What is Yahara Karate Karatenomichi World Federation (KWF) is a major international traditional Shotokan karate organization that was founded by Mikio Yahara. Yahara was a leading Shotokan karate fighter, kata exponent and instructor in the Japan Karate Association. The organization's stated goal is the pursuit of technical excellence. It attempts to distinguish itself from other organizations by proclaiming a return to the traditional values of the Karate of the 1950s through to the 1980s.

KWF is focused on the development of extremely effective and powerful punches and kicks from low and long stances that are a feature of Shotokan in general, and the development of the hips, back and leg muscles to create the movements necessary to deliver attacks that will severely impair, knock down or injure or kill opponents that is particularly emphasized by Yahara himself.

However, the focus of the philosophy of the KWF is explicit; the target is to train to achieve "Ichigeki Hissatsu" (a single killing punch/kick). This, according to the KWF, is achieved by unleashing the power of the hips, back and inner muscles and ligaments to produce explosive power.

KWF training follows the traditional pattern of kihon, kumite and kata. In kihon, the emphasis is on perfecting the form of each technique, developing the maximum power and speed of individual punches, blocks and kicks. The KWF thinks it is more important to keep the correct form and develop speed and power through body dynamics rather than through repetition.

Kumite is performed traditionally without gloves or padding (although very thin mits are allowed in championships). During jiyu ippon kumite, the attacker is expected to knock his or her opponent down with a single blow, and this is only to be stopped by a very strong block. Jiyu ippon kumite is the norm for brown belts and above. During jiyu kumite, opponents are expected to exercise control at every point as injuring yourself or your opponent is considered symptomatic of poor technique. During championships, the KWF would prefer the victor of a match to win by oi-zuki or oi-geri rather than by an exotic technique. Only a clean strong blow will result in a point being scored and only two of these or one felling blow (an "ippon") will see one competitor win a match.