Biggest Worldwide Karate Organization?

[destroyer4147]

I don't know exactly which forum to post this, and moderators please feel free to move this thread wherever you feel is most appropriate.

What is the largest karate organization in Japan?

What is the largest karate organization in the world?

I know that the Internation Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan (IKO) headed by Kancho Shokei Matsui is the largest "full-contact" karate organization in both Japan and the world, claiming to have 12 million participants worldwide.

However, how does it compare with other karate organizations such as the Japan Karate Association (JKA) and the World Karate Federation (WKF), in Japan and in the world?

 

[ebartlett84]

I know very little about karate...

ISKA?

 

[Emanuele]

I know very little about karate...

ISKA?

ISKA is kickboxing not karate.
Biggest karate organization in the world is WKF.

EDIT: Now biggest karate organization is UWK.

 

[VolkHan]

ISKA is kickboxing not karate.
Biggest karate organization in the world il WKF.

it stays for "International Sport Karate Association"

 

[ebartlett84]

ISKA is kickboxing not karate.

We're both kinda right...I think.

This explains a little
http://www.iskaworldhq.com/index.php/about-iska

 

[Emanuele]

It is spelled Karate because in USA in '70s kickboxing was called "full contact karate"
Benny Urquidez, Dennis Alexio, Chuck Norris, Joe Lewis fought for ISKA and they were kickboxing matches.
Look for example 2014 ISKA World Championship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpuYduajwmo it is kickboxing.
In USA there is the mistake of calling muay thai and kickboxing under the name of kickboxing. No, they are two different sports.
of for example I've heard several times ITF taekwondo called karate. it isn't karate.

 

[destroyer4147]

Yes, ISKA essentially is an organization for what is known as "American Kickboxing," which is a development from "American Full-Contact Karate." Hard to differentiate between the two sports. First thing that comes to mind is 70's era "Pants" kickboxing with Benny Urquidez, etc....


Back to karate organizations. I've read some articles stating that Shotokan has up to 10 million worldwide. Kyokushin claims to have 12 million.

What does the average American, or casual person of any nationality for that matter, usually most usually associate the "Japanese Karate" with, JKA/WKF type point tournaments or full-contact/knockdown type tournaments?