on 2011-05-14, Archived from the original on October 18, 2012 on the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Sports: Three fighters, one heart. Mike Camunas, March 7, 2008, Sptimes.com. Retrieved on 2011-05-14, Archived from the original on March 4, 2016 on the Wayback Machine.
  5. ^ Mmegi Online :: Karate team leaves for WFK Championships. Mmegi.bw (2010-10-22). Retrieved on 2011-05-14.
  6. ^ Olympic Bid Sports Capsules – Olympics – ESPN. Sports.espn.go.com (2009-06-14). Retrieved on 2011-05-14.
  7. ^ Vacoe, Fred (November 8, 2008). "World Karate Championships returning to Japan". Japan Today. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  8. ^ "Karate World Championship to be Held in Belgrade Next Year". Ministry of Sport. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
  9. ^ a b "World Wide Tourneys". Black Belt Magazine. Active Interest Media. February 1974. p. 56. Retrieved 21 December 2014 – via Internet Archive.
  10. ^ Young, Jim (February 1974). "Contact Karate Tournaments, Will they separate the fighters from the actors?". Black Belt Magazine. Active Interest Media. p. 15. Retrieved 21 December 2014 – via Internet Archive.
  11. ^ "Poland holds first national karate meeting". Black Belt Magazine. Active Interest Media. February 1974. p. 12. Retrieved 21 December 2014 – via Internet Archive.
  12. ^ "Black Belt - Internet Archive". Internet Archive. February 1974. p. 12. Retrieved 2015-09-27. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)