When and Where Did the Term “Full Contact Karate” First Appear?
The term Full Contact Karate first emerged in the United States in the early 1970s. It was used to describe a new competitive format of karate that allowed full-power strikes and knockouts, conducted in a boxing ring under modified boxing rules.
🇺🇸 United States — Early 1970s
📍 Location
Primarily in:
Los Angeles
New York
Florida
📅 Time Period
1970–1974 — the formative years when the term became established.
Historical Background
Before this period, most karate tournaments in the United States followed a point-fighting format, where matches were stopped after a controlled scoring technique.
However, many fighters wanted continuous, full-power competition with knockouts allowed.
In 1974, the organization
Professional Karate Association (PKA)
was founded. With the creation of the PKA, the term “Full Contact Karate” became officially recognized as a professional combat sport format.
Key Figures of the Era
Joe Lewis
Bill Wallace
Benny Urquidez
These athletes became early icons of Full Contact Karate, which later evolved into what is now widely known as American kickboxing.
Important Note
At that time, the term “kickboxing” was not yet commonly used in the United States.
While Japan was developing its own kickboxing movement influenced by Muay Thai, the American professional ring format was officially promoted as Full Contact Karate during the 1970s.
By the late 1970s and into the 1980s, the term gradually transitioned to “kickboxing.”