Lee vs Tyson
KUMITE RULES
ARTICLE 1: KUMITE COMPETITION AREA
1. The competition area must be flat and devoid of hazard.
2. The competition area will be a matted square, of a WKF approved type, with sides of eight metres
(measured from the outside) with an additional one metre on all sides as a safety area. There will
be a clear safety area of two metres on each side.
3. Two mats are inverted with the red side turned up in a one meter distance from the mat centre to
form a boundry between the contestants.
4. The Referee will be standing centered between the two mats facing the Competitors at a distance
of one meter from the safety area.
5. Each judge will be seated at the corners on the mat in the safety area. The referee may move
around the entire tatami, including the safety area where the judges are seated. Each judge will be
equipped with a red and a blue flag.
6. The Match Supervisor will be seated just outside the safety area, behind, and to the left or right of
the Referee. He will be equipped with a red flag or sign, and a whistle.
7. The score-supervisor will be seated at the official score table, between the scorekeeper and the
timekeeper.
8. Coaches will be seated outside the safety area, on their respective sides at the side of the tatami
towards the official table. Where the tatami area is elevated, the coaches will be placed outside
the elevated area.
9. The one metre border should be in a different colour from the rest of the matted area.
EXPLANATION:
I. There must be no advertisement hoardings, walls, pillars etc. within one metre of the safety
area's outer perimeter.
II. The mats used should be non-slip where they contact the floor proper but have a low coefficient
of friction on the upper surface. They should not be as thick as Judo mats, since these
impede Karate movement. The Referee must ensure that mat modules do not move apart
during the competition, since gaps cause injuries and constitute a hazard. They must be of
approved WKF design.
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ARTICLE 2: OFFICIAL DRESS
1. Contestants and their coaches must wear the official uniform as herein defined.
2. The Referee Commission may disbar any official or competitor who does not comply with this
regulation.
REFEREES
1. Referees and Judges must wear the official uniform designated by the Referee Commission. This
uniform must be worn at all tournaments and courses.
2. The official uniform will be as follows:
A single breasted navy blue blazer bearing two silver buttons.
A white shirt with short sleeves.
An official tie, worn without tiepin.
Plain light-grey trousers without turn-ups. (Appendix 9).
Plain dark blue or black socks and black slip-on shoes for use on the match area.
Female Referees and Judges may wear a hairclip and religiously mandated headwear of a type
approved by the WKF.
CONTESTANTS
1. Contestants must wear a white karate gi without stripes, piping or personal embroidery. The
national emblem or flag of the country will be worn on the left breast of the jacket and may not
exceed an overall size of 12cm by 8cm (see Appendix 7). Only the original manufacturer’s labels
may be displayed on the gi. In addition, identification issued by the Organising Committee will be
worn on the back. One contestant must wear a red belt and the other a blue belt. The red and blue
belts must be around five centimetres wide and of a length sufficient to allow fifteen centimetres
free on each side of the knot. The belts are to be of plain red and blue colour, without any
personal embroideries or advertising or markings other than the customary label from the
manufacturer.
2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 above, the Executive Committee may authorise the display of
special labels or trademarks of approved sponsors.
3. The jacket, when tightened around the waist with the belt, must be of a minimum length that
covers the hips, but must not be more than three-quarters thigh length. Female competitors may
wear a plain white T-shirt beneath the Karate jacket. Jacket ties must be tied. Jackets without ties
may not be used.
4. The maximum length of the jacket sleeves must be no longer then the bend of the wrist and no
shorter than halfway down the forearm. Jacket sleeves may not be rolled up.
5. The trousers must be long enough to cover at least two thirds of the shin and must not reach
below the anklebone. Trouser legs may not be rolled up.
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6. Contestants must keep their hair clean and cut to a length that does not obstruct smooth bout
conduct. Hachimaki (headband) will not be allowed. Should the Referee consider any contestant's
hair too long and/or unclean, he may disbar the contestant from the bout. Hair slides are
prohibited, as are metal hairgrips. Ribbons, beads and other decorations are prohibited. A discreet
rubber band or pony tail retainer is permitted. Female competitors may use religiously mandated
head-wear of a type approved by the WKF.
7. Female competitors may wear a WKF homologated black plain fabric head scarf covering the
hair, but not the throat area.
8. Contestants must have short fingernails and must not wear metallic or other objects, which might
injure their opponents. The use of metallic teeth braces must be approved by the Referee and the
Official Doctor. The contestant accepts full responsibility for any injury.
9. The following protective equipment is compulsory:
9.1. WKF approved mitts, one contestant wearing red and the other wearing blue.
9.2. Gum shield.
9.3. WKF approved body protection (for all athletes) plus chest protector for female athletes.
9.4. The shin pads approved by the WKF, one contestant wearing red and the other wearing blue.
9.5. The foot protection approved by the WKF, one contestant wearing red and the other wearing
blue.
9.6. [VALID UNTIL 31.12.15 – ELIMINATED FROM 1.1.2016]: Cadets will, in addition to the
above, also wear the WKF approved face mask.
Groin Guards are not mandatory but if worn must be of approved WKF type.
10. Glasses are forbidden. Soft contact lenses can be worn at the contestant's own risk.
11. The wearing of unauthorised apparel, clothing or equipment is forbidden.
12. All protective equipment must be WKF homologated.
13. It is the duty of the Match Supervisor (Kansa) to ensure before each match or bout that the
competitors are wearing the approved equipment. (In the case of Continental Union, International,
or National Federation Championships it should be noted that WKF approved equipment, must be
accepted and cannot be refused).
14. The use of bandages, padding, or supports because of injury must be approved by the Referee on
the advice of the Tournament Doctor.
COACHES
1. Coaches shall at all times during the tournament, wear the official tracksuit of their National
Federation and display their official identification with the exception of the finals of official WKF
events, where male coaches are required to wear a dark suit, shirt and tie - while female coaches
may choose to wear a dress, pantsuit or a combination of jacket and skirt in dark colours Female
coaches may also wear religious headwear approved by the WKF.
EXPLANATION:
I. The contestant must wear a single belt. This will be red for AKA and blue for AO. Belts of
grade should not be worn during the bout.
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II. Gum shields must fit properly.
III. If a contestant comes into the area inappropriately dressed, he or she will not be immediately
disqualified; instead they will be given one minute to remedy matters.
IV. If the Referee Commission agrees, Refereeing Officials may be allowed to remove their
blazers.
ARTICLE 3: ORGANISATION OF KUMITE COMPETITIONS
1. A Karate tournament may comprise Kumite competition 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 age and weight divisions. Weight divisions are divided
ultimately into bouts. The term “bout” also describes the individual Kumite competitions between
opposing pairs of team members.
2. In individual competition no contestant may be replaced by another after the drawing has taken
place,
3. Individual contestants or teams that do not present themselves when called will be disqualified
(KIKEN) from that category. In team matches the score for the bout not taking place will then be
set to 8-0 in favour of the other team.
4. Male teams comprise seven members with five competing in a round. Female teams comprise
four members with three competing in a round.
5. The contestants are all members of the team. There are no fixed reserves.
6. Before each match, a team representative must hand into the official table, an official form
defining the names and fighting order of the competing team members. The participants drawn
from the full team of seven, or four members, and their fighting order, can be changed for each
round provided the new fighting order is notified first, but once notified, it cannot then be
changed until that round is completed.
7. A team will be disqualified if any of its members or its coach changes the team's composition or
fighting order without written notification prior to the round.
8. In team matches where an individual looses on account of receiving Hansoku or Shikkaku, any
score for the disqualified contestant will be set to nil, and a score of 8-0 will be recorded for that
bout in favour of the other team.
EXPLANATION:
I. A “round” is a discrete stage in a competition leading to the eventual identification of
finalists. In an elimination Kumite competition, a round eliminates fifty percent of contestants
within it, counting byes as contestants. In this context, the round can apply equally to a stage
in either primary elimination or repechage. In a matrix, or “round robin” competition, a
round allows all contestants in a pool to fight once.
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II. The use of contestants' names causes problems of pronunciation and identification.
Tournament numbers should be allotted and used.
III. When lining up before a match, a team will present the actual fighters. The unused fighter(s)
and the Coach will not be included and shall sit in an area set aside for them.
IV. In order to compete male teams must present at least three competitors and female teams
must present at least two competitors. A team with less than the required number of
competitors will forfeit the match (Kiken).
V. The fighting order form can be presented by the Coach or a nominated contestant from the
team. If the Coach hands in the form, he must be clearly identifiable as such; otherwise, it
may be rejected. The list must include the name of the country or club the belt colour allotted
to the team for that match and the fighting order of the team members. Both the competitor’s
names and their tournament numbers must be included and the form signed by the coach, or a
nominated person.
VI. Coaches must present their accreditation together with that of their competitor or team to the
official table. The coach must sit in the chair provided and must not interfere with the smooth
running of the match by word or deed.
VII. If, through an error in charting, the wrong contestants compete, then regardless of the
outcome, that bout/match is declared null and void. To reduce such errors the winner of each
bout/match must confirm victory with the control table before leaving the area.
ARTICLE 4: THE REFEREE PANEL
1. The Refereeing Panel for each match shall consist of one Referee (SHUSHIN), four Judges
(FUKUSHIN), and one Match Supervisor (KANSA).
2. The Referee and Judges of a Kumite bout must not have the nationality of either of the
participants.
3. In addition, for facilitating the operation of matches, several timekeepers, caller announcers,
record keepers, and score supervisors shall be appointed.
EXPLANATION:
I. At the start of a Kumite match, the Referee stands on the outside edge of the match area. On
the Referee’s left stand Judges numbers 1 and 2, and on the right stands Judges numbers 3
and 4.
II. After the formal exchange of bows by contestants and the referee panel, the Referee takes a
step back, the Judges and the Referee turn inwards, and all bow together. All then take up
their positions.
III. When changing the Judges, the departing Officials, except the Match Supervisor, take up
position as at the start of the bout or match, bow to each other, and then leave the area
together.
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IV. When individual Judges change, the incoming Judge goes to the outgoing Judge, they bow
together and change positions.
V. In team matches provided that the entire panel holds the required qualification, the positions
of referee and judges may be rotated between each bout.
ARTICLE 5: DURATION OF BOUT
1. Duration of the Kumite bout is defined as three minutes for Senior Male Kumite (both teams and
individuals). Senior Female bouts will be two minutes. Under 21 years is 3 minutes for the Male
category and 2 minutes for the Female category. Cadet and Junior bouts will be two minutes.
2. The timing of the bout starts when the Referee gives the signal to start, and stops each time the
Referee calls “YAME”.
3. The timekeeper shall give signals by a clearly audible gong, or buzzer, indicating “10 seconds to
go” and “time up”. The “time up” signal marks the end of the bout.
4. Competitors are entitled to a period of time between matches, equal to the standard duration time
of the match, for purpose of rest and change of equipment. The only exception hereto is during
repechage where, in the case of change of equipment colour, it is extended to five minutes.
ARTICLE 6: SCORING
1. Scores are as follows:
a) IPPON Three points
b) WAZA-ARI Two points
c) YUKO One point
2. A score is awarded when a technique is performed according to the following criteria to a
scoring area:
a) Good form
b) Sporting attitude
c) Vigorous application
d) Awareness (ZANSHIN)
e) Good timing
f) Correct distance
3. IPPON is awarded for:
a) Jodan kicks.
b) Any scoring technique delivered on a thrown or fallen opponent.
4. WAZA-ARI is awarded for:
a) Chudan kicks.
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5. YUKO is awarded for:
a) Chudan or Jodan Tsuki.
b) Jodan or Chudan Uchi.
6. Attacks are limited to the following areas:
a) Head
b) Face
c) Neck
d) Abdomen
e) Chest
f) Back
g) Side
7. An effective technique delivered at the same time that the end of the bout is signalled, is
considered valid. A technique 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.
8. 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 contestants delivers an effective
technique while still inside the competition area and before the Referee calls “YAME”, the
technique will be scored.
EXPLANATION:
In order to score, a technique must be applied to a scoring area as defined in paragraph 6 above. The
technique must be appropriately controlled with regard to the area being attacked and must satisfy all
six scoring criteria in paragraph 2 above.
VOCABULARY TECHNICAL CRITERIA
Ippon (3 points) is
awarded for:
1. Jodan kicks. Jodan being defined as the face, head and
neck.
2. Any scoring technique which is delivered on an
opponent who has been thrown, has fallen of their own
accord, or is otherwise off their feet.
Waza-Ari (2 points)
is awarded for:
Chudan kicks. Chudan being defined as the abdomen,
chest, back and side.
Yuko (1 point) is
awarded for:
1. Any punch (Tsuki) delivered to any of the seven
scoring areas.
2. Any strike (Uchi) delivered to any of the seven scoring
areas.
I. For reasons of safety, throws where the opponent is grabbed below the waist, thrown without
being held onto, or thrown dangerously, or where the pivot point is above belt level, are
prohibited and will incur a warning or penalty. Exceptions are conventional karate leg
sweeping techniques, which do not require the opponent to be held while executing the sweep
such as de ashi-barai, ko uchi gari, kani waza etc. After a throw has been executed the
Referee will allow the contestant time to immediatly attempt a scoring technique.
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II. When a contestant is thrown according to the rules, slips, falls, or is otherwise off their feet
and is scored upon by the opponent the score will be IPPON.
III. A technique with “Good Form” is said to have characteristics conferring probable
effectiveness within the framework of traditional Karate concepts.
IV. Sporting Attitude is a component of good form and refers to a non-malicious attitude of great
concentration obvious during delivery of the scoring technique.
V. Vigorous Application defines the power and speed of the technique and the palpable will for
it to succeed.
VI. Zanshin is that criterion most often missed when a score is assessed. It is the state of
continued commitment in which the contestant maintains awareness of the opponent's
potentiality to counter-attack. I.e.: He does not turn his face away during delivery of the
technique, and remains facing the opponent afterwards.
VII. Good Timing means delivering a technique when it will have the greatest potential effect.
VIII. Correct Distance similarly means delivering a technique at the precise distance where it will
have the greatest potential effect. Thus if the technique is delivered on an opponent who is
rapidly moving away, the potential effect of that blow is reduced.
IX. Distancing also relates to the point at which the completed technique comes to rest on or
near the target. A punch or kick that comes somewhere between skin touch and 5 centimetres
from the face, head, or neck may be said to have the correct distance. However, Jodan
techniques, which come within 5 centimetres distance of the target and which the opponent
makes no attempt to block or avoid will be scored, provided the technique meets the other
criteria. In Cadet and Junior competition no contact to the head, face, or neck, is allowed
other than a very light touch (previously known as a “skin touch”) for Jodan kicks and the
scoring distance is increased up to 10 centimetres.
X. A worthless technique is a worthless technique —- regardless of where and how it is
delivered. A technique, which is badly deficient in good form, or lacking power, will score
nothing.
XI. Techniques, which land below the belt, may score, as long as they are above the pubic bone.
The neck is a target area and so is the throat. However, no contact to the throat is permitted,
although a score may be awarded for a properly controlled technique, which does not touch.
XII. A technique, which lands upon the shoulder blades, may score. The non-scoring part of the
shoulder is the junction of the upper bone of the arm with the shoulder blades and
collarbones.
XIII. The time-up bell signals the end of scoring possibilities in that bout, even though the Referee
may inadvertently not halt the bout immediately. The time-up bell does not however mean that
penalties cannot be imposed. Penalties can be imposed by the Refereeing Panel up to the
point where the contestants leave that area after the bout's conclusion. Penalties can be
imposed after that, but then only by the Referee Commission or the Disciplinary and Legal
Commission.
XIV. If two contestants hit each other at the exact same time, the scoring criterion of “good
timing” has by definition not been met, and the correct judgement is to not award a point.
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Both contestants may however receive points for their respective scores if they each have two
flags in their favour, and the scores both happen before “yame” – and the time signal.
XV. If a contestant scores with more than one consecutive technique before the bout has been
stopped, the contestant will be awarded the successful scoring technique of the higher point
value, regardless of in which sequence the techniques scored. Example: If a kick followed a
successful punch, the points for the kick would be awarded regardless if the punch scored
first - as the kick has a higher point value.
ARTICLE 7: CRITERIA FOR DECISION
The result of a bout is determined by a contestant obtaining a clear lead of eight points, or at time-up,
having the highest number of points, obtaining a decision (HANTEI), or by a HANSOKU,
SHIKKAKU, or KIKEN, imposed against a contestant.
1. No individual bout can be declared a tie. Only in team competition, when a bout ends with equal
scores, or no scores, will the Referee announce a tie (HIKIWAKE).
2. In individual bouts, if after full time there are no scores, or scores are equal, the decision will be
made by a final vote of the four Judges and the Referee, each casting their vote. A decision in
favour of one or the other competitor is obligatory and is taken on the basis of the following
criteria:
a) The attitude, fighting spirit, and strength demonstrated by the contestants.
b) The superiority of tactics and techniques displayed.
c) Which of the contestants has initiated the majority of the actions.
3. The winning team is the one with the most bout victories. Should the two teams have the same
number of bout victories then the winning team will be the one with the most points, taking both
winning and losing bouts into account. The maximum point’s difference or lead recorded in any
bout will be eight.
4. If the two teams have the same number of bout victories and points, then a deciding bout will be
held. Each team may nominate any one contestant of their team for purpose of fighting the extra
bout, regardless if that person already has fought in a previous bout between the two teams. If the
extra bout does not produce a winner based on superiority on points, the extra bout will be
decided based on HANTEI according to the same procedure as for individual bouts. The result of
the HANTEI for the extra bout will then also determine the result of the team match.
5. In team matches when a team has won sufficient bout victories or scored sufficient points as to be
the established winner then the match is declared over and no further bouts will take place.
6. In instances where both AKA and AO are disqualified in the same match by Hansoku, the
opponents scheduled for the next round will win by bye (and no result is announced), unless the
double disqualification applies to a medal bout, in which case the winner will be declared by
Hantei.
EXPLANATION:
I. When deciding the outcome of a bout by vote (HANTEI) at the end of an inconclusive bout,
the Referee will move to the match area perimeter and call “HANTEI”, followed by a two-
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tone blast of the whistle. The Judges will indicate their opinions by means of their flags and
the Referee will at the same time signal his vote by hand signal. The Referee will then give a
short blast on his whistle, return to his original position and announce the decision and will
then indicate the winner in the normal way.
ARTICLE 8: PROHIBITED BEHAVIOUR
There are two categories of prohibited behaviour, Category 1 and Category 2.
CATEGORY 1
1. Techniques which make excessive contact, having regard to the scoring area attacked, and
techniques which make contact with the throat.
2. Attacks to the arms or legs, groin, joints, or instep.
3. Attacks to the face with open hand techniques.
4. Dangerous or forbidden throwing techniques.
CATEGORY 2
1. Feigning, or exaggerating injury.
2. Exit from the competition area (JOGAI) not caused by the opponent.
3. Self-endangerment by indulging in behaviour, which exposes the contestant to injury by the
opponent, or failing to take adequate measures for self-protection, (MUBOBI).
4. Avoiding combat as a means of preventing the opponent having the opportunity to score.
5. Passivity – not attempting to engage in combat. (Cannot be given after less than the last 10
seconds of the match.)
6. Clinching, wrestling, pushing, or standing chest to chest without attempting a a scoring technique
or takedown.
7. Grabbing the opponent with both hands for any other reasons than executing a takedown upon
catching the opponents kicking leg.
8. Grabbing the opponents arm or karategi with one hand without immediately attempting a scoring
technique or takedown.
9. Techniques, which by their nature, cannot be controlled for the safety of the opponent and
dangerous and uncontrolled attacks.
10. Simulated attacks with the head, knees, or elbows.
11. Talking to, or goading the opponent, failing to obey the orders of the Referee, discourteous
behaviour towards the Refereeing officials, or other breaches of etiquette.
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