Karate at the Olympic Games is a fascinating subject that illustrates the evolution of this martial art through the ages. Historically, karate is a martial art developed in the Okinawa archipelago, now part of Japan. However, it took centuries for karate to gain international recognition, culminating in its inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The inclusion of karate in the Olympic Games is a historic achievement that underlines the importance and universality of this martial art. In fact, karate is practised by millions of people around the world, of all ages, genders and ethnic origins. Despite this popularity, karate has had to overcome many obstacles to be included in the Olympic program.
The effort to include karate in the Olympic Games began in 1970, when Shotokan karate founder Gichin Funakoshi campaigned for its inclusion. Unfortunately, this first attempt failed. It took several decades, a change in mentality and hard work on the part of the international karate federations before karate was finally recognized as an Olympic sport.
One of the reasons for karate’s initial exclusion from the Olympic Games was the perception that karate was too violent to be considered a sport. This perception has been partly influenced by the way karate has been portrayed in the media and popular culture. However, karate advocates have worked hard to change this perception, stressing that karate is a martial art that emphasizes respect, discipline and control.
Another reason for the initial exclusion of karate was the diversity of karate styles. There are many styles of karate, each with its own techniques, katas and philosophies. This has made it difficult to establish a unified set of rules for competitive karate. Over time, however, a consensus was reached and a set of rules was drawn up for competitive karate, enabling its inclusion in the Olympic Games.
The inclusion of karate in the Olympic Games marked an important turning point in the history of this martial art. It has enabled karatekas from all over the world to showcase their skills on the world’s biggest sporting stage, and has given karate greater visibility and recognition. She also emphasized the importance of respect, discipline and control, the core values of karate, in the world of sport.
However, the future of karate at the Olympic Games remains uncertain. Karate was not included in the program for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, sparking discussions about karate’s future in the Olympic movement. Despite this, international karate federations continue to work to promote karate and maintain its place on the Olympic program, especially for a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
But the presence of karate in the continental Olympic Games is further proof of the martial art’s popularity and international recognition. Continental Olympic Games, such as the Asian Games, Pan-American Games, African Games and European Games, are major sporting events that provide a platform for the promotion and competition of karate.
In Asia, karate is a well-established discipline at the Asian Games. The popularity of karate in Asia is not surprising, given that it originated in this region, more specifically in the Okinawa archipelago of Japan. Asian athletes often dominated karate competitions at the Asian Games, reflecting the high level of karate practice in the region.
At the Pan-American Games, which bring together the countries of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, karate also has a prominent place. Athletes from the Americas demonstrated a high level of skill in karate, particularly those from the USA, Canada, Brazil and Venezuela, who often won medals in karate competitions.
In Africa, karate was included in the All-Africa Games, testifying to the growth and development of karate on the African continent. Countries such as Egypt, South Africa and Senegal have produced top-level karatekas who have shone in karate competitions at the All-Africa Games.
In Europe, karate has been included in the European Games, a multi-sport competition that brings together European nations. European countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Turkey have a rich karate tradition and have often dominated karate competitions at the European Games.