KUMITE,
KATA COMPETITION RULES
1. The competition area
must be flat and devoid of hazard.
2. The competition area
will be a flat or matted square, with sides of eight metres (measured from the
outside) with an additional 1 meter on all sides as a safety area. There will
be a clear safety area of a meter on
each side. The area may be elevated to a height of up to one metre above floor
level. The elevated platform must measure at least twelve metres a side, in
order to include both the competition and the safety areas.
3. A line half a metre long
must be drawn two metres from the centre of the competition area for
positioning the Referee.
4. Two parallel lines each
one metre long and at right angles to the Referee's line, must be drawn at a
distance of one and a half metres from the centre of the competition area for
positioning the competitors.
5. The Judges will be
seated in the safety area, one on each corner of the square. Each will be
equipped with a red and a white flag and a whistle.
6. The Arbitrator will be
seated just outside the safety area,
behind the Referee.
7. The score-supervisor
will be seated at the official score table, between the scorekeeper and the
timekeeper.
8. The one meter border
should be in a different colour from the rest of the area.
EXPLANATION:
I.
There must be no
advertisement hoardings, walls, pillars etc. within one metre of the safety
area's outer perimeter.
1. Contestants and their coaches must wear the
official uniform as herein defined.
2. The Referee Council may disbar any official
or competitor who does not comply with this regulation.
REFEREES
1. Referees and Judges must wear the official
uniform designated by the Referee Council. This uniform must be worn at all
tournaments and courses.
2. The
official uniform will be as follows:
A single breasted navy
blue blazer bearing two silver buttons.
A white shirt with short sleeves.
An official tie, worn without tiepin.
Plain light-grey trousers without
turn-ups.
Plain dark blue or black socks and black
slip-on shoes for use on the match area.
Female referees and judges may wear a
hairclip.
CONTESTANTS
1.
Contestants
must wear a white unmarked karate gi without stripes or piping. The national
emblem or flag of the country may be worn on the left breast of the jacket and
may not exceed an overall size of ten centimetres square (100mm by 100mm). Only
the original manufacturer’s labels may be displayed on the gi. In addition, an
identifying number issued by the Organising Committee may be worn on the back.
One contestant must wear a red belt and the other a white belt. The red and
white belts must be around five centimetres wide and of a length sufficient to
allow fifteen centimetres free on each side of the knot.
2. Notwithstanding
paragraph 1 above, the Directing Committee may authorise the display of special
labels or trademarks of approved sponsors.
3. The jacket, when
tightened around the waist with the belt, must be of a minimum length that
covers the hips, but must not be more than three-quarters thigh length. Female
competitors may wear a plain white T-shirt beneath the Karate jacket.
4. The maximum length of
the jacket sleeves must be no longer then the bend of the wrist and no shorter
than halfway down the forearm. Jacket sleeves may not be rolled up.
5. The trousers must be
long enough to cover at least two thirds of the shin and must not reach below
the anklebone. Trouser legs may not be rolled up.
6. Contestants must keep
their hair clean and cut to a length that does not obstruct smooth bout
conduct. Hachimaki (headband) will not be allowed. Should the Referee consider
any contestant's hair too long and/or unclean, he may disbar the contestant
from the bout. In Kumite matches hair slides are prohibited, as are metal
hairgrips. In Kata, a discreet hair clip is permitted. Ribbons and other
decorations are prohibited.
7. Contestants 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 Official Doctor. The contestant accepts full responsibility
for any injury.
8. IJKA approved mitts are
compulsory.
9. Gum shields are
compulsory.
10. Boxes and soft shin pads
shin/instep protectors are forbidden.
11. Glasses are forbidden.
Soft contact lenses can be worn at the contestant's own risk.
12. The wearing of
unauthorised clothing or equipment is forbidden. Women may wear the authorised
additional protective equipment such as chest protectors.
13. The use of bandages,
padding, or supports because of injury must be approved by the Referee on the
advice of the Official Doctor.
COACHES
1. The coach shall at all times during the
tournament, wear a tracksuit and display official identification.
EXPLANATION:
I.
The contestant must wear
a single belt. This will be red for AKA white for Shiro. Belts of grade should
not be worn during the bout.
II.
Gum shields must fit
properly. Groin protectors using a removable plastic cup slipped into a
jockstrap are not permitted and persons wearing them will be held at fault.
III.
There may well be a
religious basis for the wearing of certain items such as turbans or amulets.
Persons wishing, by virtue of their religion, to wear what would otherwise be
construed as unauthorised clothing must notify the Referee Council in advance
of a tournament. The Referee Council will examine each application on its
merit. No accommodation will be made for people who just turn up on the day and
expect to participate.
IV.
If a contestant comes
into the area inappropriately dressed, he or she will not be immediately
disqualified; instead the fighter will be given one minute to remedy matters.
V.
If the Referee Council
agrees, Refereeing Officials may be allowed to remove their blazers.
1. A Karate tournament may
comprise Kumite competition and/or Kata competition. The Kumite competition may
be further divided into the team match and the individual match. The individual
match may be further divided into weight divisions and open category. Weight
divisions are divided ultimately into bouts. The term “bout” also describes the
individual Kumite competitions between opposing pairs of team members.
2. No contestant may be
replaced by another in an individual title match.
3. Individual contestants
or teams that do not present themselves when called will be disqualified
(KIKEN) from that category.
4. Male teams comprise
seven members with five competing in a round. Female teams comprise four
members with three competing in a round.
5. The contestants are all
members of the team. There are no fixed reserves.
6. Before each match, a
team representative must hand into the official table, an official form
defining the names and fighting order of the competing team members. The
participants drawn from the full team of seven, or four members, and their
fighting order, can be changed for each round provided the new fighting order
is notified first, but once notified, it cannot then be changed until that
round is completed.
7. A team will be disqualified
if any of its members or its coach changes the team's composition or fighting
order without written notification prior to the round.
EXPLANATION:
I.
A “round” is a discrete
stage in a competition leading to the eventual identification of finalists. In
an elimination Kumite competition, a round eliminates fifty percent of
contestants within it, counting byes as contestants. In this context, the round
can apply equally to a stage in either primary elimination or repechage. In a
matrix, or “round robin” competition, a round allows all contestants in a pool
to fight once.
II.
The use of contestants'
names causes problems of pronunciation and identification. Tournament numbers
should be allotted and used.
III.
When lining up before a
match, a team will present the actual fighters. The unused fighter(s) and the
Coach will not be included and shall sit in an area set aside for them.
IV.
In order to compete male
teams must present at least three competitors and female teams must present at
least two competitors. A team with less than the required number of competitors
will forfeit the match (Kiken).
V.
The fighting order form
can be presented by the Coach, or a nominated contestant from the team. If the
Coach hands in the form, he must be clearly identifiable as such; otherwise, it
may be rejected. The list must include the name of the country or club the belt
colour allotted to the team for that match and the fighting order of the team
members. Both the competitor’s names and their tournament numbers must be
included and the form signed by the coach, or a nominated person.
VI.
If, through an error in
charting, the wrong contestants compete, then regardless of the outcome, that
bout/match is declared null and void. To reduce such errors the winner of each
bout/match must confirm victory with the control table before leaving the area.
1. The Refereeing Panel for each match shall
consist of one Referee (SHUSHIN), four Judges (FUKUSHIN), and one arbitrator
(KANSA).
2. The Referee and Judges of a kumite bout must
not have the nationality of either of the participants.
3. In addition, for facilitating the operation
of matches, several timekeepers, caller announcers, record keepers, and score
supervisors shall be appointed.
EXPLANATION:
I.
At the start of a Kumite
match, the Referee stands on the outside edge of the match area. On the
Referee’s left stand Judges numbers 1 and 2, and on the right stands the
Arbitrator and Judge number 3 and 4.
II.
After
the formal exchange of bows by contestants and Referee Panel, the Referee takes
a step back, the Judges and Arbitrator turn inwards, and all bow together. All
then take up their positions.
III.
When
changing the entire Referee Panel, the departing Officials take up position as
at the start of the bout or match, bow to each other, and then leave the area
together.
IV.
When individual Judges
change, the incoming Judge goes to the outgoing Judge, they bow together and
change positions.
1. Duration of the Kumite bout is defined as
two minutes for Senior Male Kumite (both teams and individuals), Women's,
Junior, and Cadet bouts.
2. The timing of the bout starts when the
Referee gives the signal to start, and stops each time the Referee calls
“YAME”.
3. The
timekeeper shall give signals by a clearly audible gong, or buzzer, indicating
“30 seconds to go” or “time up”. The “time up” signal marks the end of the
bout.
ARTICLE 6: SCORING
1. The
result of a bout is determined by either contestant scoring IPPON, 2 WAZA-ARI
or obtaining a decision, or by a HANSOKU, SHIKKAKU, or KIKEN imposed against a
contestant.
2. It must be noted that an IPPON is worth two WAZA-ARI.
3. An IPPON is awarded on the basis of the following:
A
scoring technique counts as an IPPON when it is performed according to the
following criteria to a scoring area:
Good
form, correct attitude, vigorous application, zanshin (perfect finish), proper
timing, correct distance.
4. An
IPPON may also be awarded for techniques deficient in one of the above criteria
but which conform to the following schedule:
a. Jodan kicks or other technically difficult techniques.
b. Deflecting an attack and scoring to the unguarded back of
the opponent.
c. Sweeping or throwing followed by a scoring technique.
d. Delivering
a combination technique, the individual components of which each score in their
own right.
e. Successfully
scoring at the precise moment the opponent attacks.
5. A
WAZA-ARI is awarded for a technique almost comparable to that needed to score
IPPON. The refereeing panel must look
for IPPONS in the first instance and only award a WAZA-ARI in the second
instance.
6. A
victory over an opponent who has been given a HANSOKU or SHIKKAKU will be
worth IPPON. If a contestant is absent, withdraws, or is withdrawn, the
opponent will be credited with a win by
IPPON.
7. Attacks
are limited to the following areas:
1. Head 2.
Face 3.
Neck 4.
Abdomen 5. Chest 6.
Back (but excluding shoulders) 7. Side
8. An
effective technique delivered at the same time that the end of the 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 and may result in a penalty being imposed on the offender.
9. 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 opponent delivers an effective technique
while still inside the competition area and before the Referee calls
"YAME", the technique will be scored.
10. Simultaneous
effective scoring techniques delivered by both contestants the one on the
other, shall not score.
EXPLANATION:
Though two Waza-Aris
equal one Ippon in scoring value, in technical terms, a Waza-Ari is equal to
90% of an Ippon.
A technique with "good
form" is said to have characteristics conferring probable
effectiveness within the framework of traditional Karate concepts. Correct
attitude is a component of good form and refers to a non-malicious attitude
of great concentration obvious during delivery of the scoring technique.
Vigorous application defines the power and speed of the technique and the
palpable will for it to succeed; nothing is held back. Zanshin is that
criterion most often missed when a score is assessed. It is the state of
continued commitment which endures after the technique has landed and the
ability to continue with proper form, other continuing techniques. The
contestant with Zanshin maintains total concentration and awareness of the
opponent's potentiality to counter-attack.
Proper timing means delivering a technique when it will have the greatest
potential effect. Proper distancing 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.
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.
For example, a punch which comes somewhere between skin touch and 2-3
centimeters from the face and where the punching arm is not fully straight has
the correct distance. However Jodan punches which come within 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.
A worthless technique is
a worthless technique - regardless of where and how it is delivered. Thus a
Jodan kick which is badly deficient in good form will score nothing, much less
an Ippon. However, in order to encourage technically difficult techniques, the
Referee should lean toward awarding Ippon 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 a Waza-Ari are scored as
Ippon 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 Ippon - not just attacks to his/her unguarded
back.
A sweeping technique
need not require the contestant to fall to the floor; to merit Ippon, it is
sufficient if he/she is merely unbalanced as a scoring technique is delivered.
Referees must not be too quick in halting a bout. Many potentially successful
sweep and strikes have been defeated by the Referee calling "Yamei"
too early. Two seconds should elapse after a sweep or throw for it is during
this time that the committed and coordinated attacker will have demonstrated
his/her follow-through.
Combination attacks are
those sequences of techniques which each individually merit at least Waza-Ari,
occurring in rapid succession.
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 whatsoever to the
throat is permitted but a score may be awarded for a properly controlled
technique.
A technique delivered
with good form and 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 blades and collar bones.
The time-up bell signals
the end of scoring possibilities in that bout, even though the Referee may
inadvertently not halt the bout immediately. The time up bell does not,
however, mean that penalties cannot be imposed. Penalties can be imposed by the
Refereeing Panel up to the point where the contestants leave that area after
the bout's conclusion. Penalties can be imposed after that, but then only by
the Referee Council.
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
1. In
the absence of an IPPON score, or of a defeat caused by KIKEN, HANSOKU, or a
SHIKKAKU during the bout a decision is taken on the basis of the following
considerations:
a.
Whether
there have been any WAZA-ARI awarded.
b.
If there
have been any penalty given.
c. The
attitude, fighting spirit and strength demonstrated by the contestants.
d. The
superiority of tactics and techniques.
2. In
individual category where there is no score superiority, then the following
procedure will be followed:
a. If,
at the end of a bout, the two contestants have no score, the winning decision
shall be given by HANTEI.
b. If,
at the end of a bout, the two contestants have scored equally, the decision for
victory shall be given by HANTEI.
c. If,
at the end of a bout, neither contestant has established a superiority, then
the decision for that bout shall be a draw ("HIKIWAKE") and EXTRA
Bout (SAI SHIAI) should be announced.
d. A penalty or warning incurred in the bout
will not be carried forward to the EXTRA Bout.
e. If, at the end of the EXTRA Bout, neither
contestant has established a superiority, then the decision for that bout shall
be a draw ("HIKIWAKE") and ENCHO SEN will be announced. A penalty or
warning incurred in the bout will be carried forward to the ENCHO SEN.
3. In
team competition the winning team is the one with the most bout victories.
4. If
two teams have the same number of victories, the winner is the one whose
contestants have scored the most IPPONS, AWASATE IPPONS, WAZA-ARIS taking both
winning and losing fights into account.
5. If
two teams have the same number of victories and scores, a deciding bout must be
held between representatives of the two teams.
In the event of a continuing tie, there is an EXTRA BOUT and if still is
a tie, extension (ENCHO SE) will be announced.
The first contestant to score IPPON or WAZA-ARI is declared the winner..
6. If
there is no decision after a bout of an individual match, an EXTRA BOUT will be
fought. In the event of a tied EXTRA
BOUT, ENCHO-SEN will be announced. In the event of tied ENCHO SEN, the majority decision of the panel will be
announced by the Referee.
EXPLANATION:
When scores are unequal,
the contestant who completes the bout satisfactorily a Waza-Ari ahead of the
oponent shall be given the victory.
Taking the above
criteria into account, when a superiority can be established, it is quite in
order for one contestant to be given the victory, even when the score situation
is equal.
When deciding the
outcome of a bout by Hantei, the Referee shall step outside of the ring and
call "Hantei" followed by a two-tone blast on his whistle. The Judges will indicate their opinions by
means of their flags, the Referee should acknowledge the Judges decision by a
one-tone blast of his whistle, then move forward to his original position and
announce the majority decision.
EXTRA BOUT is a separate
bout, penalties awarded in the bout proper wont’t therefore carry over. The Encho-Sen
is an extension of a bout; it is not a separate bout. Penalties awarded in the
bout proper will therefore carry over into the Encho-Sen. There must be a
decision after an Encho-Sen, taking performance in the whole bout into consideration.
Where a team match has
tied bout victories and points, an additional bout is then fought between
selectees. The selectees must be nominated within one minute of the
announcement of this bout and the persons making the nomination will be those
who signed the original fighting order form for that match. If the extra bout
ties, an Encho-Sen will be fought and as in common with all Encho-Sens, a
decision must be reached at its conclusion.
ARTICLE
8: PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR
1. The
following are forbidden:
a. Techniques
which make contact with the throat.
b. Techniques
which make excessive contact, having regard to the scoring area attacked. All techniques must be controlled. Any technique which impacts the head, face
or neck and results in visible injury must be penalized, unless caused by the
recipient.
c. Attacks
to the groin, joints, or instep.
d. Attacks
to the face with open hand techniques ("TEISHO" or
"NUKITE").
e. Dangerous
throws which by their nature preclude or prejudice the opponent's ability to
land with safety.
f. Techniques
which by their nature, cannot be controlled for the safety of the opponent.
g. Direct
attacks to arms or legs.
h. Repeated
exits from the competition area (JOGAI), or movements which waste too much
time. JOGAI relates to a situation
where a contestant's body, or part thereof touches the floor outside of the
area. An exception is when the
contestant is actually pushed or thrown from the area by his opponent.
i. Wrestling,
pushing or seizing without an immediate technique.
j. MUBOBI
relates to a situation where one, or both contestants display a lack of regard
for his, or their own safety.
k. Feigning
of injury in order to gain advantage.
l. Any
discourteous behavior from a member of an official delegation can earn the
disqualification of the offender or the entire team delegation from the
tournament.
EXPLANATION:
Any contact to the
throat must be penalized, unless it is the recipients own fault (Mubobi etc.).
Techniques to the face
may "touch" and still score, but touch does not mean a solid
impact. When assessing the contact force used, the Referee must take all
the circumstances into account. Did the victim exacerbate the impact of an
otherwise controlled technique by an injudicious movement? This is the reason
most often given for scoring what would otherwise appear to be excessive
contact but it must not be used as a justification for a bad assessment. The
Referee must consider the effects of a marked disparity in size between
contestants - as can occur in a team match, or in open weight bout.
The Referee must
constantly observe the injured contestant. The latter's behavior may help the
Referee in his assessment. A short delay in giving a judgment allows injury
symptoms such as a nosebleed to develop. Observation will also reveal any
efforts by the contestant to aggravate slight injury for tactical advantage.
Examples of this are blowing violently through an injured nose, or rubbing the
face roughly with the back of a mitt. Pre-existing injury can produce symptoms
out of all proportion to the degree of contact used.
The trained Karate-Ka
can absorb strong impact over muscled areas such as the abdomen, but the
breastbone and ribs are vulnerable to injury. For this reason, reasonable
control over body contact must be exercised.
The accidental kick in
the groin can reduce the opponent's potential for winning as surely as a
deliberate one. Therefore the Referee should award a penalty in either case.
Foot sweeps that land high on the leg can cause knee injury. The Referee must
assess the validity of any sweep-attack to the leg; ineffectual but painful
attacks of this sort should be immediately penalized.
The face is defined as
covering an area which begins one centimeter above the eyebrows, extending down
and including the temples, narrowing from the cheekbones and finishing just
under the chin.
The two open hand
techniques referred to are merely examples of the class of prohibited
techniques.
Different Karate-Ka have
different abilities at controlling techniques and for this reason, there is no
actual classification of "dangerous techniques". The contestant must
perform all techniques with control and good form. If he/she cannot, then
regardless of the technique misused, a warning or penalty must be imposed.
The point at which
"Yamei" is called is helpful in determining if Jogai has occurred. If
Aka delivers a successful technique and then exits immediately afterwards,
"Yamei" should occur at the instant of score and the exit therefore
occurs outside of bout time and may not be penalized. If Aka's attempt to score
is unsuccessful, "Yamei" will not be called and the exit will be
recorded. If Shiro exits just after Aka scores with a successful attack, then
"Yamei" will occur immediately on the score and Shiro's exit will not
be recorded. If Shiro exits, or has exited as Aka's score is made (with Aka
remaining within the area), then both Aka's score will be awarded and Shiro's
Jogai penalty will be imposed.
Movements which waste
time include pointless circling, where one or both contestants do not engage in
combat. It is expected that they will initially test each other but within a
short time, deliberate and effective attacks and counters should occur. If for
any reason this does not happen after a reasonable interval, the Referee must
stop the bout and caution the offender(s). The contestant who constantly
retreats without effective counter, rather than allow the opponent an
opportunity to score must be penalized. This often occurs during the closing
seconds of a bout.
An example of Mubobi is
the instance in which the contestant launches a committed attack without regard
for personal safety. Some contestants throw themselves into a long
reverse-punch, and are unable to block a counter. Such open attacks constitute
an act of Mubobi and cannot score. For the contestant's own safety, he/she must
be warned at an early stage.
As a tactical theatrical
move, some fighters turn away immediately in a mock display of dominance to
demonstrate a scored point. They drop their guard and lapse awareness of the
opponent. The purpose of the turn-away is to draw the Referee's attention to
their technique. This is a clear act of Mubobi. In order to score, Zanshin must
be preserved.
Feigning of an injury
which does not exist is a serious infraction of the rules. Exaggerating an
injury which does exist is less serious. Shikkaku can be imposed on the
contestant feigning injury i.e., when such things as collapse and rolling about
on the floor are not supported by evidence of commensurate injury as reported
by a neutral doctor. A warning or penalty can be imposed for exaggerating
injury.
The Coach will be
assigned a specific place by the Referee Council in conjunction with the
tournament organizing officials. This area will be close to the competition area
and the Coach allowed a free and uninterrupted access to contestants between
bouts. To assist the contestants, a visible scoreboard must be employed. Which
can be clearly viewed by Coaches and contestants.
ARTICLE
9: PENALTIES
1. The
following scale of penalties shall operate:
|
KEIKOGU: (Warning) |
May be imposed for attended minor
infractions or for the first instance of a minor infraction |
HANSOKU-CHUI: HANSOKU-CHUI is usually imposed for
infractions for which a KEIKOKU has previously been given in that bout.
HANSOKU: This is imposed following a very
serious infraction. It results in the
opponent's score being raised to IPPON.
SHIKKAKU: This is a disqualification from the
actual tournament, competition, or match.
The opponent's score is raised to IPPON. In order to define the limit of SHIKKAKU, the Referee Council
must be consulted. SHIKKAKU may be
invoked. When a contestant commits an
act which harms the prestige and honor of Karate-do and when other actions are
considered to violate the rules of the tournament.
EXPLANATION:
A penalty can be
directly imposed for a rules infraction but once given, repeats of that
particular infraction must be accompanied by an increase in severity of penalty
imposed. It is not, for example, possible to give a Keikoku for excessive
contact then give a warning for a second instance of excessive contact.
Penalties do not
cross-accumulate. This is to say that a warning for the first instance of
Mubobi will not be followed by an automatic HANSOKU CHUI for the first instance of Jogai. The general
penalties imposed are those of Keikoku, Hansoku-Chu, Hansoku and Shikkaku. The infraction should be indicated by
prefacing the Hansoku-Chui or Keikoku with an explanation such as "Jogai
(or Mubobi) Hansoku-Chui/Keikoku".
KEIKOKU is given where
there has clearly been a minor infraction of the rules, but the contestant's
potential for winning is not diminished (in the opinion of the Referee Panel)
by the opponent's foul.
A Hansoku-Chui may be
imposed directly, or following ar Keikoku and is used where the contestant's
potential for winning has been reduced by the opponent's foul.
A Hansoku is imposed for
cumulative penalties but can also be imposed directly for serious rules
infractions. it is used when, in the opinion of the Referee Panel for the bout,
the contestant's potential to win has been reduced virtually to zero by the
opponent's foul.
A Shikkaku can be
directly imposed, without warnings of any kind. The contestant need have done
nothing to merit it - it is sufficient if the Coach or non-combatant members of
the contestants' delegation behave in such a way as to harm the prestige and
honor of Karate-Do.
If the Referee believe
that a contestant has acted maliciously, regardless of whether or not actual
physical injury has been caused, Shikkaku and not Hansoku is the correct
penalty.
A public announcement of
Shikkaku must be made.
ARTICLE 10: INJURIES AND ACCIDENTS IN COMPETITION
1. KIKEN
or forfeiture is the decision given when a contestant or contestants are unable
to continue, abandon the bout, or are withdrawn on the order of the
Referee. The grounds for abandonment
may include injury not ascribable to the opponent's actions.
2. If
two contestants injure each other at the same time or are suffering from the
effects of previously incurred injury and are declared by the tournament doctor
to be unable to continue, the bout is awarded to the contestant who has amassed
the most points at that time. If the
points score is equal, then a decision (HANTEI) will decide the outcome of the
bout.
3. An
injured contestant who has been declared unfit to fight by the tournament
doctor cannot fight again in that competition.
4. An
injured contestant who wins a bout through disqualification due to injury is
not allowed to fight again in the competition without permission from the
doctor. If he is injured, he may win a
second bout by disqualification but is immediately withdrawn from further
Kumite competition in that tournament.
5. When
a contestant is injured, the Referee shall at once halt the bout and call the
doctor. The doctor is authorized to
diagnose and treat injury only.
EXPLANATION:
Self inflicted injury
and those injuries caused by the athlete are easy to deal with but when
assessing an injury caused by the opponent's technique, the Panel must consider
whether the technique was valid. Was it properly applied to the proper area at
the correct time and with the correct degree of control? Consideration of this
will assist the Referee Panel in deciding whether the injured contestant should
be declared the loser by Kiken, or whether the opponent should be penalized for
a foul.
When the doctor declares
the contestant unfit, the appropriate entry must be made on the contestant's
monitoring card. The extent of unfitness must be made clear to other Refereeing
Panels.
A contestant may win
through disqualification of the opponent for accumulated minor infractions.
Perhaps the winner has sustained no significant injury. A second win on the
same grounds must lead to the winner's withdrawal, though he may be physically
able to continue.
The doctor is obliged to
make safety recommendations only as they relate to the proper medical
management of that particular injured contestant.
In order that the
credibility of the sport be maintained, competitors who feign injury will be
subject to the strongest penalties, up to, and including, suspension for life
for repeated offenses.
Competitors who receive
SHIKKAKU for feigning injury, will be taken from the competition area and put directly
into the hands of the Medical
Commission, who will carry out an immediate examination of the competitor. The Medical Commission will submit its
report before the end of the Championship, for the consideration of the Referee
Council.
ARTICLE
11: PROTEST
1. No-one
may protest about a judgment to the members of the Refereeing Panel.
2. If
a refereeing procedure appears to contravene these rules, the official
representative is the only one allowed to make a protest.
3. The
protest will take the form of a written report submitted immediately after the
bout in which the protest was generated.
The sole exception to this is when the protest concerns an
administrative malfunction. The Area
Controller should be notified immediately the administrative malfunction is
detected.
4. The
protest must be submitted to a representative of the Referee Council. In due course the Council will review the
circumstances leading to the protested decision. Having considered all the facts available, they will produce a
report and shall be empowered to take such action as may be called for.
6. The
complainant must deposit a sum of money as may be agreed by the IJKA Europe,
with the Treasury and a duplicate receipt will be issued. The protest, plus a copy of the receipt,
must be lodged with the Chairman of the Referee Council.
EXPLANATION:
The protest must give
the names of the contestants, the Referee Panel officiating and the precise
details of what is being protested. No general claims about overall standards
will be accepted as a legitimate protest. The burden of proving the validity of
the protest lies with the complainant.
In case of an
administrative malfunction during a match in progress, the Coach can notify the
Match Area Controller directly. In turn the Area Controller will notify the
Referee.
The protest will be
reviewed by the Referee Council and as part of this review, the Council will
study the evidence submitted in support of the protest. The Council will also
study official videos and question Match Area Controllers in an effort to
objectively examine the protest's validity.
If the protest is held
by the Referee Council to be valid, the appropriate action will be taken. In
addition, all such measures will be taken to avoid a recurrence in future
competitions. The deposit paid will be refunded by the Treasury.