Open Weight Winner Takes All $500.00 To The Champion!
Traditional WKF-Style Kumite is reserved for Black Belt Adult competitors only. The division is open to martial artists from all styles, and the 1st place match will be featued during the night time finals. Past Kumite Classic Champions include AAU, USANKF, and International competitors such as Adam Brozier, DJ Johnson, John Fonseca, Doug Selchan, Pete Daypuck, Keith Weston, Cody Hackman, Chad White, Jose Castro, and Jason Tankson Bourelly.
-Past Kumite Classic Traditional Champions
WKF-STYLE RULES @ A GLANCE
*these rules are only a guideline and are subject to the descretion of the cheif referee and coordinator.
DURATION OF A BOUT
In adult Advanced (WKF) Kumite divisions, the bout shall be three minutes (stop time) for men, and two minutes (stop time) for women, with scoring according to Section 13 of these rules.
The timing of the bout starts when the Referee gives the signal to start and stops each time he/ she calls "Yame". In any Beginner, Novice, or Intermediate division, the Referee Council may determine that "running time" shall be utilized to conduct such divisions.
SCORING
The scores are as follows:
1) SANBON Three Points
2) NIHON Two Points
3) IPPON One Point
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
SANBON is awarded for:
a) Jodan kicks;
b) Throwing or leg sweeping the opponent to the mat followed by a scoring technique.
NIHON is awarded for:
a) Chudan kicks;
b) Deflecting an attack and scoring to the unguarded back of the opponent;
c) Combination hand techniques, the individual components of which each score in their own right;
d) Unbalancing the opponent and scoring;
e) Successfully scoring at the precise moment the opponent attacks.
IPPON is awarded for:
a) Chudan or Jodan Tsuki;
b) Uchi.
The Refereeing Panel must look for Nihons in the first instance and only award an Ippon in the second instance.
Attacks are limited to the following areas:
a) Head
b) Face
c) Neck
d) Abdomen
e) Chest
f) Back
g) Side
A victory over an opponent who has been given a Hansoku or Shikkaku will be worth Kachi.
An effective technique delivered at the same time as the end of a bout is signaled, is considered valid. An attack, even if effective, delivered after an order to suspend or stop the bout shall not be scored any may result in a penalty being imposed on the offender.
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 opponents delivers an effective technique while still inside the competition area and before the Referee calls "Yame", the technique will be scored.
Simultaneous effective scoring techniques delivered by both contestants, the one on the other (Aiuchi) shall not score.
EXPLANATION:
1. Grabbing the opponent and throwing may be attempted only after a genuine attempt at a karate striking technique is made first, or as a counter to an opponent who has attacked and attempted to throw or clinch.
2. For reasons of safety, throws where the opponent is thrown without being held onto, or thrown dangerously, or where the pivot point is above hip 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 two to three seconds in which to attempt a scoring technique.
3. A technique with "Good Form" is said to have characteristics conferring probable effectiveness within the framework of traditional Karate concepts.
4. Sporting Attitude is a component of good form and refers to a non-malicious attitude of great concentration which is obvious during delivery of the scoring technique.
5. Vigorous Application defines the power an speed of the technique and the palpable will for it to succeed; nothing is held back.
6. Awareness (Zanshin) is that criterion most often missed when a score is assessed. It is the state of continued commitment in which the contestant maintains total concentration, observation, and awareness of the opponent’s potentiality to counterattack. He does not turn his face away during delivery of the technique, and remains facing the opponent afterwards, continuing with proper form.
7. Good Timing means delivering a technique when it will have the greatest potential effect.
8. 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.
9. Distancing also relates to the point at which the completed technique comes to rest on or near the target. To score, the technique must have the potential to penetrate deep into the target, so straight arm punches are seen as having a low potential in this respect and must be evaluated accordingly. A punch or kick that comes somewhere between skin touch and 2-3 centimeters from the face, may be said to have the correct distance. However, Jodan punches, which come from a reasonable 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.
10. 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. However, in order to encourage technically difficult techniques, the Referee should lean toward awarding Ippon or Nihon for them, even if there is a slight deficiency in good form; as long as it is only slight. As a simple rule of thumb, techniques which would normally merit an Ippon are scored as Nihon if they are scheduled as "technically difficult". Deflecting an attack and delivering a good technique to any unguarded target area of the opponent’s body can be scored as Nihon - not just attacks to the opponent’s unguarded back.
11. Combination attacks are those sequences of techniques which each individually merit at least an Ippon, occurring in rapid succession.
12. 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.
13. 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 blade and collarbone.
14. The time up bell signals the end of scoring possibilities in that bout, even though the Referee may inadvertently not halt the bout immediately. However, the time up bell does not mean that penalties cannot be imposed. Penalties can be imposed by the Refereeing Panel up to the point where the contestants leave the area after the bout’s conclusion. Penalties can be imposed after that, but only by the Referee Council.
15. True Aiuchis are rare. Not only must two techniques land simultaneously, but both must be valid scoring techniques, each with good form, etc. Two techniques may well land simultaneously, but seldom are both, if indeed either, effective scores. The Referee must not dismiss as Aiuchi, a situation where only one of the simultaneous pair is actually a score. This is not Aiuchi.
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.
EXPLANATION:
1. When scores are unequal, the contestant who completes the bout satisfactorily an Ippon or Nihon ahead of the opponent shall be given the victory.
2. Taking the above criteria into account, when superiority can be established, it is quite in order for one contestant to be given the victory, even when the score situation is equal.
3. When deciding the outcome of a bout by vote (Hantei), the Referee will move to the match area perimeter and call "Hantei", followed by a two-tone blast of the whistle. The Judges will indicate their opinions by means of their flags, and the Referee will at te same time indicate his own vote by raising the arm on the side of the preferred contestant.
4. In the event of a tied Encho-Sen, on returning to his original position, the Referee will place one arm across his chest and raise his bent arm on the side of the preferred choice to show he is using his casting vote. He will then indicate the winner in the normal way.
ARTICLE 8 : PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR
There are two categories of prohibited behavior, Category 1 and Category 2.
ARTICLE 9 : PENALTIES
WARNING (CHUKOKU or ATENAI YONI) : May be imposed for attendant minor infractions, or the first instance of a minor infraction.
KEIKOKU : This is a penalty in which one Ippon (one point) is added to the opponent’s score. Keikoku is imposed for minor infractions for which a warning has previously been given in that bout, or for infractions not sufficiently serious to merit Hansoku-Chui.
HANSOKU-CHUI : This is a penalty in which Nihon (two points) is added to the opponent’s score. Hansoku-Chui is usually imposed for infractions for which a Keikoku has previously been given in that bout, although it may be imposed directly for serious infringements which do not merit Hansoku.
HANSOKU : This is imposed following a very serious infraction, or when Hansoku-Chui has already been given. It results in the disqualification of the contestant. ** In team matches the injured competitor will receive an additional eight points plus the opponent’s score, if that should be higher than their own.
SHIKKAKU: This is a disqualification from the actual tournament, competition, or match. In order to define the limit of Shikkaku, the Referee Council must be consulted. Shikkaku may be invoked when a contestant fails to obey the orders of the Referee, acts maliciously, commits an act which harms the prestige and honor of Karate-Do, or when other actions are considered to violate the rules and spirit of the tournament. ** In team matches, should a team member receive Shikkaku, the opponent will receive an additional eight points plus the opponent’s score, if that should be higher than their own.
-Keith Weston (Canadian Karate Alliance) executes a mawashi geri on Jose Castro (New York)
TRADITIONAL KUMITE SATURDAY
*Above is a youtube sample of WKF-Style of Kumite
