1. These
rules and regulations have been adopted for use
at the U.S. Eastern Wado-Ryu Karate-Do
Federation Tournament (CT Patterson Memorial
Championships) and are independent of rules
prescribed by WKF, NASKA, RSKC or any other
sport karate organization. Throughout this
document, the United States Eastern Wado-Ryu
Karate-Do Federation may be referred to as the
USEWRKDF or as the Federation. The President of
the Federation reserves the authority to
amend/rescind any, all, or part of these rules.
2. CENTER
REFEREE: The Center Referee must be
certified/approved by the Federation President,
Arbitrator, Roaming Judge, or Tournament
Committee.
3. COMPETITOR:
Each competitor must present him/herself to the
referee suitably attired with proper uniform
(Rule #9), equipment (Rule #24), and physically
prepared to compete. If he/she is not prepared
to compete as deemed by the center referee, the
competitor may be disqualified.
4. ELIGIBILITY
RULE: Each competitor must be a member in good
standing of the USEWRKDF or have specific
permission from the president of the federation
to participate. 8th Kyu-1st
Kyu and first to fifth dan will be allowed to
compete in individual kata and kumite divisions.
Open Championship Kata, Team Kumite, and Kihon
Kumite Divisions are open for 1st -7th
Dan.
5. DELAY
OF TIME PENALTY: If a competitor is not present
when his/her name is called for competition,
he/she has one minute to the answer or face
disqualification.
6. RANK
RULE: A competitor must compete at the highest
belt level that he/she has earned in Wado-Ryu
karate. A competitor can never compete in a
division of which he/she has not earned the rank
of the division. Exception to the RANK RULE:
Competitors who have earned a black belt rank in
another style of karate but have started the
practice of Wado-Ryu karate at a Federation dojo
should have their instructor request that they
be allowed to enter in the black belt division.
This is on a case by case basis and should be
ruled on by the Federation President,
arbitrator, roaming judge, or Tournament
Committee prior to the beginning of competition.
7. PROOF
OF AGE RULE: All competitors must have proof of
age. If there is a legitimate reason to question
a competitor's age, he/she must present a
document such as a birth certificate or driver's
license to prove his/her age.
8. LEGAL
AGE RULE: An adult competitor shall compete in
the age division that corresponds to their age
the day of the competition. A youth competitor
shall compete only in age division that
corresponds to their age the day of competition.
The exception is 16yo and 17yo may compete in
the Kihon Kumite Division.
9. UNIFORM:
All competitors must wear a complete (top and
bottom), clean traditional white karate gi
(uniform) in good condition. The U.S. Eastern
Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Federation patch should be
worn on the left chest area of the gi. School or
team patches are allowed on the upper sleeve or
back of the gi top. Should the uniform become
excessively torn or bloodied during a sparring
match, it must be replaced before the match will
continue. Not doing so may cause the offending
competitor to forfeit his/her match. The
competitor's appropriate color belt must be worn
in competition. All uniforms must be worn with
sleeves that reach at least to the middle of the
forearm. Males and females may wear a plain
white t-shirt or tank top under the uniform top.
No wearing of jewelry or chewing gum is allowed
in the competition.
10. COMPETITOR
RESPONSIBILITIES: It is the responsibility of
the competitor to know the rules and be ready
for competition when called to do so. He/she
must be suitably attired and at the appropriate
ring when competition begins. Three calls will
be made for competition at ringside. If the
competitor is not at his/her ring ready to
compete when competition begins Delay of Time
may apply. (See rule #5.)
KATA COMPETITION
11.
NUMBER OF OFFICIALS: Five officials
are required in the adult black belt kata
divisions. A minimum of three judges are
required in the junior black belt and under
black belt divisions, although five may be used.
12.
ORDER OF COMPETITION: Once the final
call for the kata division has been made at
ringside, the competition cards will be
collected and shuffled thoroughly. The
competitor cards will then be drawn randomly for
the order of competition. Competitors who arrive
after the competitors are placed in order but
prior to the first competitor entering the ring,
will be placed first in the lineup for the
division. Once the first competitor has entered
the ring no additions may be made.
13.
In division with 5 or more
competitors, the first three competitors will
perform before any scores are awarded. After the
third competitor is finished, the first
competitor will be called to come back for
scoring followed by the second and third
competitors. This is to give the judges a
sampling of the quality of the competitors. All
remaining competitors in the division will be
scored immediately after completing their kata
and judged in comparison to the first three
competitors. If a division has 4 or less
competitors, each competitor will be scored
immediately upon completion of his/her kata.
14.
In the youth kata divisions. If there
are 16 or more competitors, the division will
split by size or rank. Once the new divisions
are assigned, they will continue following rule
#13.
15.
MANDATORY KATA: The following katas
are mandatory choices from which each designated
belt colored competitor must select. In the
USEWRKDF tournament there will be no exceptions
to these choices:
·
White belt 9th kyu Kihon No Kata
Ichi or Ni (basic kata) or Pinan Nidan
·
Gold belt 8th kyu (Same as above)
·
Orange belt 7th kyu Pinan Nidan or
Pinan Shodan
·
Blue belt 6th kyu Pinan Shodan or
Pinan Sandan
·
Purple belt 5th kyu Pinan Sandan
or Pinan Yondan
·
Green belt 4th kyu Pinan Yondan or
Pinan Godan
·
Brown belt 3rd-1st kyu Pinan Godan,
Naihanshi or Kushanku
·
Black belt 1st-5th dan Naihanshi,
Kushanku, Chinto or Seishan
16.
SCORING RANGES OF KATA: USEWRKDF
will only have one scoring range for all belts.
The scoring range will be 8.00 to 10.00 points
(using the two decimal points). When using 5
judges, the scores are tabulated by dropping the
high and low score, then add the remaining three
scores for a total score. If only three Judges
are being used no scores will be dropped and all
three scores added for a total score. When asked
by the Center Referee, all judges will present
their scorecards to be read clearly by the
scorekeeper. The competitor may check his or her
score after the division is completed if it does
not disrupt the division.
17.
PRESENTATION OF KATA: Before entering
the ring, each competitor will rei (bow) then
enter approximately halfway into the kata area
and rei again towards the judges. The competitor
should then clearly announce his/her competition
number, which will have been previously assigned
by the head official. Announcement of the
official kata name by the competitor is
optional. Alternate methods of assigning
competition order may be used in junior
divisions to ensure a competitor is not missed
or skipped.
18.
STARTING A KATA OVER: If a
competitor starts his/her kata for reasons
outside their control, he/she will be able to
restart without penalty. If he/she has to
restart a kata because of the competitor’s
fault, Officials will score as though there was
not a mistake, but the center referee will
instruct the scorekeeper to subtract 1.0 point
from the competitor's total score for each time
they start over. An adult competitor can only
start over one time for scoring. A child
competitor may start over twice.
19.
TIES: To break ties, the high and
low scores will be added back in. If after
adding the high and low, there is still a tie,
they must perform again to break the tie. They
may perform the same kata or a different one as
long as it is in the mandatory kata list (see
above). If there is a second tie, the judges
must be asked on the center judge's command to
point to the competitor who they feel should
win. All judges must make a decision for only
one competitor. If three judges are being used a
re-run is automatic.
KUMITE COMPETITION
20.
Number of Officials: Three judges
are required in all individual kumite divisions,
although it is recommended five judges be used
in adult black belt kumite. Five judges (1 Ring
Head judge and 4 corner judges) are required in
Team Kumite Divisions.
21.
The Center Referee has vested/sole
authority for the following:
A.
Starting and stopping the match.
B.
Final decision regarding the score of the
match.
C.
To issue/call for a vote on penalty/rule
infractions. (Any warning or penalty point must
be made prior to making a call for a point).
D.
Issuing time-outs.
E.
To disqualify any competitor that
exhibits disrespect and/or unsportsmanlike
conduct toward any official, other competitor or
spectator. (This exception also applies to kata
competition.)
22.
CALLS OFFICIALS (CENTER REFEREE AND
JUDGES) MAY MAKE: When the center referee
believes there has been a significant exchange
of techniques, or when signaled to do so by a
corner judge, he/she shall call out the word,
"matte" or "stop" in a loud voice. (Judges who
believe there has been a significant exchange
shall yell "Call"). The center referee shall
then return the competitors to their starting
marks and addresses the judges by saying,
"judge’s call". All judges and the center
referee cast their votes simultaneously and
assertively in the following manner:
·
Point Calling - When signaled by
the center referee, each official immediately
points to the competitor who he/she believes to
have scored the point.
·
No Point Scored - An official
crosses his/her wrist at waist level to indicate
that he/she believes that a point was not
scored.
·
Did Not See If A Point Was Scored
(No See)- The official holds his/her hand over
his/her eyes indicating that he/she could not
clearly see whether a point was scored or not.
This signal has the same effect as saying "no
point", but it indicates to the referee,
competitors and spectators that no point was not
called.
·
Clash - Officials make a motion as
though they are hitting both fists together,
indicating that both competitors attacked but
with no decisive point scored. This call equals
a no point call.
·
Penalty Point - The official
points the index finger of one hand towards the
offended competitor while holding the pointing
hand in the palm of the free hand. (The
official points at the competitor receiving the
point.) 6) Disqualification - A disqualification
vote is taken separately from any other vote.
When a disqualification vote is asked for, the
referee will say, "Judges call". The judges will
then point to the competitor who is to be
disqualified (in the same manner as described
above) and make a circular motion with both
hands. If an official does not feel the
competitor should be disqualified, he/she
signals by crossing the wrists at waist level.
23.
LATE CALLS: All officials should make
their calls at the same time. If in the opinion
of the center referee, the corner judges are
making late calls intentionally, the referee
will disqualify the call. Noise making it
difficult for the judges to hear the center
referee and the honest mistakes such as pointing
at the wrong competitor should be taken into
consideration not to disqualify the call.
24.
PROTEST: A competitor has the right
to protest an infraction of the rules or if
he/she believes a mistake was made (not a
judgment call). To protest, he/she should first
let the Center Referee know he/she believes
there has been a mistake. The Center Referee
will summon the arbitrator to the ring to render
a decision if the Center Referee or roaming
judge cannot settle the protest to the
competitor's satisfaction. All protests must be
made in an orderly, proper, and sportsmanlike
manner. All protests must be made immediately.
Protests are not allowed once competition has
resumed. A competitor may be penalized or even
disqualified if he/she is protesting improperly
or without proper cause.
25.
REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR KUMITE
(SPARRING): Approved headgear; hand and foot
pads, mouthpieces and groin cups (for male
competitors only) are mandatory for all
competitors in kumite divisions. The
competitor's equipment will be checked and if it
is deemed unsafe, he/she will be asked to change
the equipment before he/she can compete. Hand
Pads: A soft padded surface must cover all
striking area of the hand and wrist. Foot Pads:
A soft padded surface must cover the instep,
sides, toes, ankle and the heel of the foot.
Head Gear: The forehead, sides and back of the
head must be covered by a soft padded surface.
All equipment must be in a good state of repair
and must be free of heavy taping, tears or any
other repairs that may cause injury. A protest
by a competitor about the legality of any Safety
Equipment must be made prior to competition
beginning. The Center Official will call for a
ruling before continuing.
26.
CONTACT:
Adult under belt divisions, all junior
divisions (including junior black belt).
Contact is not mandatory to score. A legal
technique stopped approximately two inches away
without being blocked is eligible for scoring.
Note: Although not required, light touch is
permissible to legal target areas
except the face or face
shield.
Adult Black Belt Divisions.
Contact is mandatory to score.
FOR ALL DIVISIONS: If the head or
body of any competitor is visibly moved or blood
is drawn as a direct result of contact, a
warning will be issued to the offending
competitor. Any egregious or intentional
display of excessive contact may result in an
automatic penalty point to the offended
competitor or immediate disqualification of the
offending competitor without prior warning.
27.
THE RING: The size of the fighting
and form rings will be approximately 19' x 19'.
Starting lines should be marked approximately
three feet apart in the middle of the ring.
Additionally, each ring should be posted with a
visible ring number.
28.
WEIGHING-IN: A competitor found
intentionally competing in the incorrect weight
division may be disqualified. It is the
competitor’s responsibility to make the weight.
29.
ORDER OF COMPETITION: Once the final
call for the kumite division has been made at
ringside, the division is ready to be set up.
The competition cards should be collected and
counted (if competition cards are not used,
competitors are counted) to see if byes are
needed. If byes are needed, they will be picked
randomly. Bye charts will be issued. Matches
should always be organized randomly, but certain
allowances should be given to competitors from
the same school in the first round of
competition if possible.
30.
In the youth kumite divisions. If
there are 16 or more competitors, the division
will split by size or rank. Once the new
divisions are assigned, they will continue
following rule #29.
31.
LENGTH OF MATCH: Two-minute running
time unless three points are scored before time
has expired.
32.
MAJORITY VOTE: Points are awarded by
a majority vote of all judges. The majority of
judges do not have to agree on the same
technique being scored, only that a point was
scored.
33.
WHAT IS A POINT: A point is a
controlled legal sport karate technique
delivered by a competitor who has at least one
foot in the ring (rule #34). The competitor must
also execute the technique with the proper
focus/control (See rule #26 for contact) and
maintain balance before, during, and after. To
score, all hand techniques must be made with a
fully closed fist with the exception of ridge
hand strikes. Pads must remain completely on at
all times. Intentionally wearing hand or foot
pads partially off in order to gain reach may be
grounds for penalty points to be issued or
disqualification. Diving or falling for any
reason while attempting to score invalidate the
point. Eyes must remain on the opponent (no
blind techniques).
34.
OUT-OF-BOUNDS: A competitor is
out-of-bounds as soon as he/she does not have at
least one foot touching inside or on the
boundary line. An out of bounds competitor
cannot score a point while out of bounds. In
bounds competitor can score on an out of bounds
competitor if the center referee has not called
stop.
35.
END OF TIME: At the end of time the
time keeper will throw the end of time bag in
the ring and yell “Time” to signal the Center
Referee that time has expired. However, action
continues until the Center Referee calls
“Time”. Any offensive
action prior to the Center Referee
calling “Time” is eligible for a point. Any
offensive
action after the Center Referee calls “Time” is
grounds for penalization (or penalty call).
36.
POINT VALUES AND WINNER
DETERMINATION: All techniques that score will
be awarded one point. All penalty points awarded
will be awarded one point. The competitor who
first earns three points or is ahead at the end
of the two-minute period is declared the winner.
If a match is tied at the end of two minutes, a
sudden victory (first person to score a point)
overtime period will determine the match.
37.
LEGAL TARGET/ AREAS: Entire head and
face (see rule #26 for face contact), ribs,
chest, abdomen, collarbone and kidneys.
38.
ILLEGAL TARGET AREAS: Spine, back of
neck, throat, eyes, sides of the neck, groin,
legs, knees and back.
39.
NON-TARGET AREAS: Hips, shoulders,
buttocks, arms, and feet.
40.
LEGAL TECHNIQUES: Legal techniques
are all controlled sport karate techniques,
except those listed as illegal.
41.
ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES: Axe Kicks, head
butts, hair pulls, bites, scratches, elbows,
knees, pushing/shoving, eye attacks of any kind,
open hand techniques other than ridge hand, take
downs, ground fighting, any stomps or kicks to
the head of a downed competitor, slapping,
grabbing for more than one second, uncontrolled
or blind techniques, throws, and any other
uncontrolled dangerous techniques that are
deemed unsafe in sport karate.
42.
GRABBING: A competitor may grab the
uniform of his/her opponent for one second in an
attempt to score immediately with a sport karate
technique after which time he/she must release
the uniform.
43.
SWEEPS: Sweeps to off-balance an
opponent may be used if immediately followed by
a legal sport karate kick or strike. Sweeps can
only be executed to the back/side of the lead
foot on the padded surface. A sweep must be
deemed a proper sweep and not a kick to be
legal. Sweeps that take down an opponent may be
penalized. A sweep may never be executed on the
supporting leg of a kicking competitor.
44.
RESETTING COMPETITORS: If any part of
a competitor besides the feet touch the ground
the Center Referee should call “Stop/Matte” and
reset the match. If due to action, a competitor
has both feet out of the ring the other
competitor should be given a chance to
immediately score. If no attack is made the
competitors will be reset.
45.
WARNINGS AND PENALTIES: One warning
is given for breaking the rules before a penalty
point is awarded. However, if the severity of
the first rules violation is deemed by the
center referee too severe, a penalty point can
be issued immediately. Only two penalty points
will be issued, any infraction of the rules
afterwards is automatic disqualification.
46.
Other Cause for Penalization:
Attacking illegal and non-target areas, using
illegal techniques, running out of the ring to
avoid fighting, falling to the floor to avoid
fighting, continuing after being ordered to
stop, excessive stalling, blind, negligent or
reckless attacks, uncontrolled techniques,
failure to protect oneself, showing
unsportsmanlike behavior by the competitor
(show-boating), excessive contact, and delay of
time are examples of possible penalization.
47.
DISQUALIFICATION: Requires a majority
vote by all officials, unless disqualification
is automatic or falls under rule #21(E). No
entry fees will be refunded to a disqualified
competitor.
NOTE: If, in the opinion of the referee
and/or the medical personnel, a competitor
cannot continue because of an injury caused by
an illegal or penalized attack executed by
his/her competitor, the offending competitor
shall be automatically disqualified.
48.
Wrong Division: If any competitor
competes in a division he/she does not qualify
to compete in due to age, weight, rank, gender,
style, etc., he/she will be disqualified.
49.
COACHING: 1) No competitor may
receive direct technical coaching during a match
from an instructor, teammate or spectator. 2)
Never, at any time, can a coach, instructor,
teammate or spectator enter the ring without the
center referee's permission. 3) No abusive,
violent, disrespectful or jeering comments will
be allowed from coaches, instructors, teammates
or spectators. 4) Coaches, instructors,
teammates or spectators cannot ask for a time
out. Only the competitor may ask for a time out.
5) Coaches, instructors, teammates or spectators
can never, at any time interfere with the proper
running of the ring or the decisions of the
judges.
Special Competitions
50.
TEAM KUMITE: There shall be one
referee and four corner judges for this event.
Three judges/referee must point to a competitor
for a point to be awarded during a call. The
team kumite competition shall be for the
USEWRKDF Wado Cup. This trophy shall be held by
the winning dojo and returned to the Federation
tournament each succeeding year. Each team shall
be comprised of 1 black belt (1st-7th
Dan), 1 Brown belt and 1 Green belt or below
consisting of adult men of any weight or age.
Each competition will start with the White-Green
belt and work up to the black belt. The first
two matches will be one minute and the first
competitor to reach three points or ahead at end
of time will win and end the match. These scores
will be recorded and will be cumulative for the
team. The third match is also one minute but has
no point limit. If there is a tie at the end of
the three matches, the competitors of the third
match will compete for a sudden victory. In the
event of a disqualification during one of the
first two matches the score will be recorded as
3 - 0, 0 going to the disqualified competitor¹s
team. In the event of disqualification during
the third match, the disqualified competitor¹s
team loses by disqualification regardless of the
cumulative score.
51.
KIHON KATA: There shall be Five
Senior Dan officials which include the Head Ring
Judge. Teams will compete by luck of the draw,
best of two continues to next round. The Head
Ring judge will give the score keeper a number
between 1 and the amount of teams competing,
then ask the team leaders of each team to choose
a number. Each team will be place in the order
of closest to the number given to the Score
Keeper. If there is an odd number of teams then
one team will be given a bye to the next round.
To determine the by, the team furthest away from
the number given to the score keeper will get
the by. Once teams are placed in order of
competition the teams will line up around the
ring. The judges will be setting facing the
middle of the ring with head judge in the middle
of the other 4 judges. First team will be
called to compete. The team will come into the
ring half way and bow to the judges then face
each other bow to each other and run the kata.
Attacker on the left of judges and the defender
on the right of the judges. Once completed the
kata will be ran again with the defender now the
attacker and the attacker now the defender.
Once this is done the team will bow to each
other and bow to the judges. Then exit the
ring. The next team will enter the ring when
called and follow the bow in process and execute
the kata as the first team. Once finish the
second team will stay in the ring and the first
team will be called into the ring. The Head
Ring judge will either say “call” or blow a
whistle and each judge will give a hand signal
to the winning team. The winning team will exit
the ring and stand by for second set of
elimination. The other team is complete and no
longer in the match. The competition will
continue by twos until the first set of
eliminations are completed. Second set of
eliminations will continue by twos and if needed
there will be a third set of eliminations.
Eliminations will be conducted until one team is
left. If there is an odd number of teams in the
other eliminations then a bye will be given to
the defending
championship team from the previous year
if last
year’s champions are not competing the
team that comes closest to a number
the Head Ring judge gives the score keeper.
That team will be presented a trophy cup by the
Head Ring judge. For each round elimination,
the following Kihon Kata will be ran; first
eliminations Kihon Kata 1, second elimination
Kihon 2, third eliminations Kihon 3, and if
needed forth eliminations Kihon Kata 4.
52.
OPEN BLACK BELT COMPITITION:
a.
KATA – Kata will be ran in the same
fashion as the Kihon Kata. Eliminations every 2
competitors. Elimination katas well be the
following, first round elimination is Naifanchi,
Round 2 Chinto, Round 3 Seishan and Round 4, Any
Wado-Ryu Kata competitor’s choice.
i.
5 Judges will
watch two competitors perform kata separately
and then indicate the better of the two which
will advance to next round. If there is a bye
it will go to the defending champion but if not
present then luck of the draw. Judging criteria
is the same as the regular tournament divisions.
b.
KUMITE – First
Place Awards only, separate Divisions for Men
and Women. Men and women 18 and Older, any Dan
grade. Single Eliminations, Luck of the Draw, If
bye is necessary it will go to defending
champion if present. Award to First
Place Only. Regular kumite rules as
in the tournament.
