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YUKAN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIP 2023

COMPETITION RULES

ÉVALUATION IN KATA AND WEAPON KATA

    1. A competitor can be enrolled in both Kata and Weapon Kata.
    2. All participants must perform a traditional kata. A traditional kata is a sequence of traditional karate techniques that is learned and performed by all members of an organization; it is a required element at belt promotion tests and not a “custom made” kata for one or few members of the organization.
    3. Each participant introduces himself to the judges and announces the kata he will perform. Note that it is not required to identify the selected kata before that moment.
    4. Each participant is given a mark – between 5 and 10 – by each judge; the total of the allocated marks is used to rank the participant within the division (or round).
    5. Should a participant choose to perform a “nontraditional” kata, he would be disqualified, receiving the minimum mark of 5 from each judge.
    6. Since traditional kata forms vary among karate styles , each participant is judged according to the following criteria:
      • Flagrant mistake, loss of balance, hesitation
      • Basic stances
      • Kicking techniques
      • Punching, blocking, shuto techniques
      • Consistency in the execution of techniques
      • Balance and fluidity
      • Spirit and intensity
      • Speed and control
      • Level of difficulty of kata
      •  

RULES – KATA AND WEAPON KATA

    1. The Kata competition is open to participants aged 4 and up and ranked from 10th kyu to Black Belt.
    2. The Weapon Kata competition is open to participants aged 6 and up and ranked from 6th kyu to Black Belt.
    3. A judging team consists of 3 to 5 judges, including the head judge who takes charge of the competition at the court.
    4. The performance of each participant is evaluated with respect to that of the others within the division.
    5. To help judges establish an evaluation basis, the 3 first participants of a division perform their kata in turn, without being given marks. Each one then comes back before the judges to receive his marks. The remaining participants perform their kata and get their marks right after their performance.
    6. In the eventuality of a draw for the 1st, 2nd or 3rd place within a division, the head judge asks the tied competitors to perform a kata again to establish the winner for the position.
    7. Participants ranked 4th kyu to Black Belt must prepare to perform two distinct traditional kata: a first participation kata and a second one in case of a draw for one of the 3 first places. If a participant chooses to perform the same kata twice, he will be given a ½ point penalty by each judge.

FULL CONTACT KARATE FIGHTING

How to win a fight:

    • With one Ippon, two Wazaari, or the disqualification of the opponent (Shikakku) – End of fight and immediate win.
    • By unanimous decision at the end of regulation time based on the allocation of a Wazaari.
    • By a favorable decision of most judges and referee (at least 2/3 or 3/5) at the end of regulation time based on:
      1. Damage inflicted on the opponent: The effects of one or many strikes that are not worth of a Wazaari but are close to it.
      2. Techniques and tactics: The superiority of techniques and tactics displayed with the intention to dominate the opponent.
      3. Number of strikes: Attack activity illustrated by many strikes delivered with both arms and legs in most of the actions initiated by the fighter. Just moving forward not delivering strikes is not considered as an attack activity.
      4. Attitude and fighting spirit: The preference is given to the fighter who initiated more attacks.

NB: The allocation of a Genten Ichi or 3 Chui prevents a fighter from winning the fight; the fighter can at best get a verdict of equality.

Ippon and Wazaari – Winning Strikes:

    • Ippon: Immediate win following a legal technique having caused the interruption of the fight for 3 seconds or more – End of the fight.
    • Wazaari: Legal technique having incapacitated the opponent (guard down, lack of alertness, physical instability) for less than 3 seconds – Resumption of the fight.
    • Second Wazaari: Wazaari leading to an immediate win by Ippon – End of the fight.
    • An Ippon or a Wazaari must been seen and called by most judges and referee (at least 2/3 or 3/5).
    • The fight is interrupted by the referee who makes the official announcement of the Ippon or Wazaari.

Chui and Genten – Official Warnings and Penalties:

    • All official warnings and penalties are allocated by most judges and referee (2/3 or 3/5).
    • The fight is interrupted by the referee who announces the official warning or penalty.
    • Chui: Official warning following an infraction.
    • Genten Ichi: 1st penalty following 2 official warnings.
    • Genten Ni – Shikakku: 2nd penalty following 2 other official warnings – Disqualification of the fighter – Immediate win of the opponent.

RULES – SEMI-KNOCKDOWN FIGHTING

A Semi-knockdown karate fight (with protection gear) involves two opponents who may hit each other “with force” as far as they respect the rules in effect at the Yukan 2023 – as described below.

  1.  Eligibility
    • Male and female fighters aged 4 and up, from 10th kyu (white belt) to black belt, assigned to divisions based on age, gender, kyu and weight.
    • A fighter cannot be enrolled in both Semi-knockdown Fighting (with protection gear) and Knockdown Fighting.
  1. Protection gear – Provided by each fighter
    • Mandatory protection gear: shin pads with instep, gloves, helmet
    • Visor: highly recommended to all fighters
    • Mouthpiece: highly recommended for all fighters
    • Mouthpiece or head gear with grid: mandatory for fighters with orthodontic braces
    • Groin cup: mandatory for male fighters
    • Chest protector: mandatory for fighters aged 13 & under
    • Chest protector: not allowed for fighters aged 14 & up
    • Breast protector (inside uniform): mandatory for female fighters aged 14 & up
    • Wrist and ankle wraps: not allowed for all fighters
    • Spectacles and jewels: not allowed for all fighters
  1. Refereeing Team
    • A refereeing team consists of one center referee who supervises the fight, 2 or 4 corner judges who evaluate the fighters, one timekeeper and one scorekeeper.
    • The referee can consult with corner judges, the timekeeper and the scorekeeper before announcing his decision.
  1. Fight Regulation Time
    • 1 ½ minute for fighters aged 13 years old and under
    • 2 minutes for fighters aged 14 years old and over
    • 1 minute for the first and unique extension round in case of a tie
  1. Legal Techniques
    • To the legs (above the knees): circular kicks and knee kicks
    • To the body: open hand, punches, elbow strikes, knee kicks and kicks (straight and circular techniques)
    • To the head: circular kicks – only 14 years old & up
  1. Illegal Techniques
    • Kicks to the knee joints and under the knees
    • Open hand strikes, punches, elbow strikes and head-butt to the face, head or neck
    • All strikes – using hand, fist, elbow, knee, foot – to the groin or back
    • Knee kicks and straight kicks to the face
    • 13 years old & under: circular kicks to the head
    • Grabbing and sweeping
    • Repeated shoves of the opponent
    • Refusal to fight
  1. Coaches
    • Only one coach can sit near the fighting area, on the side of his fighter.
    • The coach is not allowed to access the fighting area at any time.
    • Only the coach may bring grievances to an organizer of the Championship in case of conflict.

RULES – KNOCKDOWN FIGHTING

A Knockdown Karate Fight (no protection gear) involves 2 experienced adult opponents (18 years old and up) who may hit each other “with force” as far as they respect the rules in effect at the Yukan 2023 – as described below.

  1. Eligibility
    • Men and women karate fighters, 4th kyu to Black Belt
    • 18-21 years old – Weight Divisions
    • 22 years old and up – Single matches – upon invitation
    • A fighter cannot be enrolled in both Knockdown Fighting and Semi-knockdown Fighting.
    • A white uniform (dogi) is mandatory.
  1. Protection Gear – Provided by each fighter
    • Mouthpiece: highly recommended for all fighters
    • Groin cup: mandatory for male fighters
    • Breast protector (“bustier” worn inside the uniform): mandatory for female fighters
    • Prohibited items:
      • Head gear, gloves, shin pads, chest protector
      • Wrist and ankle wraps (except in case of injury inflicted during a fight at the Championship)
      • Spectacles and jewels
  1. Refereeing Team
    • A refereeing team consists of 1 center referee who supervises the fight, 4 corner judges who evaluate the fighters, 2 timekeepers and 1 scorekeeper (fight sequence).
    • The center referee receives the coach’s grievances, if any.
    • The center referee can consult with the corner judges, the timekeepers and the scorekeeper before announcing a decision.
  1. Fight Regulation Time
    • First round : 3 minutes
    • In case of a first tie: a 2-minute extension round
    • In case of a second tie: a second and last 2-minute extension round
    • Decision
  1. Legal Techniques
    • To the legs (above the knees): circular kicks and knee kicks
    • To the body: open hand strikes, punches, elbow strikes, knee kicks and kicks (straight and circular techniques)
    • To the head: kicks and knee kicks (straight and circular techniques)
  1. Illegal Techniques
    • Kicks to the knee joints and below the knees
    • Open hand strikes, punches, elbow strikes and head-butt to the face, head or neck
    • All strikes – using hand, fist, elbow, knee, foot – to the groin or back.
    • Grabbing
    • Repeated thrusts to the opponent
    • Refusal to fight
  1. Coaches
    • One or two coaches can sit near the fighting area, on the side of their fighter.
    • No coach has access to the fighting area at any time.
    • Only one coach may bring grievances to the center referee in case of conflict.

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