Professional Karate Association
Encyclopedia
The Professional Karate Association (PKA) was originally a martial arts
sanctioning organization, now transformed into a martial arts promotion company.
Through the 1970s, the PKA was the major professional kickboxing
organization in the United States
and in Europe, featuring such fighters as Bill "Superfoot" Wallace
, Joe Lewis
, Jeff, Smith, Benny "the Jet" Urquidez, Howard Jackson, Isaias Dunenas, Dennis "the Terminator" Alexio, Bad Brad Hefton, Jerry Rhome, Tom Hall, The Iceman Jean Yves Theriault, Rick "the Jet" Roufus, Rodney Batman Batiste, Bob Thunder Thurman, John Longstreet, Larry Carnahan, Gordon Franks, Jerry Golden Boy Trimble and Jeff Smith.
The Professional Karate Association was formed in 1974 by Don and Judy Quine in association with Mike Anderson. It was launched with the initial world championships in 1974 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, and was telecast on ABC
's Wide World of Entertainment. The winners of the initial championship were Joe Lewis
(heavyweight), Jeff Smith (light heavyweight), Bill "Superfoot" Wallace
(middleweight), and Isiasis Duenas (lightweight).
Joe Corley joined the PKA in 1977 and organized the committees that would control the sport of full contact karate for the next 9 years. The PKA went on to have a long term relationship with ESPN
that lasted until the 1986, while also airing a series of fights on CBS under the watch of CBS Sports VP Barry Frank and on NBC via Sean McManus. The PKA was by far the most visible santioning body for what became better known as kickboxing in the United States, in 1982 sanctioning 43% of events worldwide. and producing more than 1,000 hours of television content.
The PKA signed many fighters to exclusive contracts in order to build its brand in the sport, just as most other sports organizations sign athletes to exclusive contracts. Some fighters chose to go to other competing organizations, but the PKA was by far the most well known, as were its fighters. The PKA sanctioned fights exclusively with what has become known as "full contact rules" which permit kicks only above the waist as opposed to the "international rules" advocated by other organizations. In 1989 Joe Corley gained the rights to PKA in an out of court settlement ending a 3 year dispute with his PKA partners. The PKA has since operated as a promotion company.
The PKA hosted fights with SHOWTIME through the 90's and held its first pay per view event with SHOWTIME featuring Jean Yves Theriault vs Rick Roufus, Dennis Alexio vs Dick Kimber and Paul Vizzio vs Juan Torres.
In the new millennium PKA has hosted fights at the Battle of Atlanta and is organizing a new era of action to bring the right kind of recognition the fight world is now ready to bestow on the next generation of kickboxing superstars.
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
sanctioning organization, now transformed into a martial arts promotion company.
Through the 1970s, the PKA was the major professional kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
organization in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in Europe, featuring such fighters as Bill "Superfoot" Wallace
Bill Wallace (martial arts)
William "Bill" Louis Wallace is an American martial artist who was a Professional Karate Association world full- contact karate champion. He was the Professional Karate Association Middleweight Champion kickboxer for almost six years.- Background :Wallace was born in Portland, Indiana, and...
, Joe Lewis
Joe Lewis
Joseph Peter "Joe" Lewis is an English footballer who plays for Peterborough United as a goalkeeper, having made a £400,000 transfer from Norwich City on 8 January 2008.-Norwich City:...
, Jeff, Smith, Benny "the Jet" Urquidez, Howard Jackson, Isaias Dunenas, Dennis "the Terminator" Alexio, Bad Brad Hefton, Jerry Rhome, Tom Hall, The Iceman Jean Yves Theriault, Rick "the Jet" Roufus, Rodney Batman Batiste, Bob Thunder Thurman, John Longstreet, Larry Carnahan, Gordon Franks, Jerry Golden Boy Trimble and Jeff Smith.
The Professional Karate Association was formed in 1974 by Don and Judy Quine in association with Mike Anderson. It was launched with the initial world championships in 1974 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, and was telecast on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Wide World of Entertainment. The winners of the initial championship were Joe Lewis
Joe Lewis
Joseph Peter "Joe" Lewis is an English footballer who plays for Peterborough United as a goalkeeper, having made a £400,000 transfer from Norwich City on 8 January 2008.-Norwich City:...
(heavyweight), Jeff Smith (light heavyweight), Bill "Superfoot" Wallace
Bill Wallace (martial arts)
William "Bill" Louis Wallace is an American martial artist who was a Professional Karate Association world full- contact karate champion. He was the Professional Karate Association Middleweight Champion kickboxer for almost six years.- Background :Wallace was born in Portland, Indiana, and...
(middleweight), and Isiasis Duenas (lightweight).
Joe Corley joined the PKA in 1977 and organized the committees that would control the sport of full contact karate for the next 9 years. The PKA went on to have a long term relationship with ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
that lasted until the 1986, while also airing a series of fights on CBS under the watch of CBS Sports VP Barry Frank and on NBC via Sean McManus. The PKA was by far the most visible santioning body for what became better known as kickboxing in the United States, in 1982 sanctioning 43% of events worldwide. and producing more than 1,000 hours of television content.
The PKA signed many fighters to exclusive contracts in order to build its brand in the sport, just as most other sports organizations sign athletes to exclusive contracts. Some fighters chose to go to other competing organizations, but the PKA was by far the most well known, as were its fighters. The PKA sanctioned fights exclusively with what has become known as "full contact rules" which permit kicks only above the waist as opposed to the "international rules" advocated by other organizations. In 1989 Joe Corley gained the rights to PKA in an out of court settlement ending a 3 year dispute with his PKA partners. The PKA has since operated as a promotion company.
The PKA hosted fights with SHOWTIME through the 90's and held its first pay per view event with SHOWTIME featuring Jean Yves Theriault vs Rick Roufus, Dennis Alexio vs Dick Kimber and Paul Vizzio vs Juan Torres.
In the new millennium PKA has hosted fights at the Battle of Atlanta and is organizing a new era of action to bring the right kind of recognition the fight world is now ready to bestow on the next generation of kickboxing superstars.
See also
- United States Kickboxing AssociationUnited States Kickboxing AssociationThe first American sanctioning body to regulate kickboxing matches, the United States Kickboxing Association was established in early 1970 by former Green Beret Lee Faulkner following his promotion of North America’s debut kickboxing bout featuring Joe Lewis’ knockout victory over Greg Baines. ...
(USKA) - International Sport Karate AssociationInternational Sport Karate AssociationThe International Sport Karate Association is one of the major international bodies regulating karate and kickboxing matches, and is based in the United States...
(ISKA) - World Kickboxing AssociationWorld Kickboxing AssociationThe World Kickboxing Association is one of the oldest and the largest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of kickboxing in the world for the sport. Its official name is "World Kickboxing and Karate Association"....
(WKA) - World Association of Kickboxing OrganizationsWorld Association of Kickboxing OrganizationsThe World Association of Kickboxing Organisations is one the international organization of kickboxing, and the governing body of Amateur kickboxing sport certified by SportAccord...
(WAKO) - World Kickboxing Federation (WKF)