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Current season, competition or edition: 2024 in Karate Combat | |
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| Sport | Karate Submission grappling |
|---|---|
| Founder |
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| CEO |
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| President |
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| Headquarters | Dubai |
| TV partner(s) | beIN SPORTS |
| Official website | www |
Karate Combat (KC) is a brand which promotes the first professional full-contact karate league, hosting worldwide events since April 2018. The private company is headquartered in Dubai and was founded by Robert Bryan. Karate Combat is owned by the Sensei Foundation, a Cayman Islands Foundation Company and its affiliates.[1] The brand also encompasses sports equipment, a worldwide Dojo network and mobile apps for viewers. Karate Combat was founded in order to promote karate as a sport and martial art to the new generation of sports fans.
Contestants compete in a seasonal championship in which the winner is awarded a golden belt.[2] They consist of karateka from various styles of karate like Kyokushin, Shotokan, Shito Ryu, and Wado Ryu, Kempo Karate. Contestants from other martial arts disciplines like Taekwondo, Kung Fu, and Tang Soo Do have also participated.[3] The contestants are expected to abide by karate-do etiquette and specific tournament rules.[4]
The organization puts emphasis on innovation and technology with the use of video game-style analytics of fighter's biometrics, nutrition and DNA-based data in real-time. Fights regularly feature CGI environments created with the Unreal Engine as reported by NBC Sports.[5] Marketing and promotion include appearances of Bas Rutten,[6] Georges St-Pierre, Lyoto Machida and Stephen Thompson, who have all served as league ambassadors,[7] as well as Danny Trejo and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson.[8][9]
In 2020, rights to Karate Combat have been acquired by beIN SPORTS. The media group broadcasts the Karate Combat seasons in 37 countries.[6]
- ^ https://karate.com/about-us
- ^ "Karate Combat: Evolution Coverage". www.themix.net. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Karate Combat Fighters Roster". Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Karate Combat Rules & Regulations" (PDF). Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Marshawn Lynch will provide color commentary on 'Karate Combat'". NBC Sports. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ a b "beIN SPORTS Acquires Second Season of Karate Combat Across 37 Countries". GlobeNewswire (Press release). September 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ https://karate.com/about-us
- ^ "Bas Rutten and Danny Trejo bring you... Karate Combat!". MMA Fighting. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Georges St-Pierre to work as 'Season Sensei'". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 11 April 2020.