Check In and Registration

All competitors must be checked in by 9:00am. If you will be late, we cannot guarantee you'll be able to compete. Divisions take time and careful consideration to create. Late additions cannot always be added, as your division may already have started competing depending on when you arrive. If unforeseen circumstances arise, please email us and we will do our best to accommodate you. If you no longer can attend, please email us ASAP.

When you are Competing

You can find out which ring you are competing in here: 2023 Tournament Competitor Ring & Division List

This page will update throughout the tournament as we are able.

Check Out

It is okay to leave early, but you MUST check out before leaving. Competition times vary widely, so we can't guarantee you'll be able to do all the events if you leave early, but we try our best to make it work.

Awards

Medals will be presented to 1st – 3rd places for events. Outstanding competitor awards will be presented based on overall performance. To be eligible for an Outstanding Competitor award, you must compete in Individual Kata, Individual Kumite, and Team Synchronized Kata. 

There will be no replacement medals given out if any become misplaced or lost. Put them in a safe place after you are done competing.

Food

We will NOT have concessions during the day. Please plan accordingly. 

We will, however, have pizza on site after the tournament. If you are planning on staying for pizza, please RSVP on your registration. Suggested donation $5/person.

Divisions

Age, gender, & rank determine divisions. Officials reserve the right to combine or split divisions. If a concern about division placement arises, the competitor and their instructor will be consulted before a decision is made. 

*Please note there will NOT be Kihon or Ribbon Kumite divisions.

Pay attention

Due to the limited number of rings and judges, not all competitors will compete at the same time. Stay active and warmed up, but also pay attention to when your name will be called. Please check the Tournament Competitor Ring & Division List for updates on when you are competing. Do not leave the building before signing out. Once bowed into a match, competitors must not leave the ring. In case of emergency, seek permission from the Chief Judge before leaving. 

Know Your Kata

Competitors must know their kata by heart and be able to perform it on their own. Judges will not count or assist with remembering techniques. Look forward and don't worry about the other people competing. They may not be doing the same kata as you. If you are not yet confident in your current kata, you may perform one kata below your rank.

Don’t give up

Everyone makes mistakes while competing and may forget their kata. This is called a suki. If you make a mistake, keep going. Mistakes don’t necessarily mean you will lose the match.

Show Spirit

Competitors should show spirit with strong kiais, focus, and an enthusiastic attitude. Perform techniques with full speed and power. Be ready and eager to respond quickly to judge’s instructions. Strive to be confident in your own techniques, but not arrogant. 

Respect the Judges’ Decision

There are many factors judges consider when determining who wins a match. 3-5 judges from different dojos and ranks make decisions together. If you are confused or disagree with a decision, ask for coaching after your division is over. They can help you figure out what to improve for next time. If there are concerns about the charting or score keeping, please contact Joe or Cortney Stifter for clarification.

Respect other competitors

Treat other competitors how you want to be treated. Cheer and clap for other students when appropriate, and respect the outcome of matches. 

Equipment / Attire

Gi and belt (must wear full gi: Jacket, pants, and belt)

Kata Difficulty

Participants will perform Japanese or Okinawan Kata. Kata should be performed appropriate to the rank. Participants may not do a kata above their rank, but may do a kata one level below their rank. Different rules apply for synchronized team kata. 

The rank of the individual will not affect the judges’ decision in awarding victory. Only the listed criteria will be effective means of determining the outcome of matches. A beginner performing a good kata for their rank will win a match against a higher rank performing a kata with less quality.

Beginner and Intermediate divisions: Competitors will perform Kata of their choice of their rank or one lower. 

Advanced divisions: Competitors will perform Heian kata randomly selected by the chief judge. Championship match: Competitors will perform one advanced kata of their choice and judges will flag the winning kata.

Scoring method

Flagged double elimination will be used. To win a match judged with flags, over 50% of the judges must vote for you. If there is a tie, the chief judge is the tie breaker. There is no tie breaker round in determining victory.

Determining Victory

There is no point system for Individual Kata that is tallied while the competitors perform. Instead, there is a list of criteria for proper technique which is considered and looked for during the performances.

Proper demonstration of the following will improve chances of winning: 

• Correct path of the technique

• Stance 

• Embusen 

• Power 

• Balance 

• Timing 

• Zanchin / Focus 

• Breathing 

• Speed Variation 

• Spirit

The following will decrease chances of winning: 

• Wrong kata announced or performed

• Suki: a pause in the kata where the mind goes blank and focus is lost 

• Eye level: Looking down or eyes wandering during the performance 

• Extra body movements Skipping or forgetting to perform a technique 

• Cutting a technique short Stopping to fix your attire during the kata

There is no penalty or deduction for stepping out of the ring.  While the starting spots for the competitors should allow for enough space for both to perform their kata’s with enough space, it is still possible to get close enough to one another. If this occurs, any loss of focus or pausing to not have a collision occur will not count against either competitor.

Equipment / Attire

Gi and belt (must wear full gi: Jacket, pants, and belt)

Determining Divisions

Teams will be comprised of three karateka. The same rank separations as individual kata will be used: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Divisions will be determined based on the highest ranked team member. Age of team members will also be taken into consideration. Gender will not be a deciding factor in determining divisions.

Determining Victory

In addition to criteria used for Individual Kata, Teams in this event will be judged based on synchronization. All members should enter and exit the ring, bow, kiai, and perform moves at the same time. The more in sync the three members are, the higher the score.

Scoring Method

All three team members will enter the ring and perform the same Japanese or Okinawan Kata. Scorecards will be used. To win, your team must get the highest final score. Five judges will assign a point value after your kata is over. From those five values, the highest and lowest are dropped. If there is a tie, the high and/or low scores will break the tie. If there is still a tie, teams will perform an additional kata to break the tie. Only one performance of the kata will occur unless there is a tie.

Equipment/Attire

• Gi and belt (must wear full gi: Jacket, pants, and belt) 

• Mouthguard: Students must have their own mouthguard. 

• Fistpads/gloves: Must be vinyl, NOT cloth. Students may borrow our gloves or purchase their own. 

• Groin protection: Male students must wear groin protection. 

• Clipped fingernails and toenails

• No jewelry or piercings (may be taped if they cannot be removed)

Scoring Method

Flagged double elimination will be used. To win a match judged with flags, over 50% of the judges must vote for you. If there is a tie during the match, the chief judge is the tie breaker. If there is a tie after time has elapsed, an overtime match will occur. The first person to score in overtime wins the match.

Match Length

Each match will last a total of 2 minutes. A 30 second warning will be called out from the chart keeping table.

Ippon vs Sanban

Sanban Kumite - first competitor to 3 points wins the match

Ippon Kumite - first competitor to 1 point wins the match

Determining Victory

Competitors are awarded points based on strikes against their opponent.

Proper demonstration of the following will improve chances of scoring: 

• Proper technique 

• Not leading with your head on punches 

• Control of body after the attack

• Targeting 

• Focus 

• Spirit 

• Distance

The following may cause you to be penalized: 

• Stepping out of ring 

• Not defending yourself 

• Contact 

• Illegal targeting or techniques

• Performing techniques that are dangerous to yourself or your partner. 

Point Values

Wazari: 1/2 point Any single technique that meets the above criteria

Ippon: 1 point. Combination of two techniques that would on their own each score Kick to the head Sweep knocking an opponent off balance followed by a scoring technique

Penalties

• First Warning: no point awarded

• Second Warning: 1/2 point awarded to opponent

• Third Warning: 1 point awarded to opponent

• Fourth Warning: Match lost and victory awarded to opponent

No Contact

Competitors should not make any contact with opponents while free sparring. Techniques should stop 2 inches away from the target in order to score. However, accidents may happen so we require competitors to have the items listed in the Equipment/Attire Section. 

If contact is made, judges will determine if the competitor will receive a penalty. Penalties are typically given if contact is made intentionally, or if the competitor is sparring in an unsafe manner.

Targets

Legal Targets 

• Front and Side of the head 

• Front and side of the torso

Illegal Targets

• Back of head 

• Spine 

• Limbs 

• Throat 

• Shoulders & Shoulder blades

Techniques

Legal techniques: Follow the same path out and back. 

• Jab Punch - Head 

• Reverse Punch - Head & Torso 

• Kicks -Head & Torso 

• Backfist strike - Head 

• Sweeping allowed for advanced ranks and adults. Contact must be made below the ankle and any takedown must control your opponent to the ground.

Illegal techniques: 

• Hook punches 

• Upper Cut 

• Seizing / Holding / Grabbing 

• Open Hand Attacks 

• Shoving 

• Knees 

• Elbows 

• Spinning techniques

Blocking and defending yourself: 

• Cover/guard must be raised once the match has begun or competitor will be penalized 

• Use of Forearm and hands for blocking is allowed. 

• Can use open-handed blocks in order to reduce possibility of striking the limb of the attacker 

• Can not use Legs to block or check a kicking technique

These events will occur if time allows. Three person teams will select a team member to compete against a member from an opposing team. Flagged single elimination will be used to determine winner. Winning two of three individual matches will determine a team victory. 

The same criteria and rules for Individual Kata and Kumite will be used for Advanced Team Events. To win an individual match, over 50% of the judges must vote for you.

Kata

Competitors will perform a kata randomly selected by the chief judge. The possible katas are Heian 1-5 and Tekki Shodan. 

If there is a tie, the chief judge is the tie breaker. There is no tie breaker round in determining victory.

Kumite

One member of each team will be selected to compete in a 1:1 free sparring match. 

If there is a tie during the match, the chief judge is the tie breaker. If there is a tie after time has elapsed, an overtime match will occur. The first person to score in overtime wins the match.