Light Contact Karate Kumite Rules:
*WCKO Uses Original WKU and GCO Rules*
1. Kumite Shobu Nihon
Article 1: Types of Match
The types of match shall be as follows:
1) Individual Match:
The individual Match is decided by “Shobu Nihon”.
“Shobu Nihon”, two point match is a match where the participants try to score 2 full or 4
half points before their opponent within the time limit.
Starting, suspending and ending of matches
Duration of a match
Adults Male: 2 minutes (effective time)
Adults Female: 2 minutes (effective time)
Kids/Juniors (male/female): 2 minutes (effective time)
Before the tournament the W.K.A. Executive Board can modify the duration of the
matches.
Victory or defeat
Victory or defeat shall be awarded on the basis of 2 Ippon or 4 Wazari victory by
decision, defeat due to a foul, disqualification or retirement.
Scoring Areas
The scoring areas shall be limited to the following: Head, Face, Neck, Abdomen, Chest,
Side, Back (excluding shoulders)
Equipment
All-protectors must be made of a soft material inside and covered with white blue or red
cloth. Hard plastic is forbidden. Maximum thickness is 2cm.
Hand-Protectors
Foot Protectors
Shin-Protectors have to cover only the shin and not the knee or ankle
Gumshields: – must be worn by all competitors of all ages
Groin-Protectors: – Groin-protectors must be made of plastic or leather. Metallic
material is not allowed. Must be worn by all male competitors of all ages
Breast-Protectors: must be worn by all female competitors of all ages
Can be worn:
Head Prtector with Plexiclass Face-Shild can beworn instead of a Gumshild
Body Protector
Criteria for deciding Ippon and Waza-ari
An Ippon is awarded on the basis of the following requirements: When an exact and
powerful technique, which is recognised as decisive, is delivered to the recognised
scoring areas under the following conditions: Good form, good attitude, strong vigour,
zanshin, proper timing, correct distancing.
Effective techniques delivered under the following conditions shall be considered as an
Ippon:
a) When an attack is delivered with perfect timing and the opponent started to move towards the attacker.
b) When an attack is delivered immediately the opponent was unbalanced by the attacker. A Waza-ari is awarded for a technique almost comparable to that needed to score Ippon. The refereeing panel must look for Ippon in the first instance and only award a Waza-ari in the second instance.
Criteria for decision (Hantei)
In the absence of Ippon, or defeat due to disqualification (Hansoku) or retirement
(Kiken), during the prescribed time of match, a decision (Hantei) is taken on the basis of
the following considerations:
Whether there have been Waza-ari.
Whether there have been warnings.
The number of escapes outside the match area.
The comparative excellence in the fighting attitude.
The ability and skill.
The degree of the vigour and fighting spirit.
The number of attacking moves.
The comparative excellence in the strategy used.
Fair play.
Prohibited acts and techniques
The following acts and techniques are prohibited:
1) Uncontrolled attacks
2) Techniques which make excessive contact, having regard to the scoring area attacked.
3) Attacks to the upper and lower limbs.
4) Open hand techniques to the face, Empi Uchi, Hiza Geri and Atama Uchi.
5) Attacks to the groin.
6) Attacks to the hip joint, to the knee joints, the insteps and the shins.
7) Grabbing (unless immediately followed up by a technique), clinching or bodily contacting against the opponent unnecessarily.
8) Dangerous throws.
9) Time wasting.
10) Any unsporting behaviour such as verbal abuse, provocation or needless utterances.
11) Any behaviour likely to bring karate into disrepute (this includes Coaches, Managers and anybody connected with the Contestant.
12) Lack of regard for the contestant’s own safety (Mubobi).
13) Any disrespectful and unnecessary actions are strictly forbidden.
14) Exaggerated actions and reactions (i.e. faking injury) are forbidden and will be penalised.
Penalties and disqualification
When a contestant is about to, or has already committed a prohibited act, the Referee shall issue warning or announce a penalty. Warnings and penalties are the following:-
a) Private warning: Atenai (without a penalty).
b) Official warning: Chui.
c) Disqualification: Hansoku.
Terminology:
Term meaning method of signalling
Shobu Nihon
Hajime – Start the match. The referee stands on the official line.
Yame – Temporary halt of match. The referee chops downwards with one hand. The
timekeeper stops the clock.
Torimasen – Not acceptable as scoring as Hikiwake.
Atenai – Private warning. The referee raises one hand in a fist covered by the other hand at chest level and displays it to the offender.
Chui – Official warning. The referee points with the index finger to the feet of the offender at an angle of 45 degrees.
Hansoku – Foul/Disqualification. The referee points with the index finger to the face of the offender and announces a victory for the opponent.
Jogai – Exit from fighting area. The referee points the index finger at a 45 degree angle.
Mubobi – Warning for lack of regard for the Referee. Points one index finger in the air at a 60 degree angle.
Shikkaku – Disqualification from the the referee points tournament first with the index finger to the offenders face, then obliquely above and to the rear, outside the area.
