The present study aimed to propose and assess the physiological responses of a novel graded karate test. Ten male national-level karate athletes (age 26 ± 5 yrs; body mass 69.5 ± 11.6 kg; height 1.70 ± 0.09 m) performed two exercise tests (separated by 2-7 days): 1) a running-based cardiopulmonary exercise test; 2) a graded karate test. The cardiopulmonary exercise test was comprised of an individualized ramp protocol for treadmill running, and the graded karate test was comprised of a sequence of ‘kisami-gyaku-zuki” punching at a fixed frequency of a stationary target that becomes progressively distant. Cardiorespiratory responses, blood lactate concentration, and perceived exertion were measured. A verification phase was also performed in both tests to confirm the maximal physiological outcomes. The graded karate test evoked similar maximal responses to the running protocol: V̇O₂ (57.4 ± 5.1 vs 58.3 ± 3.5 mL·kg^-1·min^-1; p = 0.53), heart rate (192 ± 6 vs 193 ± 10]beats.min^-1; p = 0.62) and blood lactate (14.6 ± 3.4 vs 13.1 ± 3.0 mmol·L^-1; p = 0.14) with a shorter duration (351 ± 71 vs 640 ± 9 s; p < 0.001). Additionally, the graded karate test evoked higher V̇O₂ (72.6 ± 6.5 vs 64.4 ± 4.3 %V̇O_2MAX; p = 0.005) and heart rate (89.4 ± 4.6 vs 77.3 ± 7.2 %HR_MAX p < 0.001) at the ventilatory threshold and a higher heart rate (97.0 ± 2.4 vs 92.9 ± 2.2 %HR_MAX; p = 0.02) at the respiratory compensation point. Incremental and verification phases evoked similar responses in V̇O₂ and minute-ventilation during both tests. This novel displacement-based sport-specific test evoked similar maximal and higher submaximal responses, indicating a superior pathway to assess karate athletes.

• The displacement-based graded karate test (GKT) yielded similar maximal and higher submaximal physiological responses than the ‘gold-standard’ CPET.

• The graded karate test (GKT) provides a more ecologically valid approach to assess the cardiorespiratory conditioning of karate athletes.

• Manipulating the target distance presents itself as a novel strategy that allows for the development of cardiorespiratory fitness combined with the specific ability to sustain propelling power.