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Tournament Rules
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2009 LAS VEGAS INTERNATIONAL KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
RULEBOOK
Rev. 8-26-2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
A - Competitors
B - Officials
C - Point Sparring Rules
D - Methods of Penalizing
E - Forms Rules
F
- Self Defense Rules
G
- Judging
A - COMPETITORS
(Back to Menu)
Each competitor must present him/herself to the referee
suitably attired and physically prepared to compete. Jewelry or any object which
the referee feels might endanger either competitor cannot be worn. Finger and
toenails must be properly cut or covered to eliminate any possible chance of
injury to an opponent. It is the competitor's duty to be ready to compete when
called upon to do so. If he/she is not suitably attired or physically prepared
to compete as deemed by the center referee, the competitor may be penalized for
delay of time.
Rank Rule: All competitors must compete at the highest belt
level they have earned in the martial arts. A competitor can never compete in a
division of which he/she has not earned that rank. Once a competitor competes as
a black belt, he/she must always compete as a black belt.
Proof of Age Rule: All competitors must have proof of age.
If there is a legitimate reason to question a competitor's age, he/she must
present a birth certificate, driver's license, passport or other acceptable
documents to probe his/her age. If proof of age cannot be presented, and the
competitor wins a division, his/her award(s) will be held until proof of age is
furnished. Proof of age must be furnished within seven days of the tournament
date.
Uniform: All competitors must wear a sport karate (Kenpo,
kung fu, karate, etc.) (Martial arts t-shirts are acceptable) uniform in a good
state of repair. A competitor with offensive words or artwork on the uniform may
be denied the privilege of participation. The appropriate color belt or sash
must be worn in competition. No shoes are allowed in the sparring division.
Form Uniforms: T-shirts, tank tops and sweatshirts are
allowed in form if they are part of a competitor's official school or if they
list the school's name or logo on the uniform top. Uniforms in the form
divisions are allowed more liberties because form is not one-on-one competition
where the uniform could cause a decisive disadvantage or advantage to a
competitor. Shoes may be worn in form competition if they do not damage or mark
the competition floor.
Responsibilities: It is the competitor's responsibility to
know the rules and to be ready for competition when called to do so. He/she must
be suitably attired, weighed-in, and at the appropriate ring when competition
begins. If the competitor is not at his/her ring to compete when competition
begins, he/she will not be allowed to compete. If a competitor leaves a ring
after the ring competition begins and is not present when his/her name is called
to compete, his/her name will be called three (3) times at ringside. If he/she
is still not present to compete on the third call, he/she will be disqualified.
Required and Recommended Safety Equipment
Appropriate headgear, hand and foot pads, mouthpieces and
groin cups (for male competitors only) are mandatory for all competitors in all
sparring divisions. Each competitor's equipment will be checked to see if it is
safe for use. If it is deemed unsafe, he/she will be asked to change the
equipment before he/she can compete.
1. Hand Pads - a soft padded, surface must cover the
fingers, wrist and any striking surface of the hand. The striking areas such as
the ridge of the hand (ridge hand) side of the hand (chop, hammer fist), back of
the fist (back fist), and knuckles (punch) must be covered with a soft padded
surface.
2. Kicks - A soft padded surface must cover the instep,
sides, toes, ankle and back of the heel of the foot.
3. Head Gear - The front, sides and back of the head must
be covered by a soft padded surface.
4. A properly-fitted mouthpiece is required.
Insufficiently-padded gloves, foot and head gear will not
be allowed. Equipment must be in good state of repaid and must be free of heavy
taping, tears or any other repairs that may cause injury. Equipment with heavy
or too many seams on the striking surfaces is also not allowed. The approval or
denial of the equipment is ultimately determined by the tournament's head rules
arbitrator. Shin, elbow, rib and knee are recommended for additional safety to
all sparring competitors.
B -
OFFICIALS
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Timekeeper
The timekeeper is the appointed helper to keep time. He/she
will start and stop time at the command of the center referee and will inform
the center referee when the two (2) minutes for sparring or the three (3)
minutes for form have expired. In sparring, the timekeeper does not start or
stop a match. His/her only duty is to keep time for the center referee.
Scorekeeper
The scorekeeper is the appointed helper to keep score.
He/she will write down the scores from each judge, eliminate the high and low
scores (if 5 or more judges are being used) and add the remaining scores to
attain a total score. The scorekeeper should check his/her addition a second
time (calculators should be used). In sparring, the scorekeeper will write down
or flip scorecards at the command of the center referee. The scorekeeper should
inform the center referee when a fighter gets the appropriate number of points
to automatically win. It is the scorekeeper's duty to listen very closely to the
center referee and keep score as the referee commands. Any discrepancy or
confusion of the score rests in the hands of the center referee, not the
scorekeeper. The center referee will make the final score decision.
Referee
The (center) referee should be the most experienced
official in the ring and be thoroughly versed on the rules. He/she is in
complete charge of the ring and the match. He/she promotes the safety of the
competitors, enforces the rules and ensures fair play. To this end, he/she
starts and stops the match, awards points, makes penalty decision, administrates
the voting of the other judges, communicates clearly with the scorekeeper and
timekeeper and announces the winner of each match. The referee shall announce in
a loud, clear voice all official decisions, and shall indicate - with voice and
gesture - the competitor affected by the official decision.
Added Powers of
the Referee:
Match starts and ends only with his/her command (not the
command of the timekeeper).
Has final decision on any disputes on score.
Has the power to issue warnings and award penalty points
without a majority decision.
Can overrule a majority call only to issue a warning or
penalty point.
Automatically has power to disqualify a competitor who
receives three (3) penalty points (otherwise, there must be majority vote to
disqualify).
Has power to issue time-outs. A competitor can ask for a
time-out but it is the determination of the referee to issue one.
Judges
The judges call points as they see them. They may be
consulted by the center referee to help in determining penalties or warnings,
although the referee alone has the power to issue them. They will be asked to
vote on disqualification rulings. It is the majority vote of the judges and
referee that determines a scoring point.
Calls an official
may make
When the referee believes there has been a significant
exchange of technique, or when signaled to do so by a corner judge, he/she shall
call out the work, "Stop!" in a loud voice. The referee shall then
return the competitors to their starting marks and address the judges by saying
"Judges Call!" All judges and the center referee cast their vote
simultaneously in the following manner.
Point is scored - If flags are used, a judge raises the
appropriate color flag of the competitor who he/she feels scored the point
No Point scored - A judge crosses his/her flags or wrists
at waist level to indicate that he/she believes no point was scored.
No-See- The judge holds his/her hand over his/her eyes
indicating that he/she could not see whether a point was scored or not.
Clash - With or without flags, a judge makes a motion as
though he/she is hitting both fists together. This means both competitors scored
at the same time, therefore, no point.
Penalty - The judge waves flag color of the offending
competitor in a circular motion. If no flags are being used, the judge waves
hand in a circular motion as he/she points to the offending competitor.
Out - The center referee calls stop when he/she sees a
competitor go out of bounds. If a call is being made and a judge believes the
competitor was out of bounds, he/she taps the flag which represents the
competitor who went out, on the floor. If no flags, he/she points the right hand
at the out of bounds line nearest them.
Disqualification - A disqualification vote is taken
separately from any other vote. When a disqualification vote is asked for, the
center referee will say, "Judges Call!" A judge will then hold the
flag color, or point if no flags are being used, at the competitor he/she thinks
should be disqualified. If he/she does not believe there should be a
disqualification, he/she does not hold up a flag or point to a competitor.
When a judge sees a point he/she should hold up both flags
or hold up one arm if no flags are being used. At the same time, he/she should
yell out the word, "Stop!" in a loud, clear voice to let the referee
know he/she has a call.
Late Call
All officials should make their calls at the same time. If,
in the opinion of the center referee, a corner judge is making a late call
intentionally, the referee can disqualify the call (noise not allowing the
judges to hear the referee and the honest mistake of raising the wrong flag
color should be taken into consideration).
Number of
Officials
In the black belt form elimination rounds, there must be
one referee and four judges. Under black belt form divisions may have only one
referee and two judges. When a shortage of judges exists three may be used in
black belt divisions as well.
Removal of
Officials and Protest
If a competitor feels that an official should be removed
from a form division for a good reason, he/she must file a protest before the
division gets under way. If a competitor feels that an official should be
removed from a sparring division, he/she may file a protest at any time, before
or after the division starts.
The proper way to file a protest is through the tournament
arbitrator. The decision regarding the actual removal of the official is the
arbitrator's decision. The decision is final. If an arbitrator cannot be
immediately found, the competitor should ask the center referee to hold the
division until the arbitrator can be summoned to the ring. All protest shall be
made in an orderly, proper, and sportsmanlike manner.
If a competitor has a protest about anything, he/she should
file the protest with the referee. The referee will summon the arbitrator to the
ring to render a decision on the protest. All protests must be filed
immediately. No protest is allowed after competition has resumed.
Changing of Officials
A sparring official can be changed at any time during a
division once a match has stopped. A form judge cannot be removed until the
division he/she is judging is completed.
The Ring
The size of the fighting and form adult black belt rings
shall be approximately 18' x 18' minimum. The borders of each ring shall be
clearly marked. Staring lines should be marked approximately six feet apart in
the center of each ring. Additionally, each ring should be posted with a ring
number visible to competitors, officials and medical personnel from across the
floor.
Youth black belt and youth under black belt rings can be
approximately 16' x 16' minimum. Adult under black belt rings shall be
approximately 18' x 18' minimum.
C - POINT
SPARRING RULES (Sport
Karate) (Back to Menu)
Weighing-In
It is mandatory for all adult fighting competitors - who
fight in a weighted division - to weigh-in before engaging in competition. Only
one official weigh-in is required. All adult fighting competitors must fight in
their weight division. A competitor cannot fight in a weight division in which
he/she does not make the proper weight. This means a competitor cannot go up to
a heavier weight division or go down to a lower weight division. If the weight
official feels a competitor is trying to weigh heavier by wearing unreasonable
clothes or equipment, he/she will be asked to take off those articles of
clothing before weighing-in. The weight division and/or actual weight in pounds
must be recorded on the competitors competition card.
Late Entries
It is the responsibility of the competitors to be
registered, weighed-in and at his/her ring prior to the time his/her sparring
division starts. Once the first sparring match has started in his/her division,
no other competitors can enter that division.
Order of Competition
Once the final call for competitors of a division has been
made at ringside, the referee and his/her ring personnel will collect the
competitors' cards, tickets, or other proof of entry. Once the cards are mixed
thoroughly and byes - if needed - are drawn, the rest of the cards will be drawn
randomly and the competitors' names will be written on the sparring bracket
sheet.
Length of Match
An elimination match shall last a total of two (2) minutes
running time, unless a competitor earns enough points to be declared the winner
before the two (2) minutes are up. Running time means that the clock continues
to run during point calls, etc., unless the referee calls for a time out. During
unusually long point calls, equipment adjustments, rule clarification, etc., the
referee shall stop the time. If at the end of two minutes the match is tied, the
match will continue into a sudden victory overtime period. The first competitor
to score a point is declared the winner.
All grand championship fighting matches will be a one two
minute round. The competitor with the most points at the end of the round will
be declared the winner.
Point Values and Winner Determination
All legal hand techniques that score will be awarded one
(1) point. All legal kicking techniques above the belt that score will be awarded
two (2) points. All penalty points awarded will be one (1) point value. In the Black Belt
divisions the competitor who earns five (5) points automatically wins. If no
one scores five (5) points by the end of the two minutes, the competitor who is
ahead wins. In the Under belt
divisions, the competitor who earns five (5) points automatically wins. If no
one scores five (5) points by the end of the two minutes, the competitor who is
ahead wins.
In the case of the Grand Championships, matches shall consist of two consecutive two minute rounds, with accumulating points, penalties and fouls.
How Points are Awarded
Scoring points are awarded by a majority vote of the
judges. The majority of judges do not have to agree on the same technique being
scored, only that a point was scored.. See Penalty Points for additional
information on receiving penalty points and scoring points at the same time.
What a Point Is
A point is a controlled legal sport karate technique scored
by a competitor in-bounds that strikes an opponent with the allowable amount of
focused touch contact or focused control to legal target areas. Criteria that
officials use when deciding if a point was scored are:
Was it a legitimate and legal sport karate technique?
Was it delivered with the required focused control or
allowed focused touch contact to a legal target area?
Was the competitor who scored in-bounds?
Had the match been stopped by the referee?
Was either competitor down illegally when the point was
scored?
Was the competitor who scored the point in control and well
balanced?
Was the technique delivered with an amount of
"controlled force" that would have incapacitated the opponent, at
least momentarily, if the technique had not been controlled? (For more
information, see "Judging" section.)
Legal Target Areas: Entire head and face, ribs, chest,
abdomen and kidneys.
Illegal Target Areas: Spine, back of neck, front of neck or
throat, groin, legs, knees and back of the body are all illegal target areas.
Any attacks to these areas could result in a warning and/or penalty points.
Non-Target Areas: Hips, shoulders, buttocks, arms, and feet
are all non-target areas. Points cannot be scored to non-target area. If it is
deemed that a competitor is actually attacking these areas, warning and/or
penalty point may be awarded.
Legal Techniques: Legal techniques are all controlled sport
karate techniques, except those listed as illegal. When determining the legality
of a technique, the official considers if the technique is a legitimate,
controlled sport karate technique that adheres to all other rules governing
sport point karate.
Illegal Techniques: Head butts, hair pulls, bites,
scratches, elbows, knees, eye attacks of any kind, take downs on hard surface
floors, ground fighting on hard surface floors, any stomps or kicks to the head
of a downed opponent, slapping, grabbing for more than one second, uncontrolled
blind techniques, any uncontrolled dangerous techniques that are deemed unsafe
in sport karate. (For more information on legal and illegal techniques, see
"Judging" section.)
A competitor may grab the uniform top of his/her opponent
in an attempt to score. He/she may grip the uniform top for one second, after
which time he/she must release the uniform. Likewise, the uniform pants may be
grabbed. A kick may be trapped or grabbed for one second for purposes of
executing a counterattack to an upright opponent.
Deliberately dropping to the floor
to avoid or evade fighting is not legal. All dropping to the floor deliberately
on a hard surface is not legal. A fighter is down when any part of the body,
other than the feet is touching the floor.
Touch Contact Defined
Light Touch Contact means there is no penetration or
visible movement of the opponent as a result of the technique. Light touch may
be made to all legal target areas.
Moderate Touch Contact means slight penetration or slight
target movement. Moderate touch may be made to all legal target areas except the
head and face.
Excessive Contact is made when an opponent strikes with
force in excess of what is necessary to score a point. Though it is largely a
judgment call, indications that contact has been excessive may be accessed by
the following reactions:
Visible snapping back of a competitor's head from the force
of a blow.
A knockdown of an opponent (not
recklessly charging into a technique or occurring in instances where the fallen
party either fell, slipped, or was off balance).
A knockout of an opponent.
The appearance of severe swelling or bleeding. (Bleeding or other obvious external injury may in itself be
grounds for excessive contact if it is considered the fault of a competitor)
(Bleeding, however, does not necessarily imply excessive contact).
The distortion or injury of the body from the force of a
blow to the body.
Touch Contact Requirements
All adult black belts must make light touch contact to the
face and head (headgear) to score a point, and light or moderate touch contact
to the body to score a point.
Youth black belts and all under
belts cannot make any contact to the face but light touch contact is allowed to
the headgear and light or moderate touch contact to the body to score a point.
Light touch contact is allowed to
all face guards in 17 & under divisions or any adult competitor who chooses
to wear one.
D -
METHODS OF
PENALIZING (Back to Menu)
Warnings and Penalties
One and only one warning is
allowed without penalty for breaking the rules. After the first warning
is given, a penalty point is awarded to the opponent on each and every violation
of the rules. If a competitor receives four warnings (giving 3 penalty point to
his/her opponent) in any one match, he/she is automatically disqualified and
his/her opponent is declared the winner. If the result
of the first rules infraction is considered by the referee to be severe enough,
he/she can omit the first warning and issue a penalty point automatically. In
doing so, the referee is omitting any first warning to the offending competitor.
A penalty point can determine the winner of a match.
Other Penalty Rules
A competitor cannot be penalized
and still receive a point on the same call. A penalty always overrules a point
by the same competitor.
A competitor can receive a point
because his/her opponent was penalized and at the same time receive a point or
points for scoring.
If a competitor is injured and it
is considered that he/she is responsible for his/her own injury, or no fault can
be associated with the injury, the opponent will not be penalized (i.e., ducking
into a knee, butting heads, etc.). In the event a fighter is unable to continue
because of a no-fault foul, his/her opponent will be declared the winner even if
he/she is not ahead at the time of the foul.
If a competitor’s injury was
deemed the responsibility of his/her opponent, the opponent is then
disqualified, even if the injured person cannot continue.
If a competitor scores a point and
immediately proceeds to break the rules, even if it was after the point
technique, the warning for breaking the rules voids the point ( a competitor
cannot receive a point and a warning on the same call).
Causes of Penalizing
This is a partial list of possible causes of penalizing and
may be used as a guideline to
follow.
Attacking illegal and non-target areas.
Using illegal techniques.
Running out of the ring to avoid fighting (not fighting
out).
Falling to the floor to avoid fighting.
Continuing after being ordered to stop (fighting after
break).
Excessive stalling.
Blind, negligent or reckless attacks.
Uncontrolled techniques.
Any unsportsmanlike
behavior from the competitor or his/her coaches, friends, etc.
Any abusive
behavior from the competitor or his/her coach, teammates, family,
friends, etc., such that the referee feels it affects the outcome of the match
or the performance of the officials or other competitors.
Excessive contact.
Not being prepared or ready when it is time to compete.
Disqualification
Disqualification of a competitor requires a majority vote by
all officials, except when a competitor
is automatically disqualified when he/she receives three penalty points.
When a competitor is disqualified, it is proper to notify the tournament's rules
arbitrator. A competitor who bows out or accepts a bow
out of any grand championship match may be disqualified. If so, all awards and rating
points (if awarded) are forfeited. (An exception to this rule is if the
competitor bows out due to a substantiated injury verified by the tournament
medical personnel).
If a competitor's injury was deemed the responsibility of
his/her opponent, the opponent is then disqualified, even if the injured party
cannot continue.
If a competitor scores a point and
immediately proceeds to break the rules, even if it was after the point
technique, the warning for breaking the rules voids the point (a competitor
cannot receive a point and a warning on the same call).
Out-of-Bounds
A competitor is out-of-bounds as soon as he/she does not have at least one foot touching inside or on the
boundary line. Stepping out-of-bounds does not immediately stop the
match. The referee is the only one who can stop the
match. An out-of-bounds competitor may be scored
on by his/her opponent so long as the in-bounds competitor has at least one foot
in bounds and the referee has not signaled to stop. In the event of a jumping
technique, the attacking competitor must land with one foot in-bounds in order
to score.
Non-Competing Penalty
If, in the majority opinion of the
judges and the referee, it is considered that competitors are not making obvious
attempts to fight in the true spirit of competition, both competitors will be
disqualified and all awards and rating points (if awarded) are forfeited.
Wrong Division
If any competitor competes in a division he/she is not
qualified for, because of age, weight, gender or style, he/she will be
disqualified from the form, fighting, or weapon division and all awards and
rating points (if awarded) are forfeited.
Coaching
Never, at any time, can a coach,
friend, team member, etc., enter the ring without the referee's permission
(only the officials, competitors and medical personnel are normally allowed in a
ring).
No abusive, violent, unsportsmanlike or overzealous
coaching allowed.
A coach cannot ask for a time out (only a competitor may
ask for a time out).
As in all sports, coaching is
allowed.
A coach can never, at any time, interfere with the proper
running of the ring or the decisions of the judges.
Penalties for any of the above coaching infractions are
issued by the referee.
E – FORMS RULES (Sport
Karate) (Back to Menu)
Competitor
All competitors must present themselves suitably attired
(as described in competitor section) and ready to compete. They may be divided
into separate divisions based on style, size, gender, belt color, origin of the
form, or age. To enter an adult
form division, a competitor must be 18 years or
older. A competitor must enter the division corresponding to his/her age, sex,
and belt color.
Late Entries and Order of Performance
It is the responsibility of the competitor to be at the
ring prior to the time that the form division starts. Once the division is
organized and the first competitor begins, there will be no additional entries.
If a competitor comes late but the first competitor has not started, he/she can
compete but must compete first and immediately.
Switching the order of performance numbers is not allowed
between competitors. If there is good reason to believe that competitors
switched numbers, he/she will be disqualified.
The order of performance of the grand championship rounds
will also be determined by random draw. If the competitor (s) is not present at
the designed time to draw numbers, he/she will automatically go before the ones
who are present. If only one is not present, he/she will automatically go first.
If more than one are not present, a separate drawing is made by the designated
form coordinator for those not present. They will go in that order before the
competitors who are present.
Time Limit
A competitor must be ready to compete when called upon to
do so. All form competitors have a maximum of three (3)
minutes to present and perform their routine. The time starts once a competitor
enters the ring. If the judge feels the competitor is stalling before
he/she enters the ring, he/she can call for the timekeeper to start the clock. A
competitor whose forms exceed the 3-minute time limit will be disqualified. Competitors in the grand championship runoff or finals will
receive four (4) minutes to present and perform their routine.
Musical Division, American or Open Division
The Musical division is an empty hand form division that
requires music.
The American or Open division is an empty hand form
division that does not allow music.
All of the above divisions do not allow the use of
weaponry.
It is the responsibility of the
competitor to provide his/her own battery-operated music box and his/her music.
If the music box or cassette malfunctions due to no fault of the tournament and
its coordinators, the competitor will be downgraded by the judges (see
"starting a Form Over" rule).
Competition Ring Size
All black belt competitors should be prepared to perform
routines within a 18' x 18' (youth rings ( youth rings may be smaller ). If more
space is available which does not restrict any other rings, spectators, judges,
etc., more space to perform a routine may be allowed by the promoter. But it
should be noted that additional space is a privilege and a competitor cannot
automatically assume it will be made available. Allowing more space will be the
exception, not the rule. Adult under black belt rings should be approximately
18' x 18' minimum and youth rings can be approximately 16' x 16' minimum.
Starting a Form Over
If a competitor starts his/her form over because of a
memory lapse or any other reason due to his/her own negligence, he/she may
perform the form again. The officials will score the competitor as though there
was not a mistake, but the scorekeeper will deduct .50 from the competitor's
total score. A competitor can only start over one (1) time. If a competitor does
not finish on the second try, he/she will be disqualified. If a competitor has
to start over not due to his/her own negligence, he/she may start over without
penalizing. It is important that the referee discuss the penalizing procedure
with the judges and scorekeeper. When a competitor starts over, the clock is
reset and starts over as well.
External Aids
No external aids such as props, weapons, music, etc., can
be used in any division except those divisions where it is permissible. No
external aids can be used that would damage, disrupt or render the competition
area unsafe for the other competitors, spectators or judges.
Weapon Division
The referee should check all weapons for safety. Weapons
are subject to referee's approval (no sharp weapons allowed in the youth
divisions or under belt divisions ).
The referee should make sure all spectators and competitors
are at a safe distance from the performing competitor.
Safety of all competitors, judges, spectators and helpers
should be considered by all involved. Therefore, the competitor's control of
his/her weapon is of utmost importance. If a Black Belt
competitor (adult or youth) unintentionally drops his/her weapon, he/she is
automatically disqualified. Under belts my start their form over if they
drop a weapon with the same deduction as if a form was forgotten and started
over. If a competitor recklessly or carelessly misuses his/her weapon, he/she
may be penalized or disqualified.
If a competitor wins the weapons form division during the
eliminations, he/she must perform with a weapon in the weapon grand championship
round (if a grand championship round is offered).
Grand Championship Form & Weapon Rounds
The grand championship form round
pits the appropriate first place form winners against each other. All
competitors should have an equal opportunity to compete at their best.
Therefore, routines may be altered or changed and music may be used by all
competitors.
The weapons winners must use a weapon in the weapon grand
championship round, but it does not have to be the same weapon used during the
elimination.
A winner of a non-weapon division cannot use a weapon in
the grand championship runoff.
National tournament finals are not all the same. Some may
be filmed for television or have added attractions such as full contact karate,
etc. These differences dictate the structure of each national tournament's
finals. Some grand championship runoffs may be altered to fit into the finals
properly. Luck of the draw for placement will determine the order of both grand
championship elimination round and final grand championship round. Only the
score of the final grand championship round will determine the winner.
Scoring of Form
The officials will each score forms in the range of 9.50 to
10.00. Average is 9.75.
Ties
The first three competitors must perform before any scores
are given (grand championship rounds and divisions with less than 5 competitors
are exceptions to this rule). The high and low scores should always be
eliminated before totaling the scores when five (5) or more judges are involved.
If there is a tie the competitor who received the majority
of the judges' votes (winning scores) will be declared the winner (all judges'
scores are used). If this method still cannot establish a winner the high and
low scores will be added back in. If
still tied the judges will vote on whom they felt had the overall better
performance.
Fairness Rule
If a question arises that is not
covered by this rule book, the arbitrator and/or his/her appointed
representative, may at his/her discretion, overrule, modify or change a
delineated rule if he/she believes that enforcing such a rule would result in an
inherent unfair outcome to a competitor ("Fairness Rule"). However,
the arbitrator and/or his/her appointed representative should overrule, modify
or change a delineated rule only in extreme cases.
F
- SELF DEFENSE RULES (Back to Menu)
3 required techniques - 1 punch, 1 grab and 1 kick - slow, then street speed (you may have the option of adding two more techniques of your choice).
Techniques may be performed with each technique individually at both speeds or all 3 (or five) together slow motion then at street speed,).
Weapons may be used and you may use a weapon that has been disarmed from an attacker.
Time limit is 5 minutes.
You may use one attacker and no more than 5 attackers.
Competitors will be judged on execution, effectiveness, practicality and overall presentation.
Only the individual performing the techniques will be judged.
Competitors may perform all three (or five) techniques simultaneously or each technique one at a time.
Street attackers may be anyone who has paid his/her way into the tournament as a spectator or a competitor. Only the individual being judged is required to pay a competitor's entry fee.
Although props are acceptable, no music is allowed.
G - JUDGING
(Back to Menu)
Sparring
Do's and Don'ts
of Point Calling:
Know and understand the rules in their entirety - Only by
knowing the rules can you make the split second decisions that are required in
point karate judging.
Make all decisions quickly and decisively in a confident
manner - You must be able to stand with conviction on each and every one of your
calls.
Call only what you see clearly, not what you heard or
thought you saw.
Give each Match your full, focused attention - Don't let
yourself be distracted or influenced into making a call by outside forces (i.e.,
other judges, fans, coaches, etc.).
Stay out of the way of the competitors so as not to
interfere with the match.
Point Definition: A point is a controlled, legal sport
karate technique scored by a competitor in-bound which strikes an opponent with
the allowable amount of focused touch contact or focused control to a legal
target area.
Control: Holding back in reverse the amount of force that,
if not restrained or pulled short of full contact, could have incapacitated or
inflicted serious damage to an opponent.
Focused Touch: Light, medium and excessive (see the rule
book definition on touch contact).
Focused Control: No contact is allowed, but the technique
must be focused close enough to the "no touch" target area.
Decisions to be made on each point call:
Was it a legal, legitimate sport karate technique?
Was it focused to a legal target area?
Did it have the required legal touch control or focused
control in the execution of the techniques?
Was the competitor under control with proper balance in the
execution of the technique?
Was the competitor who scored in-bounds?
Had the match been stopped before the technique scored?
Was it a clash (each competitor scoring at the same time)?
Were there any rules violations immediately following the
scoring technique (i.e. a competitor cannot receive a point and a penalty on the
same call)?
Was either competitor on the ground when the point was
scored?
Was the match over before the point was scored?
Calls That Can Be Made: See "Calls and Official may
Make"
Forms and Weapons
Judging Categories: Each form and weapon routine is judged
on execution, presentation and difficulty.
Execution: The act or process of performing (executing) the
techniques of the form or weapon routine. The execution stage of judging is the
most critical and should weigh the most in the judge's final score.
>Elements of Execution: balance, power, speed,
stability, proper technique formation, coordination, flexibility, stamina,
timing, technique skill, etc.
>Presentation: the image or impression of the competitor
as reflected in his/her performance of the form or weapon routine. The
presentation stage is the second most important or critical and should weight
accordingly in the judge's final score.
>Difficulty: the complexity and intricacy of the form or
weapon routine. The difficulty category is the least critical of the three
judging categories, but could become the deciding factor of winning or losing if
a judge feels that two competitors are equally as good in the execution and
presentation categories. Value should never be awarded for difficulty techniques
or forms performed poorly. Difficulty alone, without proper execution, should
always be downgraded.
Elements of Difficulty: Complexity of techniques,
flexibility, balance, versatility of techniques, stamina, length, ambidexterity,
etc.
When judging form and weapon competitors, you are actually
comparing the competitors in the division against each other to arrive at the
best 3 or 4 (8 in national competitions). This requires extreme attentiveness
and memory of details to make an accurate judging decision.
To help you better arrive at correct decision, the
following two procedures are recommended:
First three competitors: Watch the first three competitors
before scoring. The first three competitors will give you a representation of
the division. The rest of the competitors will be scored against these first
three.
Write down your scores and quick reference not regarding
the competitor beside each score. In divisions with a large number of
competitors, it becomes difficult to remember each score that you have awarded.
Remembering each score becomes more difficult when using the hundredths scoring
range. Additionally, writing down your scores solves any disputes that could
arise if the scorekeeper inadvertently wrote down a judge's score incorrectly.
The Use of Music: There may be two uses of music in form
and weapon competition. One is in a division that allows music and the second,
when allowed, is when music is used only to enhance the mood of presentation of
the form (i.e., grand champion runoffs).
Divisions that allow music: The music should be
synchronized with the movement of the form routine. A judge should hear the
beats and rhythm of the music in coordination and synchronization with the
techniques in the form. The music cannot be only background music, but must be
an intrinsic part of the form or weapon routine.
The use of Gymnastic Movements: It is important to keep in
mind when judging form and weapon divisions that we are judging technical skills
as they relate to the value of martial arts. Using gymnastic movements may or
may not have an inherent value to the martial arts. It is the judge’s decision
as to what value the gymnastic movements are to the form and to the martial
arts. If a competitor performs a sub-par gymnastic movement, the movement should
be scored down. If the gymnastic movement is performed well, but is not of value
to the martial arts, the move may be scored down or ignored. If the gymnastic
movement has an inherent value to the martial arts as perceived by the judges,
it should be scored as any other technique (i.e., execution, difficulty,
presentation).
Weapons Division
Judging a weapon division is no different than judging an
empty hand form division except the main emphasis and value to the form is
placed on the competitor's use of the weapon.
Important elements of weapon judging, in addition to
execution, presentation and difficulty, are:
The competitor's control of the weapon. The weapon should
be seen as an extension of the competitor's arms and hands. The absolute control
of the weapon at all times within the routine is essential.
The transition and combination of regular martial arts
techniques with the weapon (ie kicking, blocking, etc.).
The percentage of weaponry movements to non-weaponry
movements: The majority of any weapon form should consist of the use of the
weapon.
Safety: No reckless or careless use of the weapon that
would harm the competitor, another competitor, the judges or spectators.
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