Image: WKF
Karate continues to captivate global audiences with its blend of tradition, discipline, and explosive athleticism.
From lightning-fast kumite fighters to the elegant precision of kata specialists, here are the top 9 karate fighters currently dominating the world stage in 2025.
Female Kata
Grace Lau is a model of consistency and finesse. The Hong Kong athlete is a multiple-time world and continental medalist, and currently leads the global kata rankings. Her sharp techniques and flawless stances have made her the face of female kata internationally. She was Hong Kong’s first-ever Olympic karate medallist, taking bronze in Tokyo 2020.
Grace Lau Mo-sheung is a Hong Kong karateka. She won bronze in the women’s kata event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, becoming the first Hong Kong athlete to win an Olympic medal in karate. She is a three-time medallist in the women’s individual kata event at the World Karate Championships. She is also a medallist in this event at the Asian Games and the World Beach Games. She is an eight-time medalist, including three gold medals, at the Asian Karate Championships
Male Kata
Japan’s latest kata sensation, Kakeru Nishiyama, has swept every major competition in 2024. With flawless timing and traditional flair, he’s become nearly unbeatable on the tatami, earning the title of WKF Grand Winner. Nishiyama won all 4 Karate 1-Premier League events in a single season.
Since he was five years old, Nishiyama has won four medals in the season including golds in Baku and Matosinhos. At the event in the Portuguese city, Nishiyama defeated Ali Sofuoglu of Turkiye in the final while in Baku, the Japanese athlete beat teammate Kazumasa Moto. At the last event in Cairo, Nishiyama took the bronze medal.
In addition to his five medals in Karate 1-Premier League, Nishiyama has the continental title at the 2022 AKF Championships under his belt.
Nishiyama was born in Okayama prefecture and is a firefighter by trade.
Female Kumite- 50 kg
Venezuela’s Yorgelis Salazar is one of the fastest and most aggressive fighters in the lightweight division. Her explosive movement and counterattacks have made her a nightmare for opponents — and a fan favorite around the world.
She won the silver medal in the women’s 50 kg event at the 2022 World Games held in Birmingham, United States. She won one of the bronze medals in the women’s 50 kg event at the 2023 World Karate Championships held in Budapest, Hungary.
Salazar won the silver medal in the women’s 50 kg event at the 2022 Bolivarian Games held in Valledupar, Colombia.She also won the silver medal in the women’s team kumite event. In 2023, she won one of the bronze medals in the women’s 50 kg event at the World Karate Championships held in Budapest, Hungary.She defeated Aika Okazaki of Japan in her bronze medal match. A week later, Salazar won the gold medal in her event at the 2023 Pan American Games held in Santiago, Chile.
Female Kumite- 55 kg
A veteran and crowd-puller, Terliuga has stayed on top through technical mastery and relentless pace. The Ukrainian karateka is a European champion, Olympic silver medallist, and continues to reign in her division.Known for her fierce fighting style and inspirational presence on and off the mat.
Terliuga finished as a silver medallist in the 2016 European Karate Championships behind Italian Sara Cardin, who she lost to in the final.
Terliuga won the gold medal at the 2018 European Karate Championships, held in Novi Sad, defeating Alessandra Hasani of Croatia in the final.
Terliuga took part in the women’s 55 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. In the tournament she became the first Ukrainian woman to win a bout in karate. After a record of two wins and two draws in the pool stage, Terliuga beat Wen Tzu-yun in the semi finals to reach the final. In the final she lost 5–1 against Ivet Goranova of Bulgaria to win the silver medal.
She won the gold medal in the women’s 55 kg event at the 2022 World Games held in Birmingham, United States.
Terliuga won the gold medal in the women’s 55 kg event at the 2023 European Games held in Poland. Terliuga won one of the bronze medals in the women’s 55 kg event at the 2023 World Karate Championships held in Budapest, Hungary.
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Female Kumite –61 kg
One of the breakout stars of recent years, Germany’s Reem Khamis has risen to the top with speed, strategy, and youth on her side. She holds the No. 1 ranking and continues to impress with every performance.
She has been part of the German National Team since the middle of the 2021 year. She won the gold medal in the women’s kumite 61 kg event at the 2023 European Games held in Poland. She also won the gold medal in the individual 61kg event at the 2023 European Karate Championships held in Guadalajara, Spain.
Khamis won the silver medal in the women’s U-21 61 kg event at the 2022 World Cadet, Junior and U21 Karate Championships held in Konya, Turkey.
Her success made her lead in the world ranking under U21. Currently she is ranked 2 in the world seniors ranking as well.
She became the Grand Winner in the Female -61kg category for the year 2024 by winning two bronze medals and a silver medal at three out of the four Premier League events.
She won one of the bronze medals in the women’s 61 kg event at the 2024 European Karate Championships held in Zadar, Croatia. She also won the gold medal in the women’s team kumite event.
In 2025, Khamis won a silver medal in the Premier League held in Hangzhou, China.
Female Kumite –68 kg
A dominant force in her category, Zaretska is a World and European champion who retained her top ranking even during a competitive break due to pregnancy — a testament to her consistency and past results. Known for her powerful strikes and technical dominance in the midweight division.
She won the silver medal in the women’s +61 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan. She is a three-time gold medalist in the women’s 68 kg event at the World Karate Championships (2018, 2021 and 2023). Zaretska is also a two-time gold medalist in this event at the Islamic Solidarity Games (2017 and 2022) and the European Games (2015 and 2023).
Female Kumite +68 kg
Sofya stunned the world at the Tokyo Olympics and hasn’t slowed down since. She’s currently the Grand Winner in her division and remains Kazakhstan’s top karate export.
She won a bronze medal in her event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan and the 2021 World Karate Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Berultseva has won several medals at Asian Karate Championships (Continental Championship) in individual kumite category and she also won several medals, including gold, silver and bronze medals, in the World Karate Federation Karate 1 Leagues and Series Championships.
In 2021, she won a gold medal in the Karate 1 Premier League Karate Championships held at Istanbul, Turkey.
Male Kumite –67 kg
Almasatfa, an Olympic bronze medalist, has become a continental giant. He’s a four-time Asian champion and a consistent podium finisher in global competitions.He’s Jordan’s most decorated karateka in history.
He won one of the bronze medals in the men’s 67 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan. He is also a three-time medalist at the Asian Games and a nine-time medalist, including four gold medals, at the Asian Karate Championships.
Al-Masatfa won the silver medal in the men’s kumite 60 kg event at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. He won one of the bronze medals in the men’s kumite 67 kg at the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Al-Masatfa won the gold medal in his event at the 2018 Asian Karate Championships held in Amman, Jordan. He defeated Fahad Al-Khathami of Saudi Arabia in his gold medal match. In 2019, he won one of the bronze medals in his event at the Asian Karate Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Al-Masatfa won one of the bronze medals in the men’s 67 kg event.
Male Kumite –75 kg
Egypt’s Abdalla is a powerhouse in one of the most competitive weight classes. With his agile footwork and clinical timing, he’s carved out a dominant position at the top of the WKF rankings.
He won the silver medal in the men’s 75 kg event at the 2021 World Karate Championships held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He won silver medal in the Men’s Individual -75 kg Kumite Karate at the 2019 African Games was held from 24 to 26 August 2019 in Rabat, Morocco and gold medal in the Men’s Individual -75 kg Kumite (UFAK) JUNIOR & SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ( Continental Championship) 2020 at Tangier, Morocco.
Previously he won two bronze Medals in Junior, Cadet and U21 World Championship in the year of 2015 and 2019. He also won several medals, including gold, Silver and bronze medals in the African Continental Championship & Mediterranean Championships as well as World Karate Federation Karate 1 Premier League and Series A Championships.
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