HISTORY OF KARATE IN INDIA

HISTORY OF KARATE IN INDIA

Karate, the Japanese martial art, has a long and rich history in India. The art form has undergone significant changes over time, with different styles and techniques being introduced and developed. In this article, we will take a closer look at the history of karate in India.

Karate first arrived in India in the 1950s when Sensei Tadao Okuyama, a Japanese martial artist, introduced it to the country. He started teaching karate to Indian students in Kolkata (then known as Calcutta), and eventually, the art form began to spread throughout the country.

In the 1960s, Sensei Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, arrived in India and introduced his style of karate. He was instrumental in popularizing the sport in the country and establishing it as a recognized martial art. Under his guidance, many karate practitioners in India became proficient in the art form.

In the 1970s, Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa, a prominent karate master and former world champion, arrived in India to promote Shotokan Karate. He established the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation India (SKIFI), which helped to popularize the sport further. Today, SKIFI has branches in several cities in India and has produced several national and international champions.

In the 1980s, other karate styles such as Goju-Ryu and Shito-Ryu also gained popularity in India. Several organizations were formed to promote these styles of karate, including the Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Federation of India and the Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Association of India.

Karate grew in popularity in India in the 1970s and 1980s, with many dojos first established in major cities. Karate India Organization (KIO) is the World Karate Federation recognized body for karate in India. KIO has 40 affiliated units with 29 state teams, 7 union territory teams along with Services, ITBP, Assam rifles, Jain University etc. has associate members.


The Karate India Organization (KIO) replaced Karate Association of India (KAI) as the national governing body for Karate in India on confirmation from World Karate Federation (WKF) on 15 November 2021. KIO is incorporated as a non-profitable company under section 8 of Registrar of Companies, Govt. of India and established for the overall development of Karate Sport in India affiliated with World Karate Federation (WKF), Asian Karate Federation (AKF), South Asian Karate Do Federation (SAKF).

In 2021, karate made its debut as an Olympic sport at the Tokyo Olympics. Indian karateka, Jutika Moni Das, was one of the participants in the tournament, marking a significant moment in the history of karate in India.

In conclusion, the history of karate in India is a fascinating one, marked by the introduction of various styles and the establishment of several organizations dedicated to promoting the sport. Today, karate continues to gain recognition in India, with more and more people taking it up as a form of exercise and self-defense. The future looks bright for karate in India, and it is likely that we will see more Indian karateka competing at international events in the years to come.