Tournament Regulations

Regulations

The Organizer of the tournament cannot be held responsible for any injury to competitors, spectators or other participants howsoever caused. Participants are responsible for having their own appropriate insurance cover.

The competition will be held according to WKF rules but with the following Kofukan International variations.

Kumite

Overall

Minimum grade for Under 16s Kumite: Yellow belt.
WKF scoring rules will be followed for all the groups in terms of contact, penalties and scoring. (8 points)
Delegates agreed at the meeting in 2011 that in Children’s Kumite the first competitor to gain 6 points will
be the winner.
ALL TEAM CONTESTS ARE OPEN WEIGHT AND HEIGHT, SO COACHES MUST ASSURE THAT THEIR ATHLETES CAN TOLERATE THE POTENTIAL DIFFERENCES.

Duration of bouts

Under 14 years Kumite : 1.5 mins
14 & 15 years Kumite : 2 mins
16 & 17s Kumite : 2 mins
Senior Kyu Grade Kumite – Female: 2 mins
Senior Kyu Grade Kumite – Male: 2 mins
Senior Elite Kumite – Female: 3 mins
Senior Elite Kumite – Male: 3 mins
16/17 Team Kumite – Female: 2 mins (per bout)
16/17 Team Kumite – Male: 2 mins (per bout)
Senior Team Kumite – Female: 3 mins (per bout)
Senior Team Kumite – Male: 3 mins (per bout)

Kata

Using Kofukan Association rules as below

Under 16 years Kata

In individual categories: any kata allowed, but the competitor must perform a different kata in the bronze final and the final, than they performed in the previous round.
In team kata: free choice of kata, and the team can perform the same kata throughout the competition. No bunkai required.

16 years+ Kata

Senior (over 18 years) Kyu Grade Kata:

choice from katas in the Kofukan grading syllabus as per the Kyu Grade list.
All judged by flag system regardless of the number of entries.
The competitor must perform a different kata in the bronze final and the final, than they performed in the previous round.

Junior (16/17 Year) & Senior (over 18 years) Elite Kata:

Katas as per the Elite lists A, B & C

Individual Senior & Junior Elite Kata:

If there are more than 8 participants in a category, 2 preliminary rounds using the points system will take place to determine the top 8 competitors.
In this case, all participants in the category will perform one Itosu kata (list A) and one Higaonna kata (list B), though not necessarily in that order.
The highest scoring 8 competitors will go through to the following knock-out rounds using the flag system.
If there are 8 participants or less in a category, they will go directly to the knock-out rounds using the flag system.
In the knock-out rounds any kata from Elite list A, B or C can be performed.
No kata to be repeated within the first 5 rounds.

Senior Team Kata:

Teams are required to perform a minimum of 2 different katas from list A, B or C below, ie a different kata in the bronze final and the final than they performed in the previous round.
NO BUNKAI REQUIRED

Kata List

These are the kata allowed at the tournament.

Under 16 Years Kata List

Shiho Sanshiki
Pin’an Nidan
Pin’an Shodan
Pin’an Sandan
Pin’an Yondan
Pin’an Godan
Naihanchin Shodan
Bassai Dai
Matsukaze
Juroku

Gekisai Ichi
Gekisai Ni
Saifa
Seienchin
PLUS – Kata from the Elite lists A, B, C if capable

Senior (>18 yrs) Kyu Grades Kata List

Yellow - Purple Belts

Shiho Sanshiki
Pin’an Nidan
Pin’an Shodan
Pin’an Sandan
Pin’an Yondan
Naihanchin Shodan

Brown Belts

Any Pin’an Kata
Naihanchin Shodan
Gekisai Ichi
Gekisai Ni
Juroku
Saifa
Bassai Dai
Seienchin
Matsukaze

Elite Kata List

A: Itosu Group

Bassai Dai
Bassai Sho
Kosokun Dai
Kokokun Sho
Shiho Kosokun
Jitte
Jiin
Jion
Wanshu
Matsukaze
Rohai Shodan
Rohai Nidan
Rohai Sandan
Chinto
Chintei
Useishi

B: Higaonna Group

Saifa
Seienchin
Seisan
Seipai
Sanseiru
Shissochin
Kururunfa
Suparinpai

C: Other

Niseishi
Sochin
Unshu
Koshiki Rohai
Annanko
Shinpa
Juroku
Nipapo
Matsumura no Bassai
Tomari Bassai
Matsumura no Seisan
Chatan’yara no Kosokun
Anan
Heiku
Paiku
Pachu

Weigh-in

Weigh-in is required for all 16+ in kumite. Height measurement required for all under 16s.

Weigh-ins for 16+ years kumite and height measurements for Under 16s will be held at the official hotel between 17:00 and 20:00 on Friday 17 April 2026.

The Competitor shall weigh-in wearing sports shorts and T-shirt, or their karate-gi without belt.

Any socks or additional complements must be removed.

The tolerance admitted for any category is 0,200 kg for men and 0,500 kg for women.

A competitor that does not meet the weight requirement of the category in which they are entered will be disqualified in the first instance.

However, the organisers shall, at their discretion, move the competitor to an appropriate category if there is the opportunity to do so. This cannot be guaranteed.

Attire

Please find below requirements for tournament attire.

Referees and Judges

The official uniform required for the Championship is as per WKF regulations.

Coaches

Coaches should wear the official tracksuit of their National Federation, wear sports/training shoes, and display their official identification.
Sandals, or any other open-toe shoes, are prohibited.

In addition the following are allowed:

A plain wedding band.
Voluntary religiously mandated headwear.

Competitors

Competitors must wear a white Karate gi without piping, but club and/or association embroidery is allowed.

The national emblem or flag of the country may be worn on the jacket.

Competitors or Teams must wear a red belt (AKA) or blue belt (AO) as allocated by the draw.

Belts of grade cannot be worn during the bout.

Attire at the award ceremony and opening ceremony

At the Opening Ceremony, participants and coaches must be wearing the official traksuit of their National Federation.

At the Awards Ceremony, receivers of awards must be wearing gis or track suits.

Protection

For the safety of everyone attending this tournament we ask you to observe the following requirements concerning protection.

Competitors

Competitors 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 Tournament Doctor. The Competitor accepts full responsibility for any injury.

The following protective equipment is compulsory:

WKF approved mitts, one Competitor wearing red and the other wearing blue.
Gum shield.
Chest /body protector for female Competitors.
Shin pads, one Competitor wearing red and the other wearing blue.
Foot protection, one Competitor wearing red and the other wearing blue.
Groin guards for male Competitors.
For Competitors under 14 years of age, the use of WKF approved Helmet and External Chest Protector is compulsory.
Glasses are forbidden in any category, both kata and kumite. Soft contact lenses can be worn at the Competitor’s own risk.
The use of bandages, padding, or supports because of injury, must be approved by the Referee and done or approved by the Tournament Doctor.

Competitors that appear at the competition area with unauthorized equipment or irregular Karate-gi will be given two minutes to correct the attire.