USA Karate Federation Competition Rules and Regulations For the USA Karate Federation National Championships

The USA Karate Federation follows the WUKF Competition Rules as modified by The USA Karate Federation for the USA Karate Federation’s National Championships for Kumite.

KUMITE RULES

WUKF except where modified. General Items referring to the WUKF as a governing body refer only to the WUKF. Competitions Items referring to Ippon Shobu do not apply for events not having Ippon Shobu. Ippon Shobu will not be at the national championships.

Part 1

Shobu Ippon competition is permitted but will not take place at the National Championships.

Referees may wear either USAKF, WUKF, WKF/USANKF or AAU Karate Referee Uniform. USAKF is preferred. Coaches are permitted at the ringside at USAKF Competitions but may be confined to the warm-up area if they disturb the competition. Helmets (including a face protector) and Chest Protectors are optional. Foot protection is allowed as are shin instep protectors. WUKF, USANKF and USAKF (which includes dipped foam) protective equipment is permitted.

Competitors must bring their own equipment including belts. USAKF uses blue instead of white. Gear need not be color coded.

Part 2

Referees may also compete.

The USAKF will permit various rules for the operation of judging but at its national championships the mirror system shall be used. The Arbitrator/Kansa shall be responsible to keep the official score. Jury Table Judge which we call the Ring Director shall be responsible for the Charting Function and shall see that the timekeeper and announcer each perform the duties correctly. The Ring Director cannot stop a match except for procedural errors. The scorekeeping is the responsibility of the match Kansa.

The referee need not ask the Kansa if the referee and the mirror disagree on a call. If the referee and mirror cannot agree, then it is an ai-uchi. (Note, this requires referee training as the referee must elicit the required information from the mirror to make the correct decision.) The mirror simply conveys information for the referee to make his decision.) Contact to the Head, Face, and Neck shall be considered excessive contact for all divisions under 18 and adult beginner and novice divisions. Headgear and/or facemasks, since not mandatory, will be considered part of the head, face, or neck.

Individual categories of competition are per the USAKF categories for competition as published on the website for the national championships. Matches shall be stop time. For ties, there is a 1 minute encho-sen then a judgment must be made. All Nihon and Sanbon categories will be Sanbon Kumite at the National Championships. In the event of a dual sanction by The USA Karate Federation and the USANKF, the tournament director will dictate whether the rule modifications are those of the USANKF or those of The USA Karate Federation. For the USAKF National Championships the rules of the USAKF will apply.

Other Rules Systems

USA Karate Federation also approves use of other rule systems for its sanctioned competitions other then the WUKF rules at the determination of the tournament promoter. In the event of a dual sanction by The USA Karate Federation and the USA NKF, the tournament director will dictate whether the rule modifications are those of the USA NKF or those of The USA Karate Federation. For the USAKF National Championships the rules of the USAKF will apply.

KATA RULES

Kata Categories will be as announced for the National Championships and will include and exclude different categories.

Ages will be combined in different ways for the National Championships.

There will only be one round of competition in any category unless the USAKF determines enough competitors are present for additional rounds.

General

Please note that all competitors for all divisions - Iaido, Kobudo, Chanbara, and Kumite are required to bring their own equipment. No competitor equipment will be supplied by the USAKF except for colored belts. We do not require the competitor’s equipment color be matched with the belt color worn.

Iaido

Under Black Belt – standing cuts/kata only.

Black Belt, seated cuts/kata only in the finals. All divisions/rounds will be 3 cuts except black belt finals which will be 5 cuts.