| What is Sport Karate? | | | | has heighten the level of fighting, and made |
| | | | the sport more exciting to watch and be apart |
| Fighting Divisions | | | | of. |
| | | | |
| In today's terminology, Sport Karate (or | | | | All of the various divisions at a Sport |
| Sport Martial Arts) is the application of | | | | Karate tournament are broken up into age |
| competitive martial arts in a sporting | | | | categories and levels of martial art |
| environment, and has been around for a few | | | | experience to even out the competition. Age |
| decades. | | | | groups vary from event-to-event, but |
| | | | experience is usually the same. Less then 1 |
| The two main categories/divisions of | | | | year is considered a beginner, 2 - 3 years is |
| competition are Fighting and Forms, with this | | | | intermediate, 3 or more years is advanced and |
| article focusing on the Fighting category. | | | | Black Belts are segregated from all other |
| Part 2 will focus on the Forms category. | | | | under belts (non-black belts). |
| | | | |
| Within those two categories, there are | | | | Fighting division can be pictured as tennis |
| various areas of competition - such as weapon | | | | matches, except they are not as lengthy. |
| forms, musical forms, team forms, team | | | | Matches are usually 2 to 3 minutes long and |
| fighting, continuous fighting, and many more | | | | the winner is determined by either total |
| divisions (depending what sanction an athlete | | | | points scored (first one to 5) or whoever is |
| competes in). Sport Martial Arts is quickly | | | | ahead in points when time runs out. Ties are |
| evolving as competitors continue to push the | | | | sent into sudden death overtime - first |
| envelope of what people are physically | | | | person to score, wins. Keep in mind these |
| capable of doing. This not only has increased | | | | rules do not apply to every Sport Karate |
| the level of competition, but also allows | | | | sanction. |
| martial art athletes to be more innovative in | | | | |
| their traditional and competitive training. | | | | Typical matches are single elimination with |
| | | | no opportunity to fight again unless a |
| Fighting | | | | competitor makes it to the quarterfinals (the |
| | | | loser, will compete for 3rd and 4th place). |
| MA athletes that compete in fighting have | | | | Winners of their respected division, as in |
| implemented new fighting techniques and moves | | | | Forms, sometimes have the opportunity to |
| that were previously only seen in boxing and | | | | compete for an Overall Grand Champion against |
| other arts, along with training habits of | | | | other division winners. |
| professional mainstream sports players. This | | | | |