Karate (WKF) — Official Rules

WKF karate competition has two disciplines. KUMITE is sparring: two athletes (AKA = red, AO = blue) face off on the tatami and score points with controlled striking techniques. KATA is the solo (or three-person team) performance of a prescribed sequence of defensive and offensive movements against imaginary opponents, judged on technical and athletic quality. Each discipline has its own competition rules; this rulebook covers both editions in force from 1 January 2026.

The competition area for both Kumite and Kata is a WKF-approved matted square with sides of eight metres (measured from the outside), with a 2-metre safety area on every side. There must be a minimum of 2 metres between competition areas. In Kumite the Referee may move around the entire tatami; the four corner Judges are seated at designated positions. In Kata the judging panel sits behind a table facing the centre of the tatami, with AO to the left and AKA to the right.

Competitors wear a white karategi; one athlete is identified by a red belt or marker (AKA) and the other by blue (AO). For Kumite the following protective equipment is compulsory: WKF-approved mitts (one red, one blue), a gum shield, body protector, shin pads and foot protection (red/blue), and a groin guard for males. For athletes under 14, a WKF-approved helmet (headgear) and external body protector are compulsory, and a chest protector is also compulsory for females under 14. Glasses are forbidden; soft contact lenses may be worn at the athlete's own risk. All protective equipment must be WKF-approved.

Kumite bout duration is effective (running) time, stopped each time the Referee calls 'YAME':

• Senior male and female: 3 minutes.
• Under-21 male and female: 2 minutes.
• Cadet and Junior male and female: 1.5 minutes. In tournaments with unlimited entry, elimination bouts may be reduced (3→2 min, 2→1.5 min) if announced before the tournament. The timekeeper signals '15 seconds to go' with one buzzer and 'time up' with two buzzers.

After the bows, the Referee announces 'SHOBU HAJIME!' to start the bout and 'YAME' to stop the clock and action. The clock stops when YAME is called, when two or more judges signal a score, or at full time. The Referee restarts with 'TSUZUKETE HAJIME'. The bout ends when an athlete reaches an 8-point lead, at time-up (highest points wins), by SENSHU, by HANTEI, or by an opponent's HANSOKU, SHIKKAKU or KIKEN. KIKEN is the decision when an athlete fails to appear, is unable to continue, or is withdrawn by the doctor — the opponent wins and any awarded points count as YUKO.

Points are scored by a traditional karate technique delivered with control to a scoring area. The scale is:

• YUKO (1 point) — for TSUKI (straight punch) or UCHI (strike) to a scoring area.
• WAZA-ARI (2 points) — for CHUDAN kicks (kicks to the body).
• IPPON (3 points) — for JODAN kicks (kicks to the head/neck), or any legal technique against an opponent who has any body part other than the feet touching the mat (except HIZA GAMAE, one knee touching while executing). Only the first correct technique of an exchange scores; in an effective combination the highest-scoring technique counts.

The scoring areas are the body above the pelvis up to and including the collarbone (CHUDAN) and the area above the collarbone — head, face, neck and sides of the head (JODAN). To be a valid score a technique must have been potentially effective if not controlled and must satisfy all six criteria: (1) good form, (2) sporting attitude (no intent to injure), (3) vigorous application, (4) awareness (ZANSHIN — not turning away or falling after the technique), (5) good timing, and (6) correct distance. Failing any one criterion voids the score.

CHUDAN techniques may be delivered with controlled impact without causing injury. JODAN techniques score only when stopped within 5 cm of the target for kicks and 2 cm for hand techniques (Seniors), but may be delivered with light 'skin touch' without impact — except the throat, where no contact is allowed. For Cadet and U14, JODAN techniques score when stopped within 10 cm for kicks and 5 cm for hands. 'Skin touch' (touching the target without transferring energy into the head/helmet) is allowed in all age categories. A technique landed exactly as time runs out is valid; with electronic judging it must be signalled within 1.5 seconds.

A bout is decided, in order, by: an athlete obtaining a clear lead of 8 points; at time-up, having the highest number of points; at equal score, the first unopposed point advantage (SENSHU); otherwise a decision by HANTEI; or a HANSOKU, SHIKKAKU or KIKEN imposed on the opponent. Individual elimination bouts cannot end in a tie. In Team and Round-robin bouts a tie (HIKIWAKE) may be declared when scores are equal with no SENSHU and no superiority in IPPON/WAZA-ARI.

SENSHU is awarded to the athlete who achieves the first score on the opponent without the opponent also scoring before the signal. It serves as the tie-breaker at equal score. If both athletes score before the signal, no SENSHU is given and both retain the chance to earn it later. An athlete holding SENSHU forfeits it if, in the last 15 seconds, they receive a warning for avoiding combat (JOGAI, running away, clinching, grabbing, wrestling, pushing or standing chest-to-chest); the Referee then annuls it ('SENSHU TORIMASEN'). SENSHU can also be nullified by a successful video review showing the opponent in fact also scored.

When a bout is tied with no SENSHU, the winner is determined first by the higher number of IPPON, then the higher number of WAZA-ARI. If still equal, the bout is decided by HANTEI — a final majority vote of the four Judges and the Referee (five votes), each judging which athlete showed superiority of tactics and technique. The Referee moves to the area perimeter, calls 'HANTEI' with a whistle blast, the Judges signal their opinions, and the Referee declares the winner.

From 2026 the WKF uses a single, unified list of prohibited behaviours (the former Category 1 / Category 2 split is removed). The prohibited behaviours include: (1) excessive contact for the area attacked, and contact to the throat; (2) attacks to arms, legs, groin, joints or instep; (3) open-hand attacks to the face; (4) techniques after WAKARETE and before TSUZUKETE; (5) dangerous or forbidden throws; (6) feigning or exaggerating injury; (7) JOGAI (exiting the area) not caused by the opponent or a score; (8) MUBOBI (self-endangerment); (9) avoiding combat; (10) passivity; (11) clinching, wrestling, pushing or standing chest-to-chest; (12) grabbing with both hands except to catch a kicking leg; (13) one-hand grabbing without an immediate technique; and (16) kicking a downed opponent lying flat — only hand techniques are allowed against a grounded opponent.

JOGAI is when an athlete's foot or any body part touches the floor outside the area — unless they were physically pushed/thrown out, or are exiting after scoring. From 2026 the exit rules are simplified: an athlete who scores and then exits before 'YAME' receives the score and no JOGAI; an athlete inside the tatami may score on an opponent who is exiting, and that opponent receives no JOGAI. Avoiding combat — time-wasting by constant retreat, holding, clinching or exiting — committed in the last 15 seconds (ATO SHIBARAKU) results in at least HANSOKU-CHUI and loss of SENSHU.

Informal warnings keep the action flowing without stopping the bout. TSUZUKETE urges the athletes to commence activity. WAKARETE orders them to break a clinch and separate without stopping the clock, after which 'TSUZUKETE' resumes action. They do not replace formal warnings; if the athletes do not respond, the Referee proceeds to formal warnings or penalties. TSUZUKETE (unless preceded by WAKARETE) is not used in the last 15 seconds of a bout.

Official warnings and penalties escalate as a single ladder:

• CHUI (warning) — given up to three times for smaller infractions that do not diminish the opponent's chances of winning.
• HANSOKU-CHUI (warning of disqualification) — for more serious infractions that reduce the opponent's chances, or for any further infraction once three CHUI have already been given.
• HANSOKU (disqualification from the bout) — following a very serious infraction, or when HANSOKU-CHUI has already been given. The opponent is declared the winner. Note: from 2026 the older CHUKOKU/KEIKOKU terminology and the Category 1/Category 2 framework are no longer used.

SHIKKAKU is disqualification from the entire tournament, including any later category the offender entered. It may be imposed when an athlete fails to obey the Referee, acts maliciously, loses their temper, or commits an act that harms the prestige and honour of karate — before, during or after the bout. Serious overreaction or feigning of injury may draw SHIKKAKU directly. SHUGO (consultation of the Referee with judges) is obligatory before imposing SHIKKAKU or any time-wasting disqualification. In Team matches a HANSOKU/SHIKKAKU sets the offender's score to zero and the opponent's to 8 points.

Each Kumite bout is officiated by a panel of: one Referee (SHUSHIN), four Judges (FUKUSHIN), one Match Supervisor (KANSA), a Score Supervisor, and — where video review is used — a Video Review Judge. None may share the nationality of either competitor or have any conflict of interest. Supporting officials include a Tatami Manager, Tatami Manager Assistants, a Score/Timekeeper, KANSA Assistants for equipment checks and, where needed, Coach Supervisors. For medal bouts the panel is drawn from a list of 8 officials per tatami, of which 5 form the panel.

Individual Kumite has no in-bout timeouts and no substitutions — the athlete competes the full effective time, with stoppages only for YAME, injury or doctor intervention. Team competitions field a roster (e.g. mixed teams of 3 male and 3 female weight categories) and may change the bout order between rounds within the rules. When an athlete is injured, the Referee halts the bout and calls the doctor. An athlete who wins by the opponent's injury-disqualification may not fight again without the doctor's permission, and no permission is given after loss of consciousness or concussion symptoms.

Video review is required at WKF World Championships, Premier League, Olympic and Youth Olympic Games, Continental Games and World Games, and recommended elsewhere. A Coach initiates it by raising the review card or pressing the dedicated electronic button, signalling that a possible score of their athlete was missed. Where electronic equipment is provided, the Coach requests review for a specific level — YUKO, WAZA-ARI or IPPON (buttons 1, 2 or 3) — and may change the level until the Referee finishes the review signal. A score is awarded only if the Video Review Judge agrees and the athlete's score was valid (before or simultaneous with the opponent's).

The last 6 seconds before the stoppage are always evaluated, with extra time added if needed; the review is first watched at full speed, then slow motion or zoom may be used, and the total review must not exceed 30 seconds. If the request is valid, a red/blue card showing 3 (IPPON), 2 (WAZA-ARI) or 1 (YUKO) is raised and the Referee awards the score; if invalid, the Coach loses the right to request another review for the rest of the bout. The Video Review Judge may not overrule the corner Judges except on SENSHU. If the technique cannot be observed (MIENAI) or there is a technical fault, the Coach retains the card.

A Kata 'match' is the performance of one kata by one athlete or a team of three, judged against an opponent (or opposing team) in head-to-head pairings. The performance is evaluated from the bow that starts the kata to the bow that ends it. Slight variation as taught by the athlete's style (RYU-HA) is permitted. Athletes perform on the same 8×8 m tatami used for Kumite, facing the judging panel; the kata must be announced and the athlete must start facing the Judges.

For team medal matches, after the kata the team performs a BUNKAI — a demonstration of the meaning/application of the kata against opponents — with no bow between the kata and the bunkai, both being part of the same performance. The total time for kata and bunkai combined is 5 minutes; exceeding it causes disqualification. During bunkai, jodan KANI BASAMI (scissor takedown to the neck) is prohibited but a scissor takedown to the body or legs is permitted, and simulating unconsciousness for more than 2 seconds is a foul.

For official WKF competition the panel is seven Judges per round in Round-robin and five Judges in elimination rounds, designated by random selection. One Judge per mat is the Tatami Manager and leads the panel. No Judge may share the nationality of a competitor. If manual judging by flags is used, five Judges are placed (four at the corners, one as Head Judge at the official-table side).

Each Judge internally scores a performance on a scale of 5.0 to 10.0 in 0.1 increments (5.0 = lowest accepted performance, 10.0 = perfect, 0.0 = disqualified). From 2026, these points are no longer totaled or displayed: each Judge instead simply votes for the athlete/team they marked higher, and the winner is decided by the majority of Judges' votes. There are no draws. In Round-robin each win earns 3 victory points; ties in a group are broken by victory points, then the head-to-head result, then the sum of judge votes, then world ranking, then an extra kata.

Judges evaluate both technical and athletic performance against ten elements: stances, techniques, transitional movements, timing/synchronisation, correct breathing, focus (KIME), conformance (consistency of KIHON), strength, speed and balance. For team bunkai the elements are weighted toward application: stances, techniques, transitional movements, timing & distance (MA-AI), control, focus (KIME), conformance to the kata's actual movements, strength, speed and balance. Bunkai in team medal matches is given equal importance to the kata itself.

The Judges must weigh these fouls in their evaluation: announcing the kata before instead of after the bow; minor loss of balance; performing a movement incompletely (e.g. a block not fully executed or punch off target); asynchronous movement (in team kata, not moving in unison); using audible cues to guide tempo; any theatrics (stamping feet, slapping the chest/arms/karategi, inappropriate exhalation) — treated as very serious; incorrect KIAI (it must be short, concentrated and simultaneous with the technique); the belt coming loose off the hips; and time-wasting — including taking more than 35 seconds from announcement to the first move after the bow.

An athlete or team may be disqualified for: not announcing the kata, announcing the wrong kata, or performing a different kata than pre-announced; failing to bow at the start or finish; not starting facing the Judges; a distinct pause or stop in the performance; omitting or adding movements or substantially changing the kata; persistent obvious theatrics; taking a corrective step or falling to recover from a total loss of balance; the belt falling off; exceeding the 5-minute kata-and-bunkai limit; performing JODAN KANI BASAMI (neck scissor) in bunkai; or failing to obey the Chief Judge (SHIKKAKU). SHUGO must be called before any disqualification, and a disqualification is recorded as a 0.0 score.

Kumite is organised by gender, age division and weight category (Team events may be without weight categories). The main age divisions are Cadet, Junior, Under-21 and Senior, with a separate Under-14 category that carries extra protection (mandatory helmet and external body protector). For Mixed Team competition by weight, each team presents 3 male and 3 female weight categories — for Seniors, −67/−75/+75 kg (men) and −55/−61/+61 kg (women). Weigh-in tolerances and procedures are fixed by the rules, with the same tolerance applied to upper and lower limits of a class.

Para-Karate runs Kata categories for athletes with intellectual, visual or physical impairments under adapted rules. For the visually impaired (K10) blindfold class, fairness depends on the blindfold staying in place: if the blindfold moves and reveals one or both eyes, disqualification may result. The 2026 rules also clarify the distinction between a loss of balance and an outright fall for adjudication consistency across Para categories.

If an athlete or coach believes a rule was misapplied during a bout or performance, a formal protest may be lodged with the Appeals Jury through the prescribed procedure, accompanied by the protest fee set by the Executive Committee. Where video review is in use, the Appeals Jury may examine the video recording of the contested situation. A Referee Panel explains its decisions only to the Tatami Manager, Chief Referee or Appeals Jury. Excessive celebration and political or religious demonstrations before, during or after a contest are prohibited and may be fined.