World Union of Karate Organisation
Kumite and Kata Rules

- Article 1: Competition Area

1. The competition area must be flat and devoid of hazard.
2. The competition area must be a matted square set out as per appendix 4.

- Article 2: Official Dress

1. Contestants and their coaches must wear the official uniform as defined in Appendix 1.
2. Referees and Judges must wear the official uniform as defined in Appendix 1. The chief referee may disbar any official or competitor who does not comply with this regulation.

- Article 3: Organisation of Kumite competitions

1. A Karate tournament may comprise Kumite and/ or kata competition. The Kumite competition may be further divided into the team match and the individual match. The individual match may be further divided into weight divisions. Weight also describes the individual Kumite competitions between opposing pairs of team members.
2. In team matches, each team must have odd number of contestants. The number of contestants can be decided by the agreement of the organizers.
3. The contestants are all members of the team. There are no fixed reserves.
4. Before each match, a team representative must hand into the official table, an official form defining the names and fighting order of the team members. The fighting order can be changed for each round but once notified, it cannot then be changed.
5. A team will be disqualified if any of its members or its coach changes the team’s composition without submitting the written fighting order. Use of reserve constitutes a change in fighting order.
6. In a team match, a participation team will be allowed to participate only when it comprised more than half the prescribed number of members.
7. No contestant may be replaced by another in an individual title match.
8. Individual contestants or teams that do not arrive at the competition venue before the tournament is declared open may be disqualified from participation in that tournament.
9. Should individual contestants or teams that have applied for participation, either fail to attend a match without good reason, or without notifying in advance the match-conducting authorities, quit the match and leave, a disciplinary measure to be applied will be decided upon by the referee council following a recommendation from the chief referee.

- Article 4: The referee Panel

1. The refereeing panel for each match shall consist of one arbitrator (Kansa) one referee (Shushin) and one judge (Fukushin).
2. In addition, for the purpose of facilitating the operation of matches, several time keepers, caller-announcers and record-keepers shall be appointed.

- Article 5: Duration of Bout

1. The normal duration of a bout is in principle, two of three minutes of fighting time. This, however, can be extended to five minutes according to the rules of the tournament.
2. The timing of the bout starts when the referee gives the signal to start and stops each time he calls "Yame".
3. The time-keeper shall give signals by a clearly audible gong, or buzzer indicating "30 seconds to go" or "time's up". The time us signal marks the end of the bout.

- Article 6: Scoring

1. The result of a bout is determined by either contestant scoring 3 Ippons, 6 Waza-ari, or a combination of the two totaling Sanbon, or obtaining a decision, by a Hansoku, Shikkaku, of Kiken imposed against a contestant.
2. It must be noted that an Ippon is worth two Waza-ari.
3. An Ippon is awarded on the basis of the following:
4. A scoring technique counts as an Ippon when it is preformed according to the following criteria to a scoring area:
   • Good form, correct attitude, vigorous application, Zanshin, proper timing and correct distance.
   • An Ippon may also be awarded for techniques deficient in one of the above but which conform to the following Schedule:
     • Jodan Kicks.
     • Successfully scoring at the precise moment the opponent attacks.
     • Deflecting an attack and scoring to the unguarded back of the opponent.
     • Sweeping or throwing followed by a scoring technique.
     • Delivering a combination technique, the individual components of which each is a score in their own right.
   • A Waza-ari is awarded for a technique almost comparable to that needed to score Ippon. The refereeing panel must look for Ippons in the first instance and only award a Waza-ari in the second instance.
   • A victory over an opponent who has been given a Hansoku or Shikkaku will be worth Sanbon (3 full points or Ippons). If a contestant is absent, withdraws, or is withdrawn, the opponent will be credited with a win by Kiken (Sanbon, or 3 Ippons).
   • Attacks are limited to the following areas:
     • Head
     • Face
     • Neck
     • Abdomen
     • Chest
     • Back (but excluding shoulders)
   • An effective technique delivered at the same time at the end of the bout is signaled, is considered valid. An attack even if effective, Delivered after an order to suspend or stop the bout shall not be scored and may result in a penalty being imposed on the offender.
   • No technique, even if technically correct, will be scored if it is delivered when the two contestants are outside the competition area. However, if one of the competitors is outside the competition area and the opponent delivers an effective technique whilst still inside the competition area and before the referee calls "Yame", the technique will be scored.
   • Simultaneous effective scoring techniques delivered by both contestants, the one on the other, shall not score.

- Article 7: Criteria for Decision

1. In the absence of a Sanbon score, of a defeat caused by Kiken, Hansoku, of a Shikkaku during the bout, a decision is taken on the basis of the following considerations:
   • Whether there have been any Ippons or Wazar-ari awarded.
   • The attitude, fighting spirit and strength shown by the contestants.
   • The superiority of tactics and techniques.
   • Where there is no score superiority, then the following procedure will be followed: -
     • If, at the end of a bout, the two contestants have no score, the winning decision shall be given by Hantei.
     • If, at the end of a bout, the two contestants have scored equally, the decisions for that bout shall be a draw ("Hikiwake").
2. A penalty or warning incurred in the bout will be carried forward to the Encho-Sen.
3. The winning team is the one with the most bout victories.
4. If two teams have the same number of victories and scores, a deciding bout must be held between representatives of the two teams. In the event of a continuing tie, there is an extension ("Encho-Sen") and the first contestant to be awarded Ippon or Waz-ari is declared the winner, If the tie persists, each team will select a futher representative and so on, until a decision is obtained.
5. If there is no decision after a bout of an individual match, an extension ("Encho-Sen") will be fought. In the event of a tied "Encho-Sen" in an individual bout, the referee will announce the majority decision of the panel.

- Article 8: Prohibited Behavior

1. The following are forbidden:
   • Techniques that make excessive contact, having no regard to the scoring area attacked.
   • Attacks to the groin, joints, or instep.
   • Attacks to the face with open hand techniques ("Taisho" or "Nukite").
   • Dangerous throws which by their nature preclude or prejudice the opponent’s ability to land with safety.
   • Techniques which by their nature, cannot be controlled for the safety of the opponent,
   • Repeated direct attacks to arms or legs.
   • Repeated exits from the competition area (jogai), or movements, which waste too much time.
   • Purposeless grabbing the opponent, wrestling, or violent pushing.
   • Mubobi
   • Any discourteous behavior, such as provocation and uncalled for remarks. Any competitor, coach or official member of the refereeing panel by word or gesture, etc., can earn the immediate disqualification of the miscreant, or the miscreant’s entire group, or a part therefore, from the tournament.
   • Feigning of injury in order to gain advantage.
2. Control to scoring areas must be reasonable. Techniques which touch the areas may be scored and but those which cause actual injury may not be scored and could incur a penalty for lack of control. In the case of kick techniques, a greater tolerance is allowed, provided that the attack is controlled and the impact does not cause obvious injury.
3. Jogai relates to a situation where a contestant’s foot, of part there of moves outside of the area/ an exception is when the contestant is actually propelled from the area by his opponent.
4. Mubobi relates to a situation where one, or both contestants display a lack of regard for his, or their own safety.
5. In addition to the above, attention is drawn to the coach’s behavior. He shall at all times during the operation of a match, remain in his position and must not by word or deed, interrupt, or cause to be interrupted, the smooth operation of the match. In the event that the coach contravenes this rule, then his competitor, or competitors will be penalized according to the provisions of Article 9 of these rules.

- Article 9: Penalties

1. Every fighter who contravenes the rules shall be warned or penalized. The nature of the penalty will be announced by the referee after the appropriate consultation within the referee panel.
2. Warnings may be imposed for attempted minor infractions of the rules. Warnings may also be imposed for the first instance of any minor infractions.
3. The following scale of penalties shall operate:
   • Keikoku; this is a penalty in which Waz-ari is added to the oppent’s score. Keikoku is imposed for minor infractions for which a warning has previously been given in that bout, or for infractions not sufficiently serious to merit Hansoku-Chui.
   • Hansoku-Chui; this is a penalty in which Ippon is added to the opponents score. Hansolu-chui is usually imposed for major, or for repeating minor infractions for which a Keikoku has previously been given in that bout.
   • Hansoku; this imposed following a very serious infraction. It results in the opponent’s score being raised to Sanbon. Hansoku is also invoked when the number of Hansoku-Chuis and Keikokus imposed raise the opponents score to Sanbon.
4. Shikkaku This is disqualification from the actual tournament, competition, or, match. The opponent’s score is raised to Sanbon. In order to define the limit of shikkaku, the chief referee must be consulted and he may refer the matter to the referee council if he considers futher disciplinary action is merited, Shikkaku may be invoked for the following:
   • When a contestant commits an act, which harms the prestige and honour of karate.
   • When a contestant does not obey the referee’s orders.
   • When a contestant becomes so excited that he jeopardizes the smooth running of the bout.
   • When an action, or actions, of a contestant are considered to be dangerous and deliberately violate the rules concerning prohibited behavior.
   • When a contestant insists upon returning to the contest area against the recommendation of the tournament doctor.
   • When other actions are considered to violate the rules of the tournament.

- Article 10: Injuries and accidents in competition

1. Kiken of forfeiture is the decision given when a contestant or contestants refuse to continue, abandon the bout, or are withdrawn on the order of the referee. The grounds for abandonment may include injury not ascribable to the opponent’s actions.
2. If two contestants injure each other at the same time or are suffering from the effects of previously incurred injury and are declared by the tournament doctor to be unable to continue, the bout is awarded to the fighter who has amassed the most points at that time. If the point’s score is equal, then a decision (Hantei) will be decide the outcome of the bout.
3. An injured contestant who has been declared unfit to fight by the tournament doctor cannot fight again in that competition.
4. An injured contestant who wins a bout through disqualification of the opponent cannot fight again in the competition without the permission from the doctor. If he is injured, he may win a second bout by disqualification but is immediately withdrawn from futher kumite competition in that tournament.
5. When a contestant is injured, the referee shall at once halt the bout and help the injured contestant, at the same time calling the doctor. The doctor is authorized to diagnose and treat injury only. He may also make recommendations for the safety of the injured contestant.

- Article 11: Protest

1. No one may protest personally to the arbitrator, referee or judge, about his or her judgement.
2. If a refereeing procedure appears to contravene these rules, the official representative of the team (usually the coach) or in the case of individual events, the person whose name has been officially put forward as the contestant’s manager, is the only one allowed to make a protest.
3. The protest will take the form of a written report submitted immediately after the bout in which the protest was generated. The sole exception to this is when the protest concerns an administrative malfunction. This should be notified to the arbitrator immediately it is detected.
4. The protest must be submitted to a representative of the referee’s council. In due course the council will review the circumstances leading to the protested decision. Having considered all the facts available, they will produce a report and shall be empowered to take such action as may be called for.

- Article 12: Power and duties of the chief referee, arbitrator, referee and judge

• A - The chief referees powers and duties shall be as follows:
  1. To ensure the correct preparation for each given tournament in consultation with the tournament organizing committee, with regard to competition area arrangement, the provision and deployment of all equipment and necessssary facilities, match operation and supervision, safety precautions, etc.
  2. To decide, in advance, the allocation and appointment of arbitrators, referees and judges and to arrange for the operation of a referees commission to oversee the performance of the refereeing officials.
  3. To nominate substitute officials where such are required. (The composition of a panel of officials may not be changed at the sole discretion of the arbitrator, referee or judge).
  4. To pass the final judgement on matters of a technical mature which may arise during a given match and for which there are no stipulations in the rules.
• B - The Arbitrators powers shall be as follows:
  1. An Arbitrator (‘Kansa’) shall be appointed for each match. He shall oversee the operation of the match and the actions the referee and/ or judge and when requested, he may express his opinion to the referee.
  2. Only when taking part in consultation with the referee and judge or when refereed to for an opinion, shall the arbitrator be entitled to cast a vote.
  3. When the referee and judge consult, the arbitrator, if requested, shall take part. When the arbitrator has an opinion to express, it must be done through the intermediary of the referee who will consequently, summon the judge. This full procedure may, however, be omitted when the referee simply refers to the arbitrator for an opinion.
  4. The power of the arbitrator will include supervision and direction of the timekeeper and record-keeper.
  5. Records kept of the match shall become official record subject to the approval of the arbitrator.
• C - The Referees powers shall be as follows:
  1. The Referee (‘Shushin’) shall have the power to conduct matches (including announcing the start, the suspension, and the end of the match). He has the power: -
  2. To award an Ippon or Waza-Ari.
  3. To explain, if necessary, the basis for giving a judgement.
  4. To impose penalties and issue warnings (before, during, of after a bout).
  5. To obtain the opinions of the judge and arbitrator (when required)
  6. To announce extensions.
  7. The authority of the referee is not confined solely to the competition area but also to the entire immediate perimeter.
  8. The referee shall give all commands and make all announcements.
  9. When the judge signals (by gesture) an effective technique, the referee must consider the judges signal and give a judgment.
• D - The Judges (Fukushin) powers shall be as follows:
  1. To assist the referee
  2. To take part in a consultation with the referee and arbitrator when invited.
  3. To signal an opinion by discreet gestures.
  4. To exercise a right to vote on a decision to be taken.
  5. The judge shall speak only if summoned by the referee.
  6. The judge shall carefully observe the actions of the contestants and signal to the referee an opinion in the following cased: -
  7. When an Ippon or Waza-Ari is observed.
  8. When a contestant appears about to commit, or has committed a prohibited act and/ or technique.
  9. When an injury or illness of a contestant is noticed.
  10. When both or either or the contestants have moved out of the competition area.
  11. In other cases when it is deemed necessary to call the attention of the referee.
  12. The following general points must be noted.
  13. The appointed arbitrator, referees and judges may not occupy other positions during the tournament
  14. All consultations between the referee panel must be kept as brief as possible. Wherever possible, discussions should be strenuously avoided and reliance placed upon the prescribed gestures as given in appendix 3, to communicate views.

- Article 13: Starting, suspending and ending of matches

1. The terms and gestures to be used by the referee and judge in the operation of a match shall be as specified in Appendices 2 and 3.
2. The referee and judge shall take up their prescribed positions and, following an exchange of bows between the contestants, the referee will announce’Shobu Sanbon Hajime’ and the bout will commence.
3. The referee will stop the bout by announcing ‘Yame’ when scoring technique is seen. The referee will order the contestants to take up their original positions.
4. The referee and judge return to their positions and the judge indicates his opinion by means of a gesture. The referee identifies the relevant score, awards Waza-Ari or Ippon and supplements the announcement with the prescribed gesture. The referee then restarts the bout by calling ‘Tsuzukete Hajime’.
5. When a contestant has scored Sanbon during a bout, the referee shall call ‘Yame’ and order the contestants back to their standing lines as he returns to his. The winner is then declared and indicated by the referee raising a hand on the side of the winner and declaring ‘Shiro (Aka) No Kachi’. The bout is ended at this point.
6. When time is up and the scoring situation tied, the referee shall call ‘Yame’ and return to the standing line. The referee asks the judges opinion and an agreement for decision is sought. In the event they disagree, the arbitrator’s opinion will be taken into consideration and the majority decision announced.
7. The referee will award the decision and announce the winner, or give a draw (‘Hikiwake’).
8. In the event of a tied individual bout, the referee will announce ‘encho-sen’ and start the extension with the command ‘Shobu Hajime’.
9. When faced with the following situations, the referee shall announce ‘Yame’ and halt the bout temporarily. The bout will subsequently be restarted.
10. When both or either of the contestants are out of the area (or when the judge signals an exit). The referee will order the two contestants to their initial positions.
11. When the referee orders the contestants to adjust his gear.
12. When the referee notices that a contestant appears to contravene the rules, or when a signal concerning same form the judges is perceived.
13. When there referee notices that a contestant has contravened the rules, or when the referee perceives a signal from the judge regarding same.
14. When the referee considers that one or both of the contestants cannot continue with the bout owing to injuries, illness or other causes. Heeding the tournament doctor’s opinion, the referee will decide whether the bout should be continued.
15. When a contestant seizes his opponent and does not perform an immediate effective technique, the referee will separate them.
16. When one or both contestants fall, or are thrown and no effective technique are immediately forthcoming.
17. If any situations arise which are not covered in these rules, of if there is any doubt concerning their application in a given case, the referee will immediately halt the bout and confer with the arbitrator, judge and the chief referee in order to obtain a consensus of opinion.

If you wish to download the document containing the set of W.U.K.O rules described in the page above, click on either of the two links below.

- Click here to download the uncompressed file (Word DOC format) - 53 KB
- Click here to download the compressed file (WinZIP format) - 14 KB

If you wish to download a more up-to-date set of W.K.F rules, click on the link below.

WKF rules (Adobe PDF format).
- Click here to download the compressed file - wkfrules.zip, 416 KB
This doc has been downloaded from http://www.usankf.org/ and is presented "as is".
If you need the PDF reader to view this file, you can get it for free from the Adobe Acrobat download page.