North American Sport Karate Association

Martial Arts Handle: NASKA

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About NASKA

History
Board of Directors

The History of NASKA (North American Sport Karate Association) Founded: 1986

Although not in name at the time, NASKA’s seed was planted in 1977 when the executive editor of “Karate Illustrated” Magazine, Renardo Barden, started publishing competitor regional ratings in an attempt to create some order in the world of tournament karate around the United States. KI rated competitors in 12 regions across the US. From these regional ratings, KI, through various subjective methods, rated 36 men fighters in 3 categories, Top Twelve Overall, 12-1st Honorable Mention, and 12-2nd Honorable Mention. KI’s rating system went through many changes in the early years and progressed soon into rating black belt men, women and children in form, weapons, and fighting. A few years later, KI began rating tournaments as well, awarding them ratings of A, B or C according to 11 set criteria. These criteria were: 1) Level of Fighting Competition; 2) Level of Form Competition; 3) Level of Organization; 4) Level of Hospitality; 5) Quality of Hotel accommodations; 6) Style Prejudice; 7) Regional Shaft Factor; 8) Punctuality; 9) Tournament Venue; 10) Transportation to Tournament Site; 11) Overall Size of Event.

Although Karate Illustrated Magazine did exceptional work in their achievement of organizing and rating tournament karate, in 1986 they decided that 9 years were enough and discontinued the tournament/competitor rating service. By 1986, most of the current World NASKA tournaments had become part of the KI nucleus of “A” rated tournaments. Not wanting to see the rating system end, the promoters of the “A” rated tournaments at that time agreed to stay together and keep the rating system alive. The promoters of the AKA Grand Nationals (Warrior Cup), Battle of Atlanta, Diamond Nationals, New England Open, Ocean State Grand Nationals, US Capitol Classics, US Open, and a few other tournaments that no longer exist, all joined forces and created, “NASKA” (North American Sport Karate Association). NASKA has added additional world-class tournaments throughout the years and has had as many as 15 World tour tournaments along with National and State tournaments as well.

From 1986 to today, NASKA continues to be the leader in “Open Tournament Sport Karate”, in sanctioning North America’s most prestigious karate tournaments and in giving the world’s greatest karate athletics a forum to display, innovate and develop their talents. To acknowledge our tremendous admiration to all the NASKA Champions over the past 30 plus years a special tribute of the “NASKA Champions Hall of Fame” will soon be introduced.

In 1988 Mr. Carnahan was elected President of the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) and still holds the office today. NASKA is one of the largest sport karate sanctioning and ratings organizations in the world.

As a director of JLB Productions, Inc., and the National Karate Academy of Martial Arts, Mr. Carnahan has helped build the Diamond National Karate Championships into one of the world’s most prestigious and best known Karate Championships.

Larry Carnahan
President of the Board

John Sharkey
Board of Director

Hunter B. Lyon
Board of Director

Mohamad Jahanvash
Board of Director

Don Rodrigues
Board of Director

Christine Bannon-Rodrigues
Board of Director

David Bossinotte
Board of Director

Claire Cocozza
Board of Director

Bob Leiker
Board of Director

Mark Russo
Board of Director

Greg Ruth
Board of Director

Toby Ruth
Board of Director

Mike McCoy
Board of Director

Mike Sawyer
Board of Director

Dennis Brown
Board of Director

Manny Reyes Sr.
Board of Director

Michael Palitti
Board of Director

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Ratings

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Upcoming Events

2021 Calendar

Natural State Classic

May 29
1A
Keith Bly, Jamie Yowell
Little Rock, Arkansas United States
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Music City SMACDOWN

Jun 5
3A
Ronnie Presley, Jason Warren
Lebanon, Tennessee United States
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Battle of Atlanta

Jun 18-19
6A
Greg Ruth, Toby Ruth
Atlanta, Georgia United States
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U.S. Open

Jul 1-3
6A
Mike McCoy, Mike Sawyer, Cory Schafer
Orlando, Florida United States
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The Forge Championships

Jul 10
1A
Joe Schibanetz
Birmingham, Alabama United States
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Ozark Mountain Nationals

Jul 30-31
3A
Richard Osborn Jr.
Springfield, Missouri United States
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U.S. Capitol Classics China Open

Aug 5-7
6A
Dennis Brown, Andrena Brown
National Harbor, Maryland United States
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AmeriKick Internationals

Aug 19-21
6A
Bob Leiker, Mark Russo
Atlantic City, New Jersey United States
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Wheatstate Nationals

Aug 28
1A
Tom Hinkle
Wichita, Kansas United States
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Compete World Martial Arts Championships

Sep 3-5
6A
Mohamad Jahanvash
Ontario, California United States
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The Arkansas Open

Sep 17-18
3A
Joey Perry
Jonesboro, Arkansas United States
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South Atlanta Open

Sep 25
1A
Justin Garner
Atlanta, Georgia United States
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Texas Tough

Oct 2
3A
Bear Loebe
Houston, Texas United States
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Battle in the Midwest

Oct 2
1A
Mike Scott
Strafford, Missouri United States
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Diamond Nationals

Oct 7-9
6A
Larry Carnahan, John Worley
Minneapolis, Minnesota United States
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Middle Tennessee Classic

Oct 23
2A
Eric Rudolph
Franklin, Tennessee United States
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Pan American Internationals

Nov 11-13
5A
Manny Reyes Sr.
Miami, Florida United States
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The Destin Open

Nov 19-20
3A
Hollie Hamm, Clint Hamm
Fort Walton Beach, Florida United States
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Battle for the Troops

Nov 21
3A
Jeremy Talbott
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Toronto International Tournament of Champions

Dec 3-4
5A
Michael Palitti
Toronto, Ontario Canada
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2022 Calendar

2021 NASKA Awards Banquet

Jan 20
NASKA Awards
John Sharkey, Hunter B. Lyon
Chicago, Illinois United States
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AKA Warrior Cup

Jan 21-22
6A
John Sharkey, Hunter B. Lyon
Chicago, Illinois United States
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Compete World Martial Arts Championships

Feb 25-27
6A
Mohamad Jahanvash
Ontario, California United States
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Ocean State Grand Nationals

Apr 7-9
5A
Don Rodrigues, Christine Bannon-Rodrigues
Warwick, Rhode Island United States
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Quebec Open

Apr 28-30
5A
David Bossinotte, Claire Cocozza, Samuel Gagnon
Quebec City, Quebec Canada
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