Karate Makes its Debut at the Tokyo Olympics

The campaign to bring sport karate to the Olympic Games has been championed since the 70’s. However, given the martial art is fraught with politics and lacking co-operation between the various federations and associations, karate has not been able to hold onto its place for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. So if sport karate and competition is your thing, then now is the perfect time to revel in its inclusion in the the highest sporting stage, in the very home of our martial art in Japan.

Both Kata and Kumite are featured as events at the Nippon Budokan – specifically built to host martial arts events. Both disciplines will see a 50/50 split of men’s  and women’s competition (yay!). Karateka can choose to perform any of the 102 katas registered with the WKF. Kumite has 3 different weight classes for both men and women. 

The karate Olympic schedule will consist of multiple rounds – elimination, ranking and then medal rounds. 

The Karate Olympic Competition Schedule

Thursday 5th August 2021 

Session 1 – UK time 02:00am – 06:45am

Women’s Kata Elimination Round
Women’s Kata Ranking Round
Men’s Kumite Elimination Round

Session 2 – UK Time 09:00am -1:40pm

Women’s Kumite Elimination Round 
Women’s Kata Medal Rounds
Women’s Kumite under 55kg semi-final
Men’s Kumite under 67kg semi-final
Men’s Kumite under 67kg final
Wpmen’s Kumite under 55kg final

Friday 6th August 2021

Session 1 – UK Time 02:00am – 06:45am

Men’s Kata Elimination Round 
Women’s Kumite Elimination Round 

Session 2 – UK Time 09:00am – 1:40pm

Men’s Kata Medal Rounds
Women’s under 61kg semi-final
Men’s Kumite under 75kg semi-final
Women’s under 61kg final
Men’s Kumite under 75kg final

Saturday 7th August 2021

UK Time 06:00am – 12:35pm

Women’s Kumite over 61kg Elimination Round
Men’s Kumite under 75kg Elimination Round 
Women’s Kumite over 61kg semi-final
Men’s Kumite under 75kg semi-final
Women’s Kumite over 61kg final
Men’s Kumite under 75kg final

Competitors from TeamGB have failed to qualify, however ones to watch are the Spanish female champion Sandra Sanchez and French World Champion Steven Da Costa.

You can watch full coverage of the Olympics karate event via BBC One or continuous coverage of every event on Discovery Plus