# Martial arts at the World Games
Karate has been on the [World Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/world-games) program since the first edition in 1981, always with the same two disciplines, Kata and Kumite.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22) Wushu joined the program for The World Games 2025 with its two disciplines, Sanda and Taolu, after appearing as an invitational sport at the 2013 Cali Games.[2](https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Wushu-41)
This article profiles in detail the two disciplines for which authoritative program records are available, karate and wushu.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Karate on the program | Contested since the first World Games in 1981, always with Kata and Kumite[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22) |
| Karate's governing body | World Karate Federation, IWGA Member Federation since 1980 and a Founding Member[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22) |
| Karate Olympic status | Debut appearance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22) |
| All-time karate medal leader | Japan, 34 gold, 18 silver, 23 bronze, ahead of Great Britain (14-6-18) and Italy (13-13-14)[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22) |
| Wushu on the program | Invitational in 2013 (Cali); program sport at The World Games 2025 with Sanda and Taolu[2](https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Wushu-41) |
| Sanda format at 2025 | Three women's and three men's weight classes, bouts refereed as in boxing[2](https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Wushu-41) |
| Taolu scoring | Routines scored by 3 judges; 540 and 720-degree jumps and kicks add difficulty[2](https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Wushu-41) |
## Disciplines on the program
**Karate** has appeared at every edition since 1981 with the same two disciplines, Kata and Kumite.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22) Its federation, the [World Karate Federation](https://www.edgepedia.org/world-karate-federation), has been an IWGA Member Federation since 1980 and holds Founding Member status.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22)
**Wushu** moved from invitational status to the full program for The World Games 2025, where it is contested as Sanda and Taolu.[2](https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Wushu-41) Its earlier appearance was at the [2013 World Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/2013-world-games) in Cali, where Sanda and Taolu were both staged as invitational sports.[2](https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Wushu-41)
## How competition works
Karate's two modalities test different skills. Kata is a choreographed pattern of movements performed alone; [Kumite](https://www.edgepedia.org/kumite) is the confrontation of two competitors in a sparring mode.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22)
Wushu is contested in two disciplines at the 2025 Games. **Sanda**, or free-fighting, comprises three women's and three men's weight classes, with bouts refereed as in boxing.[2](https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Wushu-41) **Taolu** consists of routine events; at the 2025 Games these are men's Changquan, Daoshu, and Gunshu Combined, Nanquan and Nangun Combined, and Taijiquan and Taijijian Combined, plus the corresponding women's combined events.[2](https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Wushu-41) In the routines, athletes demonstrate aerial techniques such as 540 and 720-degree jumps and kicks to add more difficulty to their forms, and the scores are given by 3 judges.[2](https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Wushu-41)
## By the numbers
Japan dominates the all-time World Games karate medal table with 34 gold, 18 silver, and 23 bronze, ahead of Great Britain on 14-6-18 and Italy on 13-13-14; France (9-14-12) and Germany (8-6-12) complete the top five.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22)
The [2017 World Games](https://www.edgepedia.org/2017-world-games) in Wrocław illustrates how the podiums are distributed. In kata, Kazumasa Moto of Japan took gold, Damian Quintero of Spain silver, and Gakuji Tozaki of the United States bronze.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22) In women's kumite at 50 kg, the gold went to Junna Tsukii of the Philippines.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22)
## History and Olympic status
Karate's World Games history spans the whole life of the event, from the first edition in 1981 onward.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22) That history intersected with the Olympic program when karate made its debut appearance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.[1](https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22) Wushu's path ran in the other direction, from invitational sport at Cali 2013 to full program sport in 2025.[2](https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Wushu-41)
## References
1. Karate | IWGA (The World Games official site, archived 30 July 2024) — https://web.archive.org/web/20240730064909/https:/www.theworldgames.org/sports/Karate-22
2. Wushu | IWGA (The World Games official site) — https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Wushu-41
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Olympics and multisport subjects › General sport and multisport institutions › Alternative and community multisport Games › The World Games (IWGA) › World Games martial arts and combat sports*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 30, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license