Karate Combat: A Front Row to Elite Violence
Basement-crime-scene vibes. That was the initial reaction to seeing my first Karate Combat match. Not because of the bout itself, but because of the primal setting.
Designed like a secret society lair, replete with dim lighting, and dramatic backdrops, Karate Combat’s fighting pits are padded squares lined with padded ramps for walls. The histrionic scene appears plucked directly from the final battle of a Jean Claude Van Damme movie.
With no cage door, or slatted ropes to use as entry, Karatekas must quickly engage their glutes and hamstrings to hop-skip down the pit walls before hitting the flat combat zone. Once there, Karatekas engage in badass karate shit and mostly knock each other out.
Bas Rutten and Sean Wheelock fill the void left by large crowds - Karate Combat events are, so far, invitation only - with expert testimony. Bas Rutten’s natural enthusiasm for all fighting sports makes his color commentary one of the best around.
Moody, bass-heavy music, harkening back to the synth-era of the 80s, draws audiences further into the depths of these dark martial arts. Not dark because of their quality, but because of their seriousness.
The players in this game are undoubtedly here for keeps and for glory, but they are also here to represent their sport in a dignified and disciplined manner.
Despite the glitz of the epic backdrops and the glamour of the celebrity affiliations, respect and discipline appear to be at the heart of this promotion, at least from the fighters’ perspectives.
A nice boon to the overall experience comes from the production value of the karate.com webcast. Slick graphics and live biometric data offer a unique supplement to the already fearsome fighting.
The highlight of their proprietary “Hud Display” is undoubtedly the heart rate monitor which generates live beats-per-minute data on fighters from the moment they enter the pit to the moment they finish the bout.
It’s thrilling to watch as flurries or knockdowns spike the heart rates of both striker and recipient. Also thrilling? The cock-fight-esque fan energy blitzing the combat zone with hollers, screams, and sh***-talk.
Reminiscent of Capcom’s “Street Fighter” arcade game, the invitees at Karate Combat events flank the fighting pits with blood-thirst in their eyes and drinks in their hands.
Dressed in night-club casual, while pumping fists and snapping selfies, fans appear simultaneously energized by the visceral violence and preoccupied by the instagram-rich photo opportunities.
Ultimately, Karate Combat puts on one heck of a show. Event after event, Karatekas lay themselves bare to put their life’s work on display for us, random strangers with a lust for controlled violence. Overflowing with respect, dignity, and ritual, Karate Combat has invented a combat show unlike any other currently on the market.
Wisely adding shrewd, combat-relevant names like Danny Trejo as MC, and astutely holding their latest event in Hollywood, CA, Karate Combat is slowly building a fighting empire that leaves a strong lasting impression.
Anyone who sees a Karate Combat event will talk about seeing it, and anyone who sees a Karate Combat event will want to see another one. Here’s to an exciting new player in the game of combat sports.