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