Olympics 2020

Countdown to Tokyo: Karate

Published June 16, 2021 7:49 AM

(KYMA, KECY/ NBC News) - Karate is making its Olympic debut at the 2021 Tokyo games but it may not be the karate you are used to seeing.

According to Sakura Kokumai, there are two very different disciplines when it comes to the new Olympic game: Kumite and Kata.

Kumite involves being geared up and fighting against an opponent where whoever scores the highest wins. Kata is a sequence of punches, kicks and blocks that is already choreographed.

"I cannot change anything within the Kata and for us, we are supposed to perform the Kata as perfect as we can," said Kokumai. "I like to say it's like figure skating but no music."

Article Topic Follows: Olympics 2020

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Cole Johnson

Cole Johnson is News 11’s Sports Director.

Contact Cole at cole.johnson@kecytv.com.

NBC News

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