Kumite Exams

If the competition area is elevated another meter to a total of 3 meters is required on all sides.

TRUE

Any Voluntary religious headwear can be worn.

FALSE

The karate-Gi jacket must be more than three-quarters thigh length.

FALSE

The karate-Gi trousers must cover at least two-thirds of the shin.

FALSE

The karate-Gi jacket sleeve must be no longer than the bend of the wrist.

TRUE

If a contestant's karate-Gi jacket sleeves are too long and a suitable replacement cannot be found in time the Referee can allow him to turn them up on the inside.

FALSE

Competitors may wear 1 or 2 discreet rubber band or ponytail retainer in their hair. Ribbons, beads, and other decorations are prohibited.

FALSE

Earrings are allowed if they are covered with tape.

FALSE

Metallic teeth (dental) braces may be worn at the contestant's own risk if approved by the Referee and the Official Doctor.

TRUE

Contestants must bow properly to each other at the start and end of the bout.

TRUE

The coach may change the team fighting order during a round.

FALSE

If a contestant is injured in an individual match the coach can enter a replacement if he notifies the Organising Commission first.

FALSE

Each Judge must be equipped with a red and a blue flag or electronic signal device.

TRUE

If two teams have the same number of victories and points, a deciding bout will be held.

TRUE

The Match Supervisor (KANSA) will be seated just outside the safety area, will be equipped with only a whistle.

FALSE

Disqualification by KIKEN means that the contestants are disqualified from that category.

TRUE

Heels of more than 4 cm may not be worn with the uniform.

TRUE

Senior Male bouts are three minutes, and Women, Cadets, and Juniors, two minutes.

FALSE

Kumite team members may wear any type of Karate Gi.

FALSE

Different type of stripes may be used for team members.

FALSE

A competitor does not need to change the jacket if ties are torn off during the match.

TRUE

Competitors may wear any white Karate Gi.

FALSE

A fast combination of CHUDAN Geri and TSUKI each of which score in their own right will be given IPPON.

FALSE

In Senior matches a light "glove touch" to the throat need no result in a warning or penalty provided there is no actual injury.

FALSE

A kick in the groin will not result in a penalty provided the offender did not do it intentionally.

FALSE

Starting 2023, for Competitors under14 years of age, the WKF approved protective helmet is allowed and compulsory from 1.1.2024.

TRUE

If SENSHU is withdrawn when it is less than 15 seconds left of the bout, no further SENSHU can be awarded to either competitor.

TRUE

Should a competitor that has been awarded SENSHU receives a Category 2 warning for avoiding combat when there is less than 15 seconds left of the bout - the competitor will automatically forfeit this advantage.

FALSE

Voluntary religiously headwear must be approved by the WKF.

TRUE

The WKF Competition Supervisor, or the Organizing Commission, can allow Coaches to instead of the track suit top to use any t-shirt.

FALSE

HANSOKU-CHUI is given when the contestant's potential for winning has been seriously reduced by the opponent's foul.

TRUE

An "exchange" is the period preceding when the bout is halted, and the clock stopped.

TRUE

The weight tolerance admitted for male and female 0.5 kg.

FALSE

HANSOKU is imposed for serious rules infractions.

FALSE

SHIKKAKU can only be imposed after a warning has been given.

FALSE

If a contestant acts maliciously, SHIKKAKU and not HANSOKU is the correct penalty.

TRUE

If a contestant acts maliciously, HANSOKU is the correct penalty.

FALSE

A competitor can be given SHIKKAKU if the behaviour of the coach or non-combatant members of the contestant's delegation is considered to harm the prestige and honour of Karate-do.

FALSE

The same tolerance applies to both the upper and lower limits of a weight class.

TRUE

For individual competition, the Round-robin system followed by quarterfinals, semi-finals and final is applied.

FALSE

There are five criteria to be met in determining a score.

FALSE

A male team must present minimum five competitors for the initial round.

TRUE

Male teams comprise five to seven members with five competing in a round.

TRUE

A female team must present minimum two competitors for the initial round.

FALSE

The maximum 32 Competitors per category are divided in 8 groups of 4 Competitors in the Round-robin system.

TRUE

If the coach continues to interfere after first warning, the Referee will stop the bout, approach the coach again and ask him/her to leave the tatami.

FALSE

If AKA scores just as AO steps outside of the match area, both the score and warning or penalty can be given.

TRUE

If a contestant has been physically propelled from the area, Jogai will be given.

FALSE

In Premier League competition the losers to the finalists in the quarter- and semi-finals compete for the bronze medals.

TRUE

In cases where there is a tie between two or more Competitors in a group, having the same number of total points, the first criteria to consider is the highest World Ranking at the date of the competition.

FALSE

It is possible for a Competitor to be disqualified from a bout (HANSOKU) and continue the competition.

TRUE

A contestant who scores and exits the area before the Referee calls YAME will not receive JOGAI.

TRUE

Contestants cannot be given penalties after the time-up bell has signalled the end of a bout.

FALSE

In Junior competition any technique to the face, head or neck, which causes injury will be warned or penalised unless it is the recipient's own fault.

TRUE

In Cadet and Junior competition Jodan kicks are allowed to make the lightest touch ("skin touch") provided there is no injury.

TRUE

In Senior competition a light touch is allowed for JODAN punches, and a greater tolerance is allowed for JODAN kicks.

FALSE

An already qualified Competitor cannot be disqualified for misconduct (SHIKKAKU) at the end of the Round-robin.

FALSE

If a variation of the competition format other than described in these rules is to be applied for a particular tournament, this has to be clearly announced in the tournament bulletin.

TRUE

A bad behaviour from a coach does not cause a SHIKKAKU to his/her competitor and the competitor does not need to be expelled from the match/bout.

TRUE

When the Judges see a score, they will immediately signal with joy sticks.

FALSE

The referee panel is composed of 1 Tatami Manager, 3 Tatami Manager Assistants.

FALSE

The Referee Panel for each match shall consist of one Referee, four Judges and one Match Supervisor.

FALSE

If after the bout has started a contestant is found not to be wearing a gum-shield the contestant will be disqualified.

FALSE

The Referee will give all commands and make all announcements.

TRUE

Duration of the Kumite bout is: 1.5 minutes for under14 years and younger.

TRUE

If three Judges signal a score for AKA, the Referee must stop the bout even if he believes they are mistaken.

TRUE

If two or more Judges signal a score for the same competitor, the Referee must stop the bout.

TRUE

The timing of a bout starts when the Referee gives the signal to start and stops when the Referee calls "YAME" or when the time is up.

TRUE

The Referee Panel of a Kumite match shall consist of a Referee, four Judges, a Match Supervisor and a Score Keeper.

FALSE

When a competitor slips and falls with the torso not touching the Tatami and is immediately scored upon the opponent will be awarded Ippon.

TRUE

The competitor's coach or its official representative are the only ones allowed to make a protest.

TRUE

If the Referee does not hear the time-up signal the Match Supervisor will blow the whistle.

FALSE

The Competitors only must bow properly to each other at the start of the bout.

FALSE

In individual matches a contestant who withdraws voluntarily from the bout is declared KIKEN and an extra eight points are awarded to the opponent.

FALSE

Awareness is the state of continued commitment, which endures after the technique has landed.

TRUE

If the organizer has a check-up of equipment before line-up, it is still KANSA´S responsibility to ensure that the equipment is in accordance with the rules.

TRUE

A contestant who stays within the match area may score on a contestant outside the match area.

TRUE

ATOSHI BARAKU means "15 seconds of bout time remaining".

TRUE

ATOSHI BARAKU means "10 seconds of bout time remaining".

FALSE

A "skin touch" to the throat is allowed only in Senior competition.

FALSE

If there are no points at the end of a bout in team matches the Referee will call for HANTEI.

FALSE

Excessive contact after repeated failure to block is a consideration for MUBOBI.

TRUE

A contestant may be penalised for exaggeration even when there is an actual injury.

TRUE

The Referee declare the winner; "AO (AKA) NO KACHI", and if necessary, break the tie in case of HANTEI.

TRUE

In the event of a tied score at the end of an inconclusive bout the Referee Panel (the Referee and the four Judges) will decide the bout by HANTEI.

FALSE

When the Referee Panel has made a decision not in accordance with the Rules of Competition, the Match Supervisor (KANSA) will immediately blow his whistle.

TRUE

A competitor should not be penalized for being winded (loss of breath as a consequence of a technique) or simply reacting to an impact even if the technique merited a point by the opponent.

TRUE

In team matches there is no extra bout.

FALSE

Only the first correctly executed technique of a combination will score.

FALSE

Competitors that appear at the competition area with unauthorized equipment or irregular Karate-Gi will be given one minute to correct the attire, and the Coach will automatically lose the right to coach that bout.

FALSE

Competitors that are winded as a result of an impact should be allowed time to catch their breath before the bout is resumed.

FALSE

JODAN is described as the shoulders and the area above the collar bone.

FALSE

IPPON is awarded for JODAN kicks or any techniques against an opponent whose any part of the body other than the feet is in contact with the TATAMI.

TRUE

HANSOKU CHUI will be given for feigning of injury.

FALSE

HANSOKU will be given for the first instance of exaggerating an injury.

FALSE

A loss of breath by the recipient of a blow after receiving a CHUDAN technique does indicate lack of control.

FALSE

A competitor can be given Hansoku directly for exaggerating the effects of injury.

TRUE

A technique even if effective, delivered after an order to suspend or halt the bout shall not be scored and may result in a penalty being imposed on the offender.

TRUE

In Cadet Kumite JODAN kicks are allowed to make a "skin touch" provided there is no injury.

TRUE

Before the start of a match or bout the Tatami Manager should examine the competitor's medical card.

TRUE