Karate is both a well known, yet much ignored sport. Its first image, thanks to pseudo Karate films, conveyed the idea of a sport that trains ‘Bruce Lee’s’. However, the development of Karate has fortunately enabled its real qualities to be demonstrated. The qualities which are, on a fundamental level, the basis of youth education, accentuating the youth's sense of human values: their self confidence, their respect of the opposition, their balance and self control and their ability to exceed expectations.

ALAN THILAK KARATE DO specializes in sport Karate.

Today, with 160 member nations in the World Karate Federation, the foremost Karate Organization in the world, and more than 50 million participants world wide, Karate is classed the 10th most popular sport.

Karate's spectacular growth, and its great popularity amongst the youth of the whole world, is due to its electric character. The Karateka can, if he likes, devote himself to the traditional spirit by developing the philosophical and esoteric side of the art, or practice it as a competitive sport, or take advantage of it for self defense, or simply for body fitness.

The International Federation is very active; as well as the World Championships that are held every 2 years, a Junior World Championship has been created and its success bodes well for the future.

Today the sport is not the male dominating one that it used to be. The sport has seen women learning it and growing in success. Its participants, who have adopted the technique perfectly, are formidable. Children too practice Karate with both joy and enthusiasm.

Profiting from the full recognition of the International Olympic Committee, Karate participates in all the Continental Games, as well as in the World Games. Well organized, on a democratic and healthy basis, the WKF intends to continue its expansion for the benefit of its participants.

In recent years, with the development of Free-style sparring, it became possible to hold actual Karate matches. Shiai used to be actual fights to the death between two opponents challenging each other. At that time, there were no rules to govern such fights. Any technique could be used - even attacks to the groin and vitals points on the body were permitted.

As Shiai becomes more tightly governed, it has subsequently evolved into a sporting competition administered by strict rules to prevent unnecessary injuries, conducted in a fair atmosphere of true sportsmanship. The World Karate Federation (WKF) is the international governing body in control of World Championships. There are both Kumite (Sparring) and Kata competitions.

Rules for Competitions