Rules for Karate Kata
General Rules
- Maximum performance time for all Karate katas is 1.5 minutes; minimum performance time 30 seconds.
- Salute to the judges upon entering ring, then announce to the chief judge your name and the form you will be performing.
- Once an age group is announced to perform, the cut off time for competitors at that age group to enter the competition is 5 minutes.
- All Karate katas are scored based on good stance, balance, power, coordination, and structure; characteristics of the particular style performed and representation of combat effectiveness.
Karate Styles
- Competitors are grouped by Freestyle and Traditional Style
- Budokan, Goju-ryu, Kenpo, Kyokushin, Shito-ryu, Shorin-ryu, Shotokan, Uechi-ryu, Wado-ryu
Judging Criteria
- Proper sequence of movement and correct accuracy of the techniques
- Showing the key elements of kata: levels of strength, contraction and expansion of the body, change in the speed of the techniques, and fighting spirit
- Following the proper course of direction and showing smoothness in the feet movements
- Demonstrating an understanding of the meaning of each movement
- Overall performance and illustrating the essential characteristics of the chosen Kata
- Power and accuracy in the performance of basic techniques
- Proper use of stances and postures, and the ability to focus the mind
Scoring
- Beginner Under Belts: 6 – 7.5 points
- Intermediate Under Belts: 7 – 8.5 points
- Advanced Under Belts: 8.5 – 10 points
Additional Rules
- Unfinished routine – competitors of any event leave the area of competition midway with the routine unfinished shall not be scored.
- Forgetfulness – each occurrence of last memory shall result in a deduction of 0.1-0.3 according to the severity of the case. A subsequent pause affecting the rhythm of the movements shall result in a deduction of 0.1; a long pause 0.2; and pause leading to confused movements in a deduction of 0.3 point.
- Weapon tangle/cut in the uniform, or touching the floor (if is recognized as not a part of the technique) shall result in a deduction of 0.1 point for each occurrence.
- Dropping weapon/s on the ground shall result in a deduction of 0.5 point.
- Loss of balance, tripping, shall result in a deduction of 0.1 for each occurrence, and a subsequent fall to the ground in deduction of 0.5 point.
- Restarting routine – shall result deduction of 1 point
- A competitor’s performance of the routine is interrupted by uncontrollable circumstances and may repeat it with the head judge’s approval without point deduction!
- Extra acrobatic movement in traditional styles should not be taken in consideration for extra point scoring.
- No flexible blade weapon (modern Wushu weapons) should be used in traditional divisions.
