Competition Rules

Rules & Regulations

Competition rules for the 2026 West Coast Open International Martial Arts Championships. Jump to the discipline you're competing in.

Discipline
Kumite Rules
Point sparring rules, scoring, and prohibited behavior
Discipline
Kata Rules
Forms competition format, judging, and division rules
Discipline
Kobudo Rules
Traditional weapons forms — full rules coming soon
Tournament Director's Discretion. The Tournament Director reserves the right to add, eliminate, combine, or split divisions. Intermediate and advanced divisions will be separated/split whenever possible. Beginner and novice divisions will be separated/split whenever possible.
Discipline

Kumite Rules

Point sparring — required equipment, division rules, scoring, and prohibited behavior.

I. Required Equipment

  • Clean white karate-gi
  • Red and blue WKF-style fist pads; red and blue belt
  • Red, blue, or white USA Karate / WKF-style shin/foot protectors
  • Mouth guard
  • Groin guard (male contestants)
  • USA Karate / WKF-style shin and instep protection (recommended)
  • Head gear and body protection for contestants under 14 (recommended)

II. Divisions

All kumite and kata divisions use the repechage system to determine third place. If a bout ends in a tie, the contestant that scored first unopposed (Senshu) wins. Without Senshu, the winner is decided by most ippons or waza-aris. Otherwise, the judges decide the winner (Hantei) based on superior tactics.

Age Division

13 years and under

  • Duration of bout: 1:00 (Advanced: 1:30)
  • 8-point spread
  • Light skin touch to the head, face, or neck allowed (not the throat)
  • Jodan techniques can score when stopped within 10 cm of the target for kicks, 5 cm for punches
Age Division

14–17 years

  • Duration of bout: 1:30 (Advanced: 2:00)
  • 8-point spread
  • Light skin touch to the head, face, or neck allowed (not the throat)
  • 14–15: Jodan techniques can score at 10 cm for kicks, 5 cm for punches
  • 16–17: Jodan techniques can score at 5 cm for kicks, 2 cm for punches
Age Division

18+ years

  • Duration of bout: 1:30 (Advanced: 2:00)
  • 8-point spread
  • Light touch to the face, neck, or head can score (not the throat)
  • 18+ Advanced: WKF rules apply

III. Scoring

Target areas: head, face, neck (including the throat), chest, side, back, abdomen. To score, the technique must meet all six scoring criteria.

1

Yuko

1 point. Tsuki (punches) or uchi (strikes) to any of the seven target areas.

2

Waza-Ari

2 points. Keri (kicks) to the back, side, chest, or abdomen.

3

Ippon

3 points. Kicks to the face, head, or neck; or any scoring technique delivered on an opponent while any part of the opponent's body (other than their feet) is on the tatami.

IV. Prohibited Behavior

  • Techniques with excessive contact given the target area, or contact with the throat
  • Attacks to the arms, legs, groin, joints, or instep
  • Attacks to the face with open-hand techniques (e.g. teisho or nukite)
  • Dangerous or forbidden throwing techniques
  • Feigning or exaggerating injury
  • Exit from the competition area (Jogai) not caused by the opponent
  • Self-endangerment (Mubobi) — exposing oneself to injury or failing to self-protect
  • Avoiding combat to prevent the opponent from scoring
  • Passivity — not attempting to engage after a short period
  • Clinching, wrestling, pushing, seizing, or standing chest-to-chest without a technique
  • Grabbing with both hands for anything other than a takedown from catching a kicking leg
  • Grabbing the opponent's arm or gi with one hand without immediately attempting a technique or takedown
  • Uncontrolled techniques that can't safely be executed
  • Attacks with the head, knees, or elbows
  • Talking to or goading the opponent; failing to obey the referee's orders
  • Discourteous behavior toward officials or other breaches of etiquette

V. Warnings & Penalties

Warnings
Chui 1 · Chui 2 · Chui 3 · Hansoku Chui
Disqualification
Hansoku · Shikkaku
Discipline

Kata Rules

Forms competition — judging format and division-specific requirements.

General Rules

  • All divisions use the repechage system to determine third place
  • Red and blue flag system will be used
  • Competitors (aka and ao) will perform their kata simultaneously

Division Requirements

Level

Beginner & Novice

  • Can repeat the same kata in each round
  • Must perform only from this list:
  • Taikyoku / Kihon kata
  • Heian / Pinan kata
  • Gekisai / Chi no kata
  • Fukyu / Ten no kata
Level

Intermediate

  • Can repeat the same kata in each round
  • Should perform intermediate-level kata based on the intermediate list from USA Karate
Level

Advanced

  • Required to alternate at least 2 kata in each round

18+ Advanced

  • Flag system will be used
  • Competitors age 16 and above can compete in this division
  • Must alternate at least 2 kata
Discipline

Kobudo Rules

Traditional weapons forms competition.

Full rules coming soon. Kobudo division rules for the 2026 tournament are being finalized. Check back before the event, or contact us at csweigart9@comcast.net if you have specific questions.