Rules

組手 KUMITE CLASSIC

MODIFIED WAKO RULES

FORMS/WEAPONS:

*rules are subject to change, please check with center judge for any updates.

RINGS: Matted area for divisions

JUDGES: All divisions have the option to use 3 or 5 judges.

MAXIMUM DEVIATION: (only used with a 3-judge panel) .02 is the maximum deviation permitted from the “middle score.” This eliminates the impact of one judge altering the outcome of the entire division. This theory has been tested and utilized in national and international events.

TIES: Broken by head-to-head comparison scores of each individual judge (treated as votes). The majority of votes (higher individual preliminary scores) will break the tie if possible. If it is a “true tie” (unable to be broken) the competitors will run their form again and judges will point (by show of hands) to the winner.       Running a different form is optional and not mandatory.

PROTESTS: Must be made at the time of the ruling. Protocol is to ask the coordinator/scorekeeper to alert the center referee. If the situation requires further investigation the ruling can be arbitrated.. All decisions by the arbitrator are final.  *Protests can only be made by someone with an official coaches pass.

UNIFORM: All competitors must wear a martial arts uniform with no foul or offensive language.

AGE: Competitors must compete their age as of the tournament date as of the event.

SEQUENCE: Luck of the draw, competitor’s cards will be shuffled.  Pre-registered competitors will be seeded in the bottom half of the bracket.

CLOSED DIVISION: A division is considered closed once the first player bows-in to perform a form or once the first sparring match is started. *Exception: computer-based or staff related errors.

RESTARTS: 1 restart is permitted for under black belt divisions only.  No restarts for black belt divisions *Exception: restart for weapons that break during performance.

SCORING RANGE: 9.90-10 (black belts)  9.80-9.90 (under black belts)

TRADITIONAL: No gymnastics, splits, rolls, or creative interpretations. Any traditional uniform with a tie-over-style top is permitted. Patches and/or logos are a non-factor and permitted. A pure white uniform is NOT required, however the uniform should hold true to the standards of the style. Classical Japanese/Okinawan divisions enforce a maximum 4 kiai rule and based on unaltered kata.

FIRST TIMERS:  First timer divisions are for competitors with little to no tournament experience. The purpose it to build self-confidence.  All competitors win an award.

 

SPARRING (POINT FIGHTING)

Point Fighting will use abbreviated WAKO Rules. This is summary used for UNDER BELTS.  BLACK BELTS fighting at Nationals will be subject to the full WAKO rule set and equipment requirements:  DOWNLOAD

UNIFORM: No exposed jewelry or metal.  No shoes

UNDER BLACK BELT EQUIPMENT: It is MANDATORY for all competitors to provide and wear their own approved sport karate head gear, safety boots, safety gloves, mouth guard, and protective cup (males). Highly recommended but not mandatory: elbow pads, face shields, chest protectors, leg pads, and knee pads.

WEIGH-IN: ALL players competing in a weighted division must weigh-in prior to the division

BYES: All byes are randomly selected by computer-based lottery. Competitors from the same school (not team) will not be matched in the first round if possible. *optional: logic is followed by same country then state.

OUT OF BOUNDS: Out of bounds (exit) is when any part of the body touches outside the mat (tatami).  No points can be scored out of bounds.  Intentional exit or avoiding the fight: 1-point penalty.  A contact exit, force-out, or offensive player who steps out due to momentum is not a penalty.

GROUND FIGHTING: Is not permitted

DOWN BY CONTACT: A player is considered down by contact when any part other than hands/feet are touching the ground [knee, elbow, hip, or backside etc.] after making contact with their opponent. The match is stopped.  No Penalty.

FALLING DOWN: A player is considered “fallen” down if they “intentionally” fall to the ground on their own accord (with or without contact).  1-point penalty by majority judge’s discretion.

SCORING TARGETS: Headgear area, face, torso (front/side) with control, light or moderate contact depending on player’s option, skill level, and division.

POINT TECHNIQUES: All clean martial arts punches, kicks, ridge hands, and back fists that use appropriate contact and form in the designated scoring areas. (Important: a hand or foot that touches the scoring area does not always warrant a point. The technique demonstrate martial arts merit). *This is a subjective matter, similar to  umpires calling balls/strikes in baseball.  Protests cannot be filed on judgement of points. The body backfist is a legal WAKO technique, but you must look at target.

SPREAD: 10-point spread (mercy rule) is in effect.

SCORING: 1-point: hand techniques and body kicks. 2-points: head kicks, jump body kicks.  3-points:  spinning head  elevated (jump). 1-point for sweeps (that causes the other player to go down).  Player with the most total accumulative points after the 2-minute round is the winner. Preliminary tie: Sudden Victory (next point wins).

ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES: Haymaker (swinging/wild punches) with no regard for control, strikes to the groin or throat, uncontrolled, excessive or malicious contact to any area, intentional striking to non-scoring areas (spine, joints, legs etc.), late hits, dropping to the ground to avoid the fight, intentional running out of bounds. LEGAL CONTACT:

• -CONTROL:  No touch/pulled (Halo)……
• -LIGHT: Touch…………………………….
• -MODERATE: Slight penetration………..
• PENALTY CONTACT:
• -UNCONTROLLED:  Beyond legal contact (majority judges discretion)
• -EXCESSIVE: Extreme penetration  (majority judge’s discretion)
• -MALCIOUS: Intentional excessive contact:  Automatic DQ  (majority judge’s discretion).

PENALTIES: 1-point penalty points: (all infractions based on majority of judges) Uncontrolled contact to any area, intentional running out of bounds, intentionally falling (to avoid the fight),  intentional late hits, retaliation hits, unsportsmanlike conduct.

DQ (Disqualification): is based on the majority vote of the judges (*or if the arbitrator is ringside and witnesses the infraction). Malicious contact is automatic disqualification. Incidental excessive contact, accidental contact and/or self-inflicted injuries that may cause swelling or draw blood are subject to discretion of the arbitrator after consultation with judges. Medical staff has the final say if a competitor can continue or not.

INJURY: If a player is unable to continue on his own accord or is advised by medical staff to bow out due to incidental contact, accidental contact or self-inflicted injury then his opponent will advance.  Players will not        advance if they intentionally injure their opponent or use malicious contact.

(1) Ten-second time out is permitted per match. Coaches must stay within a specified coaches box. Only 1 coach per box.  Coaching without a wristband is a penalty. The timeout can only be used during standard match breaks (not during the flow of a match). A coach does not have to be a black belt (parents are permitted to coach with a coaches pass.  Coaches are only allowed on the competition floor when the specific division is being staged or in progress.  No coaches on the floor for forms divisions.

*exception: PA rule allows for Cartwheel kicks.  They are worth 2 points.

✅ More info about TATAMI or “puzzle mat competition”

Age Categories & Divisions  

 

✅ POINT FIGHTING  

A 10 point spread declares the winner

 

WAKO Mandatory Equipment for Point Fighting: *will not enforce at Pittsburgh Power.  This is a development event. 

• Head Guard -similar to top ten – no foam dipped headgear
• Face mask for only 7,8, 9,10, 11, 12-year-olds
• Mouth guard
• Breast protection for female competitors only, optional for younger female cadets divisions
• Approved gloves – similar to Top Ten- no open hand gloves thumb must be attached.
• Hand wraps are optional
• Elbow pads
• Groin protection for make and female
• Shin guards
• Approved foot pads (similar to top ten no foam dipped gear

Uniforms for Point Fighting:

• V neck top- no t-shirts
• Long pants
• Belt is optional

Scoring for Point Fighting, Light Contact and Kick Light:

1️⃣ 1 pt All punches, kick to the body, or foot sweep

2️⃣ 2 pts Kick to head, jumping kick to the body.

3️⃣ 3 pts Jumping kick to head only awarded if kickboxer is still in the air when the technique is landed. *must land (can’t fall to score).

Rules: All competitors must familiarize themselves with the rules for each division.

🚫 WARNINGS 🚫

Only 4 official warnings can be given in the same bout:

• 1^st official warning
• 2^nd official warning – first minus point
• 3^rd official warning – second minus point
• 4^th official warning – disqualification 🤬

Out of bounds are called “Exits” rules: (voluntary exit)

• 1^st exit –  1 minus point
• 2nd exit- 1 minus point
• 3^rd exit- 1 minus point
• 4^th exit-   Disqualification 🤬

No jewelry of any kind is permitted.

Competitors must come to ring with all the required equipment/uniforms ready to compete. If the competitor is not ready to compete they have 2 minutes. After 2 minutes if not ready to compete the competitor will be disqualified. It is the competitor’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with the rules and mandatory gear/uniforms.

 

LINKS

Please visit the following websites to learn more

The official website of WAKO International: https://wako.sport/

The Official website of WAKO USA: https://www.wakousa.org/