Sport karate has always had the potential of breaking through the glass ceiling into the mainstream. This is something that I have always been aware of. When I went out to fight, in my mind, I was fighting to win and I was always aware that I had the ability to help bring the sport out of the underworld and into the public domain. I use the term underworld only to contrast the lack of recognition that sport karate champions have received in direct relation to the stars of major televised sports, such as baseball, football, professional boxing etc. Many of them are incredible athletes and yet go unrecognized both financially and anonymously. When I look for the evidence I see that, as an individual, In many ways I was successful in breaking through the barriers that have mostly Kept our sport unknown. I was able to scratch the mainstream surface with national television interviews and various sources other than martial arts media, such as articles and interviews in national tabloids such as, USA Today, The Daily Mirror, The Observer, The Telegraph, Time Out, etc.
However in the world of sports karate mainstream news is the exception. Fighters like Alfie Lewis and myself who have reached the pinnacle of our sport and events like Clash of the Titans that have helped to generate outside interest, if not intrigue, have helped to shape where martial arts is today.
Sports karate is at a crossroad. Some say it isn’t what it was in terms of technique and application: A watered down version of what was once the golden era, while Mixed Martial Arts has risen to an unparalleled height of public interest. Ironically through the lineage of the sport, which connects to everything, it is events like Clash of the Titans that can be said to have contributed to the MMA platforms we see today.
Whenever I’ve asked myself why sport karate has not pierced the mainstream I think of several reasons. The first is obvious: The lack of television coverage. This goes hand in hand in proportion to the financial rewards for competitors. Viewers equal advertisers and in turn equal sponsorship, which means money! Secondly, organizations are many but unfortunately often lack the ability to unite and work together for a higher purpose. No doubt there are other factors involved, one being that of time.
Fast forward 2017!
We are about to enter a new phase. Ironically, the success of MMA has proven that there is a wide audience that stretches beyond just the martial arts public. Television and sponsors see the potential. The BBC recently signed a deal with the UFC and now with the upcoming International Black Belt Open Championships the platform has developed in such a way that freestyle/ sport karate has an opportunity to climb to the next level of recognition. And so, I say we support, celebrate and kick some ass!
And the question was: What does the future hold for sport karate? One word. PROGRESS!