It was a game-changing breakthrough for Karate. Representatives of the World Karate Federation (WKF) defined in these terms the new advances in the sport, after implementing an initiative which is expected to have a significant impact in millions of Karate enthusiasts worldwide. Following a new agreement, the main Karate governing body is taking a definitive step to provide direct access to the most spectacular moments of every first class Karate event in the world.

It was a game-changing breakthrough for Karate. Representatives of the World Karate Federation (WKF) defined in these terms the new advances in the sport, after implementing an initiative which is expected to have a significant impact in millions of Karate enthusiasts worldwide. Following a new agreement, the main Karate governing body is taking a definitive step to provide direct access to the most spectacular moments of every first class Karate event in the world.

When the WKF established the Karate1-Premier League- five years ago, as an instrument to showcase the remarkable evolution of the sport, Karate athletes around the world found an opportunity to stage the values of the ancient ‘way of the empty hand’ in a number of elite open championships. Success was immediate, as manifested in the sold-out crowds in the five editions of the Karate1-Premier League- in Paris, as well as in the thousands of athletes participating in the competitions, with nearly 5,000 Karatekas from 68 countries registered in the eight tournaments celebrated in 2015 only. No less than 31 Karate1-Premier League- tournaments have been celebrated from 2011 to 2015, and 18 cities in four continents have acted as host cities of the events.

Now, the WKF further develops their top international Karate competitions with an agreement which guarantees TV coverage of all the major tournaments of the sport. As a result the deal reached by the WKF and International Sports Broadcasting (ISB), the eight tournaments per year of the Karate1-Premier League- and the Senior World Championships will be broadcast to a potential audience of millions spectators, thus making the most important international Karate events a truly global experience.

"The association with ISB certainly helps us to achieve a definitive quality leap by guaranteeing that Karate enthusiasts all over the world will live first-hand our wonderful sport,” stated WKF President Antonio Espinós.

“ISB is delighted to announce their appointment by the World Karate Federation, as Host Broadcaster and exclusive Broadcast Rights Sales Agency for the Karate1-Premier League and Senior World Championships for a period of 4 years (2017-2020).  We will endeavour to enhance the production for these premier World Karate Events, using dedicated teams that will work with the WKF to provide an excellent coverage”, declared ISB head of production Ursula Romero.     

Furthermore, the high definition broadcast provides fans with the opportunity of following the smallest detail of the best Karate events. From the whipping sound of the Karate-gi after a powerful ‘tsuki’ to the piercing ‘kiai’ after a winning ‘ippon’ in a kumite; each and every one of the features that make these elite competitions unique will grasp the attention of Karate enthusiasts everywhere.

Securing the TV coverage of the most prominent international Karate competitions represents one more effort in the strategy of the WKF to anticipate the thrilling new challenges for the sport in the upcoming months, declared the President of the organisation. Together with the improvement of the structural requirements of the events and the modernization of the competitions through the implementation of technical advances such as the recent application of the “Video Review”, the WKF is taking their top events to new levels of excellence.

“We are absolutely prepared for the anticipated challenges ahead of us. A bright future awaits us and we are convinced that with the help of all of those who work hard for the progress of Karate, we are ready to live memorable days for our sport,” added WKF President, Antonio Espinós.

As the world of Karate is living in anticipation the upcoming months, and representatives and fans alike have marked in red several dates in the calendar, Karate enthusiasts at least know now that the action of their favourite sport is at the click of the remote control.