World Kickboxing Association (WKA)

The World Karate Association (also known as the World Karate and Kickboxing Association and the World Kickboxing Association) was one of the two original sanctioning bodies (the PKA, or Professional Karate Association being the other) for professional Karate, which evolved into kickboxing as we know it today.  Conceived in October of 1976 by Howard Hanson, a Shorin Ryu black belt and student of Mike Stone, and Arnold Urquidez, the World Karate Association (WKA) was a non-profit organization governing professional and amateur full contact Karate, with major events promoted throughout the world.