Tsuneari Yahiro could have a slice of Australian Olympic history that will never be matched.

The 33-year-old Sydneysider on Friday became the first person to represent Australia in karate at the Olympics, and could well be the last.

Karate is making its Olympic debut at the historic Nippon Budokan in Japan, but has been left off the list of sports for the Paris 2024 Games.

The reality is this may be the only time the sport ever gets to grace the Olympic stage, making it a unique experience for the competitors.

On the floor, Yahiro didn't put up much resistance in the men's kumite 75kg class, losing all four of his contests in the preliminary round to finish bottom of his pool.

He managed an Ippon - a kick to the head of an opponent which earns three points - in his first match-up with Kazakhstan's Nurkanat Azhikanov, but went down 6-3.

He lost his next two contests 5-0 before closing out with another Ippon in an 8-3 defeat to German Noah Bitsch.

The top two from the two pools of five progress to the medal round.