Honoring the Past, Supporting the Future of Sport Karate
For more than four decades, Larry Carnahan has been one of the central figures shaping the world of sport karate. As a competitor, kickboxer, instructor, promoter, and longtime president of the North American Sport Karate Association, Carnahan helped build the structure that modern sport karate competitors and promoters rely on today.
Many people know him as the president of NASKA or the promoter behind the Diamond Nationals, but Carnahan’s influence runs much deeper. His career traces the growth of American martial arts itself—from the early days of karate tournaments in the 1970s to the global sport karate circuit that exists today.
Early Years and Training
Larry Carnahan began training in martial arts in 1967 in Fort Worth, Texas, studying Tae Kwon Do in the lineage of legendary martial arts pioneer Jhoon Rhee.
He earned his black belt in 1970, quickly establishing himself as both a talented competitor and instructor. Early in his career he moved to Washington, D.C. to train and teach at the Jhoon Rhee Institute, one of the most influential martial arts schools in the United States at the time.
While working with Rhee, Carnahan received major recognition for his teaching ability, including:
- Jhoon Rhee Top Instructor Award
- School of Champions Award
These years placed him at the center of the emerging American martial arts movement during a time when the sport was rapidly evolving.
A Top Competitor in the Golden Age of Sport Karate
In the early 1970s, Carnahan was not just teaching—he was also one of the most successful competitors in the country.
Among his competitive accomplishments:
- Member of the Texas Black Belt Competition Team (1970)
- Named “Black Belt Rookie of the Year” by the Southwest Karate Association
- Tournament champion at events such as:
- Battle of Atlanta
- United States Karate Championships (Dallas)
- U.S. Open
In 1975, Karate Illustrated Magazine named Carnahan one of the Top Ten Black Belts in the Nation.
This recognition placed him among the elite fighters of the era.
Kickboxing Pioneer
Carnahan’s competitive career expanded into professional full-contact karate—what would later become known as kickboxing.
Beginning in 1975, he fought professionally and was ranked among the Top 10 lightweight kickboxers in the world by the Professional Karate Association (PKA) from 1976 through 1982.
During the early days of American kickboxing, fighters competed in a brand-new combat sport that blended karate striking with boxing-style ring competition. Carnahan was among the athletes helping define the sport.
He later served as a fight commentator for ESPN’s televised kickboxing events and also worked as a promoter for professional kickboxing cards.
Building National Karate
In 1977, Carnahan moved to Minnesota to work with martial artist John Worley and help grow what would become the National Karate Schools organization.
Together with the Worley family and other partners, Carnahan helped build National Karate into one of the most successful martial arts school systems in the Midwest.
The organization expanded into dozens of schools and produced generations of martial artists, competitors, and instructors.
Carnahan’s commitment to teaching and leadership was later recognized when he was promoted to 10th Degree Black Belt by martial arts pioneer Grandmaster J. Pat Burleson in 2014.
The Diamond Nationals
One of Carnahan’s greatest contributions to the sport karate community is the Diamond National Karate Championships.
First promoted in 1978, the Diamond Nationals quickly grew into one of the most respected tournaments in the world.
The event’s name comes from its signature prize:
black belt grand champions receive a diamond ring.
Over the decades the Diamond Nationals has become a cornerstone of the sport karate circuit and regularly attracts competitors from across the United States and around the world.
Leading NASKA
Carnahan’s greatest legacy may be his leadership of the North American Sport Karate Association.
He was elected president of NASKA in 1988 and held the position for 38 years until February of 2026 when he named his successor.
Under his leadership, NASKA became the largest sport karate sanctioning body in the world, linking major tournaments into a unified circuit and creating a ranking system that allows competitors to measure themselves against the best in the sport.
The NASKA circuit now includes many of the most prestigious tournaments in the industry.n forward, this moment represents both continuity and opportunity for the sport karate community.
A Leader Known for Inclusiveness
What makes Carnahan’s leadership unique is his philosophy about how the sport should operate.
Although he served as president and majority owner of the organization, Carnahan consistently emphasized collaboration among tournament promoters.
Major decisions affecting the circuit were often discussed with promoters and event leaders throughout the sport.
His goal was not to control the circuit—but to bring the community together around a shared structure that allowed tournaments to thrive while maintaining their independence.
That philosophy helped stabilize the open tournament industry and allowed sport karate to grow into a global competitive system.
A Lasting Legacy
Over the past fifty years, Larry Carnahan has influenced nearly every corner of the sport karate world.
He has been:
- A nationally ranked competitor
- A top-10 professional kickboxer
- A successful school owner
- A major tournament promoter
- The longtime president of NASKA
Most importantly, he has been someone deeply invested in the growth of the sport and the people in it.
For generations of competitors, instructors, and promoters, Carnahan helped create the structure that allows sport karate to exist today.
And that legacy will continue long after his time as president comes to a close.
Editor’s Note
This article is part one of a four-part SportMartialArts.com series exploring the legacy of Larry Carnahan, the leadership of Hunter Lyon, and the evolving future of the NASKA sport karate circuit.
