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The Black Belt Magazine World Sport Karate Rankings

Black Belt Magazine Rankings

The Official Black Belt Magazine World Sport Karate Rankings have been created by a committee with the consideration of major leagues including but not limited to the ISKA, WAKO, NASKA, and WKC. In the adult sparring divisions, pay-per-view events like Virtual Fight Tour are also considered. These rankings do not impact seeding in any of the aforementioned leagues, and are intended to highlight amazing athletes and generate positive sport karate discussion. Continue reading past the active rankings to find the defending ISKA World Champions.

Most Recent Update - April 9, 2023

This update follows the Ocean State Grand Nationals, which was the primary event driving the committee’s decisions when considering changes among the ranks. When the résumés and performances of two competitors were very close, results from the new NASKA world tour event Cowboy Up Martial Arts Championships were also taken into consideration. The depth of the divisions and recency of the Ocean State Grand Nationals justified the increased weight given to this event by the committee. As with every update of the rankings, grand championships carry the most weight with strong additional consideration of head-to-head matchups. Black Belt Magazine continues to put forward our best efforts to use these rankings as a platform to highlight athletes, the goal being to generate healthy discussion about sport karate. The rankings have criteria as mentioned, but ultimately are subjective and rely on opinion to weigh certain events more heavily or make close calls based on performances that may not have been head-to-head. Please keep in mind that these rankings do not have official bearing on the outcome of any sanctioned world championships.

Previous Update - February 26, 2023

This rankings update follows the Compete Internationals, a world tour NASKA event that has impacted the rankings for many divisions. The weight given to the results in California was dependent upon the depth of the division present, so the effect on the rankings will vary slightly for each division. Although there is naturally a level of subjectivity with rankings of this style, an emphasis on the most recent events and head-to-head matchups is an attempt at increased objectivity. Please keep in mind that these rankings are ultimately a matter of opinion in the interest of creating conversation about the sport and showcasing the athletes, as mentioned above.


Active World Black Belt Rankings

Men's CMX Weapons

  1. Esteban Tremblay
  2. Dawson Holt
  3. Ben Jones
  4. Rashad Eugene
  5. Jake Presley

Men's Traditional Weapons

  1. Jake Presley
  2. Esteban Tremblay
  3. Dawson Holt
  4. Diego Rodriguez Florez
  5. Alec Jahanvash

Women's CMX Weapons

  1. Sammy Smith
  2. Katelyn McMillan
  3. Sara Campbell
  4. Kaitlyn Vong
  5. Kyleigh Boyer

Women's Traditional Weapons

  1. Haley Glass
  2. Katelyn McMillan
  3. Sara Campbell
  4. Amber Rutherford
  5. Melina Pecci

Men's CMX Forms

  1. Esteban Tremblay
  2. Salef Celiz
  3. Diego Rodriguez Florez
  4. Rashad Eugene
  5. Dawson Holt

Men's Traditional Forms

  1. Caio DaSilva
  2. Mason Stowell
  3. Diego Rodriguez Florez
  4. Larry Gonzalez
  5. William Smart

Women's CMX Forms

  1. Sammy Smith
  2. Alessandra Alinea
  3. Andrea Guzman
  4. Kaitlyn Vong
  5. Katelyn McMillan

Women's Traditional Forms

  1. Gabrielle Rudolph
  2. Katelyn McMillan
  3. Kaelyn Kowalski
  4. Kaitlyn Vong
  5. Amber Rutherford

Men's Lightweight Fighting

  1. Bailey Murphy
  2. Enrique Letona
  3. Jack Felton
  4. Tyreeke Saint
  5. Tyson Wray

Men's Heavyweight Fighting

  1. Avery Plowden
  2. Kameren Dawson
  3. Alex Mancillas
  4. Devon Hopper
  5. Kevin Walker

Men's Open Weight Fighting

  1. Kameren Dawson
  2. Bailey Murphy
  3. Jack Felton
  4. Avery Plowden
  5. Alex Mancillas

Women's Fighting

  1. Katarina Herman
  2. KiTana Everett
  3. Morgan Plowden
  4. Jimena Janeiro
  5. Anne-Sara Cayer

Synchronized Weapons

  1. Team Paul Mitchell (Jones/Tremblay)
  2. Team Infinity (Olson/Senty)
  3. Team Premier (Asia/Moros)

Synchronized Forms

  1. Team Paul Mitchell (Holt/Jones)
  2. Team Infinity (DG & Pia Rodriguez-Florez)
  3. Team AKA (Celiz/OBrien/Troia)

Team Demonstration

  1. Team Freestyle
  2. Team Infinity
  3. Team Leclerc
  4. Team Competitive Edge
  5. Florida Sport Martial Arts Academy

Team Fighting

  1. Team Dojo Elite
  2. Top Ten Team USA
  3. Team Straight Up
  4. Team Diamond G3
  5. Team All Stars

Junior Boys' CMX Weapons

  1. Phillip Brumme
  2. Wassim Dridi
  3. Shane Billow
  4. Nolan Grunwald
  5. Cougar Harkins

Junior Boys' Traditional Weapons

  1. Shane Billow
  2. Sterling Keefe
  3. Wassim Dridi
  4. Austin Hladek
  5. Brayden Seitz

Junior Girls' CMX Weapons

  1. Sofia Rodriguez Florez
  2. Isabella Nicoli
  3. Maria Routel-Ferguson
  4. Averi Presley
  5. Ava Becker

Junior Girls' Traditional Weapons

  1. Sofia Rodriguez Florez
  2. Kodi Molina
  3. Logan Goodman
  4. Averi Presley
  5. Isabella Nicoli

Junior Boys' CMX Forms

  1. Phillip Brumme
  2. Wassim Dridi
  3. Shane Billow
  4. Joe Troia
  5. Caysen Junell

Junior Boys' Traditional Forms

  1. Noah Sansait
  2. Shane Billow
  3. Sterling Keefe
  4. Sebastian Villanueva
  5. Christian Elizondo

Junior Girls' CMX Forms

  1. Averi Presley
  2. Isabella Nicoli
  3. Sofia Rodriguez Florez
  4. Alyss Groce
  5. Lilli McGuire

Junior Girls' Traditional Forms

  1. Sofia Rodriguez Florez
  2. Logan Goodman
  3. Isabella Nicoli
  4. Maria Routel-Ferguson
  5. Quinlynn Brooks

Junior Boys' Fighting - Featured Competitors

  • 10-11 Grand Champion: Malachi Randalle
  • 12-13 Grand Champion: Edwin Rivera
  • 14-15 Grand Champion: Jayson Perez
  • 16-17 Grand Champion: Diego Gomez
  • 11 & Under Open Weight: Malachi Randalle
  • 12-14 Open Weight: Luis Rivera
  • 15-17 Open Weight: Sebastian Villanueva

Junior Girls' Fighting - Featured Competitors

  • 10-11 Grand Champion: Aria Martin
  • 12-13 Grand Champion: Collins Howard
  • 14-15 Grand Champion: Sofia Rodriguez Florez
  • 16-17 Grand Champion: Briana Ballou
  • 11 & Under Open Weight: Aria Martin
  • 12-14 Open Weight: Audy Sandrine
  • 15-17 Open Weight: Sofia Rodriguez Florez

Youth Boys' CMX Weapons

  1. Judah Sagawa
  2. Michael Molina
  3. Gavin Dollarhite
  4. Zeke Gomez
  5. Oscar Pecci

Youth Boys' Traditional Weapons

  1. Adomas Rackauskas
  2. Michael Molina
  3. Henry Hawkinson
  4. Malachi Randalle
  5. Kaiden Camacho

Youth Girls' CMX Weapons

  1. Riley Claire Carlisle
  2. Olivia Cano
  3. Savannah Agosto
  4. Madalynn Wiersma
  5. Skai Suarez

Youth Girls' Traditional Weapons

  1. Adelynn Lau
  2. Demi Rodriguez
  3. Olivia Cano
  4. Madalynn Wiersma
  5. Amelia Cikacz

Youth Boys' CMX Forms

  1. Judah Sagawa
  2. Jett Kowalczik
  3. Michael Molina
  4. Oscar Pecci
  5. Gavin Dollarhite

Youth Boys' Traditional Forms

  1. Adomas Rackauskas
  2. Angel Perez
  3. Malachi Randalle
  4. James Fernandez
  5. Kaiden Camacho

Youth Girls' CMX Forms

  1. Madalynn Wiersma
  2. Savannah Agosto
  3. Riley Claire Carlisle
  4. Skai Suarez
  5. Ashley Lopez

Youth Girls' Traditional Forms

  1. Amanda Duarte
  2. Adelynn Lau
  3. Madalynn Wiersma
  4. Gabby Viola
  5. Lia Goto

Senior Men's Forms

  1. Samuel Diaz III
  2. Kevin Kowalczik
  3. Jeff Doss
  4. Andrew Cabilan
  5. Eric Tremblay

Senior Men's Weapons

  1. Samuel Diaz III
  2. Kevin Kowalczik
  3. Jeff Doss
  4. Eric Tremblay
  5. John Kim

Senior Men's Fighting

  1. Santiago Aversso
  2. Pablo Moreno
  3. Yoskar Gamez
  4. Jerell Dawson
  5. Chad Cannon

Senior Women's Forms & Weapons

  1. Casey Marks-Nash
  2. Melanie Strauss
  3. Melanie Cantin
  4. Laura Leclerc
  5. Amy Williams

Senior Women's Fighting

  1. Morgan Plowden
  2. Mouse Millner
  3. Nikki Paris
  4. Casey Marks-Nash
  5. Lauren Marquez

The Defending U.S. Open ISKA World Champions:

Men's Weapons

Jake Presley

Women's Weapons

Haley Glass

Men's CMX Forms

Jake Presley

Women's CMX Forms

Haley Glass

Men's Traditional Forms

Joey Castro

Women's Traditional Forms

Gabrielle Rudolph

Men's Lightweight Fighting

Kevin Walker

Men's Heavyweight Fighting

Avery Plowden

Men's Open Weight Fighting

Avery Plowden

Women's Fighting

Melanie Ortiz

Junior Boys' CMX Weapons

Esteban Tremblay

Junior Girls' CMX Weapons

Averi Presley

Junior Traditional Weapons

Madison Magnotta

Junior Traditional Forms

Sofia Rodriguez Florez

Junior Boys' CMX Forms

Esteban Tremblay

Junior Girls' CMX Forms

Alyss Groce

Youth Boys' Weapons

Dax Howland

Youth Girls' Weapons

Isabella Nicoli

Youth Boys' Forms

Michael Molina

Youth Girls' Forms

Isabella Nicoli

Senior Men's Weapons

Samuel Diaz III

Senior Men's Forms

Joey Castro

Senior Men's Fighting

Yoskar Gamez

Senior Women's Forms & Weapons

Melanie Strauss

Synchronized Weapons

Team Paul Mitchell

Synchronized Forms

DG and Pia

Team Demonstration

Team Competitive Edge

Men's Team Fighting

Team PMF

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