23 Historical Firsts and Milestones in U.S. Karate
Here are the 23 historical firsts and milestones documented by Green’s Karate.
2006 — Brandon Earnshaw
1. First person with autism to qualify for and compete in the U.S. Karate Nationals non-handicap division.
2010 — Katie Dietsche
2. First female with autism to qualify for and compete in the U.S. Karate Nationals non-handicap division.
2012 — Katie Whipple
3. First blind female to qualify for the U.S. Karate Nationals non-handicap division.
4. First blind female to win a medal in the U.S. Karate Nationals non-handicap division.
2012 — Ryan Rogers
5. First person with autism to win a medal in the U.S. Karate Nationals non-handicap division against able-bodied competitors.
6. First person with autism to win a medal in kata in the U.S. Karate Nationals non-handicap division.
7. First person with autism to win a medal in kumite in the U.S. Karate Nationals non-handicap division.
8. First person with autism to officiate at the U.S. Karate National Championships.
9. First person with autism to become a USANKF Kata Judge.
10. First person with autism to become a USANKF Kumite Judge.
2013 — Ryan Rogers
11. First person with autism to win a medal in the Men’s 18–34 Intermediate Kumite Division at the U.S. Karate Nationals non-handicap division.
2015 — Ryan Rogers
12. First person with autism to compete in a non-handicap weapons division at the U.S. Karate Nationals.
13. First person with autism to compete in the Men’s 18–34 Advanced Kata Division. (Shared history).
14. First person with autism to compete in the Men’s 18–34 Advanced Kumite Division.
(Shared history).
2016 — Ryan Rogers
15. First athlete with autism in America named to the U.S. Karate Team.
16. First American with autism to compete in the WKF World Karate Championships.
Linz, Austria — 2016
2017 — Ryan Rogers
17. First American with autism to win a medal in international karate competition — Silver.
PKF Championships — Curaçao, 2017
2019 – Ryan Rogers
Additional International Championship Achievement – Bronze Medal PKF Championships – Panama 2019
Ryan returned to PKF competition in 2019 and earned a bronze medal, a second medal international medal to the silver he won in 2017
2025 — Joel Westbrook
18. First male wheelchair athlete named to the U.S. Karate Team (Para).
19. First male wheelchair athlete from the United States to compete at the WKF Karate World Championships.
Cairo, Egypt — 2025
2026 — Joel Westbrook
20. First male wheelchair athlete to become a USANKF Kata Judge.
21. First male wheelchair athlete to become a USANKF Kumite Judge.
22. First male wheelchair athlete to compete in a PKF event for the United States. (Shared history).
23. First male wheelchair athlete to win a medal at the PKF — Bronze. (Shared history).
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 2026