About NSKA
National Sport
Karate Australia
The peak body for sport karate in Australia. Governing competition, developing athletes, and growing our community since [year].
Our Story
A History of Excellence
National Sport Karate Australia (NSKA) was established to provide a unified, professional competition framework for sport karate across Australia. Founded by practitioners who understood both the technical demands of the sport and the need for strong governance, NSKA has grown from a small group of affiliated schools into the nation's peak sanctioning body for sport karate competition.
From our earliest events to today's nationally coordinated tournament calendar, NSKA has remained committed to a single principle — giving every competitor, from first-timer to national champion, access to fair, well-run, and meaningful competition. Our affiliation with the International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) connects Australian competitors to the world stage, providing pathways to international rankings and world championship events.
Today NSKA oversees a growing national circuit of rated events, a structured ranking and seeding system, and a community of thousands of competitors, coaches, officials and affiliated schools across every state and territory. We are proud of what we have built — and committed to continuing to raise the standard of sport karate in Australia.
Governance
Board of Directors
NSKA is governed by a Board of Directors responsible for the strategic direction, financial oversight, and overall governance of the organisation.
Jonathan Gleeson is the Managing Director of the National Sport Karate Association (NSKA) and has been actively involved in martial arts since 1991.
With more than three decades of experience as a competitor, coach, referee, instructor, and administrator, Jonathan is dedicated to the development of martial arts and sport karate throughout Australia. He has trained extensively across a range of disciplines including Karate, Kobudo, Arnis, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Aikido, Kung Fu, and Kendo.
Jonathan has officiated at national and international events for many years, helping shape the standards and professionalism of competition officiating in Australia. His contributions have been recognised through numerous awards, including induction into the ISKA Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Martial Arts Instructor of the Year.
Jonathan has served as Head Coach of the Australian Team to the US Open World Martial Arts Championships in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2025, leading Australian athletes at one of the world's most prestigious martial arts events.
In 2024, Jonathan was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of his service to martial arts and the broader community.
Outside of martial arts, Jonathan is a senior executive in Australia's telecommunications industry, leading technology and operations teams responsible for critical communications infrastructure. He holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Information Technology, bringing extensive leadership, governance, and strategic management experience to the continued growth of NSKA and the Australian sport karate community.
Ian is a highly respected martial arts instructor and administrator with more than 40 years of experience in the industry. Throughout his career he has achieved success as a competitor, coach, and mentor, earning numerous state, national, and international accolades. He has dedicated his life to developing future generations of martial artists and continues to be a driving force in the growth and promotion of martial arts across Australia.
Jen is an experienced martial arts instructor and school operator who has successfully developed and managed martial arts programs in both the United Kingdom and Australia. Drawing on her experience as a competitor, instructor, and business owner, Jen brings valuable leadership and operational expertise to the NSKA board, remaining committed to supporting the growth of martial arts and creating opportunities for athletes, officials, and clubs across Australia.
Bill has dedicated more than 40 years to teaching and promoting martial arts. He is a respected coach, mentor, and community leader whose achievements include induction into the ISKA Martial Arts Hall of Fame and multiple Australian sporting honours. Passionate about using martial arts to positively impact lives, Bill has spent decades helping students build confidence, discipline, and resilience, while championing the role martial arts can play in strengthening individuals and communities.
Kristy has been involved in martial arts since the age of three and has spent a lifetime contributing to the growth and success of the sport. As both a competitor and administrator, she has achieved national level rankings and developed a deep understanding of the martial arts community. Over the years, Kristy has successfully promoted and managed numerous state and national level events, helping provide opportunities for athletes to compete, develop, and succeed.
How We Work
Organisation Structure
NSKA operates as a member-based organisation governed by a Board of Directors. Day-to-day operations are managed by the Managing Director, supported by a small national staff and a network of state representatives and affiliated school operators.
Our tournament circuit is delivered through a combination of NSKA-run national events and affiliate-run sanctioned events. All sanctioned events operate under the NSKA Rules and Competition Framework, ensuring consistency of standards regardless of where in Australia a competitor competes.
Affiliated schools are the foundation of our membership base. Each affiliated school agrees to uphold NSKA's standards of coaching, competition conduct, and member welfare. Schools gain access to the full NSKA competition calendar, ranking system, and member resources.
Join NSKA
Membership
NSKA membership is open to both schools and individual competitors. Becoming a member unlocks access to the full national competition circuit, rankings, and the broader NSKA community.
School Membership
School membership is for dojos, academies and martial arts studios who want to affiliate their students with NSKA competition. As an affiliated school you gain access to:
- Full access to the national sanctioned tournament calendar
- NSKA branding and affiliation recognition
- Access to the NSKA Hub for team management and entries
- Coaching and officials accreditation support
- Direct communication and support from NSKA national staff
- Pathways to international competition through ISKA affiliation
Individual Membership
Individual membership is for competitors who want to register directly with NSKA, whether through an affiliated school or independently. As an individual member you gain:
- Your own NSKA competitor profile and membership number
- Access to enter all sanctioned NSKA events
- A place in the national rankings and season standings
- Access to the NSKA Hub to manage your entries and results
- 10% discount on all tournament entry fees
- Eligibility for national team selection and ISKA world events
- Access to NSKA member resources, news and communications
Proudly Partnered With
Our Partners
The International Sport Karate Association is the world's leading sanctioning body for sport karate. NSKA is the official Australian affiliate of ISKA, giving our competitors access to international rankings and world championship pathways.
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association. Our partnership with IBJJA supports cross-disciplinary development and provides additional competitive pathways for NSKA affiliated athletes.
The United States Breaking Association and World Breaking Association. Our partnership supports the growing breaking discipline within NSKA events and provides pathways to international breaking competition.
VicSport is the peak body for sport and active recreation in Victoria. Our partnership supports the development of karate and martial arts across Victorian communities.
Sport NSW is the voice of sport in New South Wales. Through this partnership NSKA accesses resources and support to grow participation and excellence across NSW.
QSport is the peak body for sport in Queensland. Our partnership strengthens the delivery of quality sport programs and pathways for Queensland-based NSKA members.
Sponsored By
Our Sponsors
Leanne Johnson Photography is the official photography partner of NSKA. Leanne captures the intensity, skill and spirit of our events, providing world-class imagery for competitors, families and media.
Fighttek Sparring Gear is the official equipment partner of NSKA. Providing high-quality, approved sparring equipment to competitors across Australia, Fighttek supports safe and high-performance competition.
Competition System
Ratings, Points, Seeds & Qualification
NSKA uses a structured rating and points system to recognise competitive achievement, determine season standings, and establish seeding for national events.
Event Ratings
Every sanctioned NSKA event is assigned a rating — AAA, AA, A or B — that reflects its status within the national competition calendar. The rating determines how many points are on offer for top finishers, ensuring that results at more prestigious events carry greater weight in the season standings.
National Championships. The highest tier of NSKA competition. AAA-rated events are national championship-level tournaments that carry the most prestige and the highest points allocation. Results at AAA events carry the greatest weight in season standings and qualification rankings.
State Championships. AA-rated events are major state championships. These are high-profile tournaments that attract strong fields and provide significant points towards season standings. AA events are key stepping stones on the path to national qualification.
Normal Competition Season Events. A-rated events form the core of the NSKA competition season. These sanctioned events provide a strong competitive environment and meaningful points accumulation, making them essential inclusions in any competitor's season calendar.
Pre-Season and Development Events. B-rated events are sanctioned pre-season and development competitions. They are ideal for developing competitors and those new to NSKA competition, providing a supported environment to gain experience and begin accumulating season points.
Points Allocation
Points are awarded to the top finishers in each division at every sanctioned event. The points scale follows a powers-of-two structure, meaning first place receives the full event points, second place receives half, third place a quarter, and so on. This structure rewards winning while still recognising every podium finish.
| Place | AAA Event | AA Event | A Event | B Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st 🥇 | 512 | 256 | 128 | 64 |
| 2nd 🥈 | 256 | 128 | 64 | 32 |
| 3rd 🥉 | 128 | 64 | 32 | 16 |
| 4th | 64 | 32 | 16 | 8 |
| 5th | 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 |
| 6th | 16 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 7th | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 8th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Seeding
At major NSKA events, competitors may be seeded into the draw based on their current season standings or historical results. Seeding is designed to ensure the strongest competitors are positioned to meet in the latter stages of competition rather than early rounds. Seeding information for each event is published in the NSKA Hub prior to the draw being finalised.
Qualification
Australian National Championship
NSKA annually conducts an invitation-only National Championship for the purpose of determining Australian Champions and Grand Champions for the calendar year. Selection for this event operates as follows:
- Competitors placing in the Top 10 in any division across A-rated (preliminary) and AA-rated (State Championship) events will be invited to compete.
- Competitors placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd in any division at an AA-rated State Final, State Championship, or State Title event will be invited to compete.
- All previous year Grand Champions will be invited to compete.
- All competitors placing 1st at the prior year's AAA-rated National Championship will be invited to compete.
- International competitors ranked in the top 10 in their home country, or currently ranked as their home country's national champion, may be seeded into the Australian National Championship at NSKA's discretion.
- NSKA reserves the right to allocate wild card entries to any competitor who does not qualify through the above criteria.
- NSKA may at its discretion offer open events at the National Championship. These events will be clearly gazetted and will require no pre-selection criteria.
Australian National Team
NSKA periodically selects a team to compete at internationally recognised world championship events through our ISKA affiliation. Selection criteria for international team events are gazetted a minimum of 12 months prior to the event. The minimum requirement for consideration is having competed at the last AAA-rated National Championship event prior to the international event. Full selection criteria will be published for each international campaign.
Our Commitment
Sport Integrity
NSKA takes its responsibilities as a national sporting body seriously. We are committed to ensuring that our sport is conducted with the highest standards of integrity, safety, and fairness — for competitors of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels.
Our sport integrity framework covers anti-doping, child protection, officials training, fair competition, and the welfare of all members. These are not just policies — they are the values that underpin everything we do.
Anti-Doping
NSKA is committed to clean sport. All sanctioned events operate under WADA-aligned anti-doping principles. Competitors are expected to comply with the National Anti-Doping Policy and may be subject to testing at major events.
Child Protection
The safety of young competitors is our highest priority. All NSKA officials, coaches and volunteers are required to hold current Working With Children clearances. Our Child Safe Policy sets clear standards for behaviour and reporting.
Officials Training
NSKA maintains a structured accreditation pathway for judges, referees and ring officials. All officials must complete approved training and maintain current accreditation to officiate at sanctioned events.
Sport Development
NSKA invests in the long-term development of the sport through coach education, athlete development programs, and support for affiliated schools. We partner with state sporting bodies to ensure resources reach communities across Australia.
Fair Competition
All NSKA events operate under published rules and draw procedures. Disputes are managed through a transparent protest and appeals process. We are committed to ensuring every competitor has a fair and equal opportunity to compete.
Member Welfare
NSKA takes the welfare of all members seriously. We have clear policies covering member conduct, disputes, and the obligations of affiliated schools. A Member Protection Policy is in place to ensure all participants are treated with dignity and respect.
Governance
Policy
NSKA maintains a comprehensive set of rules, regulations, and policies that govern all aspects of competition and membership. These documents set out the standards we expect from all participants — competitors, coaches, officials, and affiliated schools alike.
All NSKA rules and competition policies are maintained in a single location to ensure members always have access to the most current versions. If you have questions about any policy or rule, please contact NSKA directly.
View Rules & Policies