event Information

Competition for all all ages and sexes in Kata, Kumite, Weapons Kata, and Chanbara will be held. In addition, there will be team competition for Kata, Kumite and Weapons Kata.

Eligibility
All divisions are open to anyone regardless of citizenship.

Rules
USA Karate Federation Rules and regulations apply. USAKF follows the WUKF Rules except where amended and may use a different referee system to apply those rules. Age and skill divisions follow USAKF rules and regulations for national events.

Equipment Requirements
Competitors are required to bring all their own equipment. Headgear, approved hand pads, mouthpiece and groin guards (male only), red and blue belts are required of all competitors. This will be needed for both kata and kumite competition. We will not require that competitors have both red and blue gloves, etc., however you are encouraged to do so.  Chanbara competitors must bring their own weapon and headgear. Kobudo competitors must bring their own weapons. Please have head gear available in case insurance requires it. Kata will be scored using score cards.

Falsification
Any competitor who falsifies any application or falsifies any information on the application for competition shall be immediately banned from competing in the championships and may be subject to further suspensions or penalties.

Divisions
Age and skill divisions follow the USAKF rules and regulations for national events. Any parents concerned about size differences or about contact in kumite competition should contact us before registering their child. We do stress safety for all our competitors and for children, safety equipment is allowed. Protests over the age or skill divisions or a competitor must be made prior to the start of the championships. USA Karate reserves the right at any time or for any reason to change the age or skill division of a competitor.

Referees
The USA Karate Federation uses only certified and trained referees for its competitions. There will be a 1-day Referee Course Saturday before the championships. Certified referees can re-certify (update).

Probable Catagories (Divisions) for the National Championships 

The below categories may be broken into various sub-categories depending on the entries into the tournament. Such sub-categories could be by age or by beginner, novice, intermediate and advanced. 

Competition Divisions
Kobudo
Chanbara
Iaido
Kumite Ages 6-20 
Kumite Ages 21 and over 
Kumite Ages 35 and over 
Age 6-8 Kata 
Age 9-10 Kata
Age 11-12 Kata
Age 13-14 Kata
Age 15-17 Kata
Age 18-20 Kata
Adult Kata Age 18-35
Adult Kata Age 35 and Over 
For all age groups by style of kata, USAKF will use the below styles - Shotokan, Shitoryu, Kwanmukan, Korean, Chinese and all other. Competitors may only compete in one style of kata. 

Note: If enough youth competitors desire to compete in an additional kata division, we will consider it pending 
  1. Enough competitors of a reasonable age grouping desire to do so, and 
  2. Each competitor pays an additional $10 on the spot for entry into this special additional event.