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In standard kata and kumite competition, the fighting arena measures 8m x 8m (25sq ft) and should be level and empty.
The panel for each kumite match comprises one referee, two judges and one arbitrator. A number of timekeepers and record keepers are also present.

The duration of a kumite bout is three minutes for senior males and two minutes for females. The referees and judges take up their prescribed positions on the mat. Following an exchange of bows between participating contestants, the referee announces 'shobu hajime'
and the bout then begins. When either of the contestants scores, the referee shouts 'yame' and orders them back to their starting lines while he returns to his.
The point is awarded and the fight resumes.

When a contestant has established a clear lead of eight points during a bout, the referee again calls 'yame' and the contestants return to their lines. The winner is declared and the referee, standing between the two contestants
indicates the winner, declaring 'shiro (white, or occasionally, blue - belt) or aka (red belt) no kachi'. The bout ends at this point.

It is important that contestants remain alert after the call of 'yame'. One contetant may not have heard it above the perhiperal noise that inevitably accompanies tournaments, or as a result of a deep level of concentration that shuts out activity beyond that of a fight.

Neither contestant should, therefore, allow their concentration to lapse until they are absolutely sure the fight has officially ended.

Attacks are limited to the head, face, neck, abdomen, chest, back and sides. The result of a bout is determined when a contestant obtains a clear lead of eight points, or the allotted three minutes have passed and one contestant may have a distint points advantage.
One contestant may have a decision (hantei) against them, a hansoku (disqualified for making hard contact), shikakku (disqualified from a bout, match or competition), or a kikken (renunciation) imposed against an opponent.

When a bout ends with equal or no points scored, the winner is decided by vote of the referee panel. The decision is based on the following:

  • attitude
  • fighting spirit
  • strength
  • tactics
  • techniques
  • contestant initiating the majority of the action

  • techniques that make excessive contact
  • techniques that make contact with the throat
  • attacks to the arms or legs, groin or instep
  • attacks to the face with open hand techniques
  • dangerous throwing techniques that cause injury
  • attack with the head, knees or elbows
  • repeated exits from the competition area
  • self-endangerment (behavior that exposes the contestant to injury by the opponent)
  • techniques that, by their nature, cannot be controlled and jepordize the saftey of the opponent)
  • dangerous and uncontrolled attacks
  • avoiding contact to prevent the opponent fron scoring
  • talking to or goading the opponent
  • failing to obey the orders of the referee
  • discourteous behavior towards officials or other breaches of etiquette
  • unecessary clinching, wrestling, pushing or seizing without attempting a striking technique
  • grabbing and attepting to throw or take down the opponent without making a genuine attack - except when the opponent attempts to grab or throw first
  • throwing where the pivotal point is above the hip

Contestants in tournaments are required to wear a white, unmarked karate gi without stripes or piping, No jewellery or headbands may be worn and although a discreet hair clip is allowed in kata, hair slides and metal hair grips are prohibited in a kumite match.
Contestants must have short fingernails and women are allowed to wear a plain white T-shirt underneath their karate jackets. Protective boxes and soft shin guards are allowed, white mitts and mouth guards are compulsory.
Shin-instep protectors are forbidden. Contestants are not permitted to wear glasses, but soft contact lenses may be worn. Women are allowed to wear authorized additional protective equipment, such as breast padding.

  • Ai-Uchi - Simultaneous scoring technique
  • Aka-Red - belt contestant in kumite
  • Aka (shiro) ippon - Red (white) scores one point
  • Aka (shiro) nihon - Red (white) scores two pointsAka (shiro) no kachi - Red (white) wins
  • Aka (shiro) sanbon - Red (white) scores three points
  • Aoi - Blue
  • Atoshi - baraku - A little more time left
  • Chukoku - First category 1 or category 2 warning without penalty
  • Encho - Prolonging match time
  • Encho-sen - Final extension of time
  • Fusen-Gachi - Victory by default
  • Fukushin-shugo - Calling the judges together
  • Hajime - Begin or commence
  • Hansoku - Disqualification
  • Hansoku-chui - Warning with nihon penalty
  • Hansoku-make -Lose by disqualification 
  • Hantei - Judge’s decision/decision; judgement. Referee calls for judgement by blowing his whistle and judges render their decision by flag signal 
  • Hikiwake - Draw; referee crosses arms over chest, then uncrosses and holds arms out from the body with the palms showing upwards
  • Ippon - One point
  • Jikan - Take time
  • Jogai - Exit from fighting area/out of bounds. Referee points with index finger at a 45° angle to the area boundary on the side of the offender
  • Jogai-chui - Warning for leaving the match area
  • Jogai keikoku - Second exit from fighting area. Waza-ari penalty given to opponent
  • Jogai Hansuko Chui - 4th and final exit from the fighting area. 4th exit causes victory to the opponent.
  • Kansai - Arbitrator
  • Keikoku - Severe warning/warning with waza-ari penalty in sanbon shobu. Penalty added to opponents score. Imposed for minor infractions for which a warning has previously been given in the bout. Referee points index finger to feet of offender at angle of 45° . 
  • Kiken - Renunciation
  • Mienai - Signal given by judges if they are unsure that the technique reached
  • Moto-no-ichi - Original position
  • Mubobi - Self endangerment.
    Warning for lack of regard for one’s own safety. Referee points 1 index finger in the air at a 60° angle on side of offender. 
  • Nihon - Two points
  • Otagai-ni-rei - Bow to each other
  • Rensei - Practice tournament. Competitors are critiqued in their performance
  • Shiai - A match or a contest (event) 
  • Shiai Jo - Ring; 8x8 m/10x10 m
  • Shido -Light warning Sanbon - Three points
  • Shikkaku - Disqualification from a bout, match and competition for a serious breach of karate rules and/or regulations
  • Shiro - white-belt contestant
  • Shobu-Hajime - Start the match or bout
  • Shogo - Judges called
  • Shushin - Referees
  • Torimasen - Unacceptable scoring technique
  • Tsuzukete Hajime - Resume match or bout
  • Yame - Stop

 

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