KUMITE COMPETITION AREA
When fights start or resume, the contestants will face each other front and center on the mat. The referee may move throughout the Tatami, including the safety area where the judges sit. In cases where the configuration of Tatami makes it impractical to place the coaches towards the official table, they may instead be placed on each side of the official table.
ATTIRE AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Grade belts cannot be worn during performance. f) The red and blue belts must be about five inches wide and long enough to allow fifteen inches of free space on each side of the knot, but not longer than three-quarters of the length of the thigh. g). The jacket ties that hold the jacket in place must be tied at the start of the bout. If they tear during the match, the competitor does not need to change the jacket. j) The maximum length of the jacket sleeves must not be longer than the crease of the wrist and not shorter than half of the forearm. k) Jacket sleeves cannot be rolled up. l).
The pants must be long enough to cover at least two thirds of the shin and must not come below the ankle. It is the duty of the Match Supervisor to ensure that the Competitors wear the approved equipment before each game or match. In the event that deformities or amputations that do not allow the safe and secure fit of the protective equipment or may represent a risk to the athlete or their opponents, competitive Kumite will not be permitted.
ORGANISATION OF KUMITE COMPETITIONS
One to check the accreditation/passport of the participant and one to record the exact weight on the official weigh-in list. All Coaches and other team representatives must leave the weigh-in room before the start of the official weigh-in. Each competitor must bring their event-issued accreditation card to the weigh-in and present it to the official, who will verify the identity of the competitor.
In team matches, the score for a match that does not take place will then be set to 8-0 in favor of the other team. The winner of each of the eight groups advances to the regular quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. For each pair compared, the criteria should be considered from the beginning of the list.
THE REFEREE PANEL
If one or more officials do not have the required qualification as a judge, they will remain acting judges and will be excluded from the rotation.
DURATION OF BOUT
KIKEN – FAILURE TO APPEAR AT THE TATAMI
STARTING, SUSPENDING AND ENDING OF MATCHES
In accordance with the advice of the Tournament Doctor, the Referee will decide whether the fight should continue. e) When a competitor grabs the opponent and does not immediately execute a technique or throw. f) When one or both competitors fall or are thrown and neither competitor succeeds in immediately applying a scoring technique. g) When both competitors grab or grab each other without immediately succeeding in executing a throw or scoring technique or failing to respond to WAKARETE. h) When both competitors stand chest to chest without immediately attempting a throw or other technique and do not respond to WAKARETE. i) When both competitors get up after a fall or attempted throw and begin to wrestle. j) When a score is declared by two or more judges for the same competitor. k) When, in the opinion of the referee, a foul has been committed – or the situation calls for the fight to be stopped for safety reasons. l) At the request of KANSA or the Tatami Manager.
SCORING
PROHIBITED BEHAVIOUR
WARNINGS & PENALTIES
SHIKKAKU may be enforced when a competitor disobeys the referee's orders, acts maliciously or commits an act that harms the prestige and honor of karate. If they can't, a warning or penalty should be issued regardless of the technique used incorrectly. A short delay in making a judgment allows symptoms of an injury, such as a nosebleed, to develop or reveal any efforts by a competitor to aggravate a minor injury for tactical advantage.
More serious exaggeration, such as stumbling, falling to the ground, standing up and falling again, etc., may directly receive HANSOKU. More serious exaggeration such as stumbling, falling to the ground, standing up and falling again, etc. will directly receive SHIKKAKU. Any simulating an injury from a technique that the judges actually scored as a point will result in a minimum of HANSOKU CHUI.
Holding with both hands is only allowed when grabbing an opponent's leg with a kick for the purpose of executing a kick, and then holding onto the opponent's leg while the other grips the Karateka or the opponent's body to break the fall. If a competitor is injured as a result of a shooting technique, the referee will decide whether a warning or penalty is required. An exception is when the competitor is physically pushed or thrown out of the area by an opponent or is leaving after scoring.
This can be caused by turning one's back to the opponent, attacking without considering the opponent's counterattack, stopping the fight before the referee calls "YAME", knocking down the guard, or repeatedly failing or refusing to block the opponent's attacks. Avoiding fights during the last 15 seconds of the bout (ATO SHIBARAKU) will result, at a minimum, in HANSOKU CHUI and loss of SENSHU. Excessive celebration, political or religious demonstration: contestants are expected to observe the greeting ceremony before and after the bout or match.
Any excessive celebration, such as kneeling etc., political or religious expressions, during or immediately after the fight or match, is prohibited and may be subject to a fine equal to the amount set by the Executive Committee for the protest costs .
INJURIES AND ACCIDENTS IN COMPETITION
In team matches, the referee will announce a tie (HIKIWAKE) unless one of the contestants has SENSHU. Should the situation arise in an extra match to decide a team match, then a vote (HANTEI) will decide the result, unless one of the participants has SENSHU.
CRITERIA FOR DECISION
The referee will then indicate the winner with a hand signal and order (AKA/AO NO KACHI) and with this action will also resolve any tie. The referee will then first show the type of offense and the type of warning or penalty the competitor has taken, then show the sign for SENSHU followed by the cancel sign (TORIMASEN) and at the same time announce "AKA/AO SENSHU TORIMASEN". If the teams have the same number of head-to-head wins, the winning team will be the one with the most points, taking into account wins and losses in the head-to-head.
Each team may nominate one competitor of its team for the purpose of fighting the overtime match, regardless of whether that person has already fought in a previous match between the two teams. HANTEI's score for the overtime match will then determine the score of the team match.
OFFICIAL PROTEST
Their function is to adjudicate on the merits of the protest to initiate action required by the RC and OC to take corrective action to correct any arbitration procedure found to be in violation of the rules. REJECTED", is signed by each member of the Appeals Jury and notifies the protester of the decision.
VIDEO REVIEW REQUEST
If the request is found to be invalid, the coach will lose the right to make a new video request until the end of the match. In the event that due to technical problems (electricity, camera, computer failure, etc.) it is not possible to analyze the video and make a decision, the same procedure is used and the coach keeps the card.
POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICIALS
If the decisions of the referee and/or judges are not in accordance with the Competition Rules, the Match Supervisor will immediately signal by blowing his/her whistle. In the event that the referee does not hear the time-out bell, the score supervisor will blow his whistle, not KANSA.
ADOPTATION OF THESE RULES T0 EVENTS OUTSIDE THE WKF OFFICIAL
THE TERMINOLOGY
GESTURES AND FLAG SIGNALS
When using the two-corner referee system, the corner referees and the referee are all mutually responsible for scoring. In addition to showing points, the corner judges will assist the referee by giving signals for Jogai, excessive contact and skin contact for categories where this is against the rules, but the referee remains autonomous in applying warnings and penalties. In order to be able to cover all three viewing angles, the referee should never be placed on the same side as the two referees.
The Referee can show support and ask for points scored in his/her field of play. In this case, the referee's signals for Yuko, Waza-ari and Ippon are the same as in the normal kumite rules, with the exception that the referee's elbow touches his/her upper body while giving the respective signal. After the Referee receives support, the signals when scoring are the same as for matches under normal rules.
If one referee signals for a point and the other signals for a warning or penalty, the referee will make the final decision by supporting one of the referees. If both judges or one judge and the head judge show different points for the same competitors, the higher one is awarded. In the event that only one referee expresses his opinion and the referee asks for a different opinion, but the referee does not change his opinion, the referee will restart the match without awarding points, warnings or penalties.
The judge cannot contradict the opinion of the two judges showing the points for the same competitor. Only in the case of skin contact or any other warning or penalty can the Referee be asked to reconsider and change their opinion. If both judges signal a point but for a different competitor, the judge will award both points.
Skin contact is defined as touching the target without transferring energy to the head or body.
CATEGORIES, AGE & WEIGHT DIVISIONS
OFFICIAL PROTEST FORM
TWO JUDGE SYSTEM (APPLICABLE TO YOUTH LEAGUE ONLY)
