Karate in the United States

American Karate in the United States
American Karate in the United States
	Michael Ninomiya competing in the Sabaki Challenge
Governing body	USA National Karate-do Federation
International competitions
	Karate World Championships ; Pan American Games ; Summer Olympics

Karate was first introduced to American service men after World War II by Japanese and Okinawan karate masters.

Many of these US servicemen took their newfound skills to the United States and established their own dojos. Many Japanese karate instructors were also sent to popularize the martial art in the United States. Robert Trias was the first American to open a karate dojo in the United States.

Joey Rhodes was one of the first karate instructors to transform point kumite (sparring) into full contact United States karate. As the captain of the Eastern Illinois University karate team, Rhodes transformed karate into a popular activity through his numerous invitational open style tournaments, clinics, and camps. Rhodes is the founder of Rhodes Karate Schools and started his training in 1968 with the Japan Karate Association.

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