Karate Combat
Karate Combat 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. 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. They consist of karateka from various styles of karate like Kyokushin, Shotokan, Shitō-ryū, and Wadō-ryū. Contestants from other martial arts disciplines like Kenpō, Taekwondo, Wushu, and Tang Soo Do have also participated. The contestants are expected to abide by karate-do etiquette and specific tournament rules.
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. Marketing and promotion include appearances of Bas Rutten, Georges St-Pierre, Lyoto Machida and Stephen Thompson, who have all served as league ambassadors, as well as Danny Trejo and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson.
In 2020, rights to Karate Combat have been acquired by beIN SPORTS. The media group broadcasts the Karate Combat seasons in 37 countries.
Rules
Fighting takes place in a 6,5m x 6,5m square combat pit surrounded by 45° angled walls. A match consists of 3 rounds each lasting 3 minutes with the possibility of 2 additional rounds for championship fights.Scoring uses a 10-point must system and is based on aggression and effectiveness of attacks. Three judges evaluate each fight from a position around the combat pit. Scoring cards are omitted in case of a knock-out.
Equipment consists of 4oz gloves, mouthpieces, groin protectors for male contestants, karate belts and officially designed long karate trousers with national emblems or flags.
Wrestling, submissions, elbows are not permitted. A grounded opponent may use upkicks while the standing opponent may use ground punches. After 5 seconds any grounded opponent will be brought back to a standing position by the referee.
Weight divisions and classifications
| Division | Upper weight limit | Gender |
| Heavyweight | No limit | Men |
| Light Heavyweight | Men | |
| Middleweight | Men | |
| Welterweight | Men | |
| Lightweight | Men | |
| Featherweight | Women | |
| Bantamweight | Women / Men | |
| Flyweight | Women | |
| Strawweight | Women |
Pit Submission Series
In January 2024, Karate Combat announced that they would begin staging professional grappling matches in the pit prior to their karate fights, under the name of "Pit Submission Series." The first fight under the Pit Submission Series took place on January 26, 2024.Current championships
| Championship | Current Champion | Date won | Previous Champion | Defenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Karate Combat Heavyweight Championship |  Championship historyHeavyweight Championship
|
age in days|2023|12|15|2025|12|5|show unit=full
age in days|2019|09|21|2022|5|28|show unit=full
age in days|2023|12|15|show unit=full
age in days|2025|07|19|show unit=full