Rules for Officials

Conduct: Conduct yourselves at all times with confidence, respectfulness and good manners. Maintain a friendly aloof manner. At your station you are in charge. Avoid familiarity with any competitor. Render all judgments immediately and fairly. Do not hesitate to warn any one of disrespectful behavior and, if, it continues report, or, disqualify him. In the Kumite rings, the Center Referee is in charge at all times. He may be replaced only by the Tournament Director. Help keep the enjoyment level, of being in the competitions, high; especially for the lower grades. You are a role model; be a good one. Try to keep the "magic" alive.

Empty Hand Kata

Only regular kata allowed. No "Free Style", "Musical", "Team", "Tournament" or any other modern affectation that plagues today's tournaments will be allowed. This includes gymnastic routines in kata.
Judging: When rendering judgment for Kata competition these factors must be considered:
1. Kata is highly individualistic.
2. The chances are very good you do not know the kata being performed.
3. When you do know the kata being performed, stylistic differences can cause you to assume the performance is incorrect; when, in fact, the competitor is executing the maneuvers in accordance with his style's directives.
4. Do not expect lower grades to perform to Black Belt standards. Keep in mind the level of the division you are judging.
5. There are universal biomechanical principles that allow you to know, through observation, if the competitor is performing the kata correctly.
Scoring: Between zero and ten is awarded the competitor after his kata is completed. Zero is awarded if the competitor does not finish his kata, or, unintentionally falls down during the performance of his kata. Ten is awarded when the kata performance was perfect. Five stands for average performance for the level of the competitor. Scores should range between four and eight for most of the competitors. Half points or tenths of a point are also used in scoring the performances. Whether halves or tenths are used is up to the discretion of the Tournament Director. A minimum of five Judges is used. Seven Judges are preferable. The high and low scores are ignored in tallying the total; excepting the case of a tie.
First the low score given is used as the tie breaker; failing at this, the high score is used.
If still tied: both competitors repeat the kata they previously performed; and, the Judges score them again.
If this fails to break the tie, both are awarded the place. The place below is vacated. For example: for First Place, both receive First Place; there is no Second Place, Third Place receives Third Place, not, Second Place.
Match procedure: An announcement will be made in the competitor staging area for a division to assemble. The division will be led single file out to the competition area. Competitors will line up, opposite the Judges, in the order that they will compete. At the command, "Bow to the Judges" they bow to the Judges and the Judges bow to them. The competitors (and Judges) then sit down, in order, in the area designated to them. The first competitor will be called up to perform and the next competitor will be notified to be "On Deck" to warm up. Starting at the left back corner of the ring, the competitor will walk along the line to the center of the back line, turn to face the Judges, then, enter the ring. The competitor will walk up to within two meters of the Judges; bow to them and announce his name, his style, and the name of the kata is about to perform. If there is any special announcement regarding his performance, he makes it at this time. For example: "I will end facing to the left at the conclusion of the kata instead of facing forward as is normal". The competitor then bows to the Judges, backs away from them to the place he wishes to start, and commences his routine. It is the responsibility of the competitor to place himself in the proper location so he may complete his kata without interruption. At the end of his performance, he faces to the Judges, bows to them, does an about face, and marches to the back line, turns and walks along the back line to the right back corner and sits down in his place in the line of competitors. At this time the Judge in charge of the ring announces, "Gentlemen are you ready?", then, "Call for points." At this time the scores are raised so the Scorekeeper can read and record them as he walks be hind the Judges. The scorekeeper taps him on the shoulder and says "Thank you" to each of the Judges when he finishes recording the score of the Judge. The Judge may now return the score cards to his lap.

Weapon's Kata

Judging: The rules for Weapons Kata are exactly the same as the rules for Empty Hand Kata with these exceptions:

The kata is stopped and a score of zero is given, if, the competitor drops a weapon.
All weapons used must be real; and, the proper weight and size for the competitor. No "light weight" or "toothpick" Bo, wooden Kama, or "break apart" weapons are allowed. The decision of the Tournament Director is final in these types of matters.
No Nunchaku, Sword, or any other kata the Tournament Director deems inappropriate are allowed.
It is the responsibility of the competitor to place himself in the proper location so he may complete his kata without interruption or endangering the Judges or anyone else.

Bogu Kumite

Judging: The Center Referee runs the ring. He may overrule a Side Judge's decision; but, not both of them, if they are in agreement. When rendering judgment, the power of the strikes and which opponent physically dominated the other is what is important Good attitude, honor, and respect are wonderful things, especially in a winner; but, are no grounds for winning or losing in Bogu Kumite. If both are standing when time is called, don't be worried, call it the way you saw it. If you saw it as a draw, call it a draw.
Awarding point procedure: Normally, Bogu Kumite, as practiced by us, has a non stop, no points match setup. In those special times where the point system is used these are the rules for awarding points. The point must land on a target area (an area covered by head or body armor, or, the legs from mid thigh upwards including the groin area). The strike must be seen to enter cleanly and with enough power that, were no armor present, the opponent would be rendered incapable of continuing to fight, or, killed. After seeing a point any judge or referee should shout "point." The referee will break the opponents. Time will stop on his command "Break." The competitors move to their prospective start positions and the referee calls "Ready, Point." Referee and judges lift corresponding arm overhead towards the competitor to be awarded the point. If one side judge awards to a competitor he receives ½ point, if two Side Judges a full point, if the Center Referee a full point. In the event both Side Judges award one competitor and the Center Referee the other, both get a full point. If the Center Referee is positive no point was scored, he may, after consulting with the side judge, rule no ½ point to be awarded. He may not over rule both Side Judges.
Match procedure: An announcement will be made in the competitor staging area for a division to assemble. The division will be led single file out to the competition area. Competitors will line up, opposite the Judges, in the order that they will compete. At the command, "Bow to the Judges" they bow to the Judges and the Judges bow to them. The competitors then sit down, in order, in the area designated to them. The first set of competitors will be dressed by the equipment handlers (E/H) and led to the ring. The second set will immediately be dressed afterwards. The competitors will bow to the Center Referee then to each other at the command of the referee, "Bow to me", "To each other". At the command "Fighting positions", competitors assume their fighting stances., "Fight" they begin. At the command "Break" both competitors cease fighting and back away from each other with guards up. At the command "On line" both competitors return to their start positions. To continue the bout, the Center Referee gives the command, "Continue". At the end of the match the score/time keeper throws a blue bean bag into the ring to notify the Center Referee. The Center Referee calls "Break", then, "Ready, Point." Referee and judges lift corresponding arm overhead towards the competitor to be awarded the victory. Normally, the Center Referee and at least one of the Side Judges agree on one competitor. In the case of the Center Referee indicating one victor and the two Side Judges a tie, the match goes to the Center Referee's decision. If the Center Referee indicates a tie and, either, both of the Side Judges indicate one competitor, or, one a tie and the other a victor, the match goes according to the Side Judges opinion. In the event of a tie, (two Side Judges for one, Center Referee for the other) the competitors fight for another round. This continues until one is finally declared the winner. Center Referee says then "Bow to each other", "To me", then announces "winner" and lifts his corresponding arm overhead towards the winner. The winner reports to the score/time keeper then to the E/H nearby to remove his gear and is escorted to the winners' pool by the E/H. The loser reports to the far side E/H, is undressed and escorted to the losers' pool. At the end of the competition they are led back to the staging area.
Disqualifications: When the decision has been made to award the match to a competitor due to the disqualification of his opponent, the Center Referee announces, "winner by Technical Knockout" or "winner by disqualification" or "winner due to opponent incompetence".
Ejection procedure: Ask the competitor to leave the competition area and summon security to remove him from the premises.

Jiyu Kumite

Judging: When rendering judgment for a point, you must see the impact. Hearing is not enough. The technique must land on a target area for points. The blow must not be heavy or full contact but must have been able to cause severe damage if it had not been deliberately pulled by the competitor. No front hand back knuckle strikes may count nor a fully extended technique which had expended its force before making contact.
Awarding point procedure: After seeing a point any judge or referee should shout "point." The Center Referee will break the opponents. Time will stop on his command "Break." The competitors move to their prospective start positions and the referee calls "Ready, Point." Lift corresponding arm overhead towards the competitor to be awarded the point. If one side judge awards to a competitor he receives ½ point, if two Side Judges a full point, if the Center Referee a full point. In the event both Side Judges award one competitor and the Center Referee the other, both get a full point. If the Center Referee is positive no point was scored, he may, after consulting with the side judge, rule no ½ point to be awarded. He may not over rule both Side Judges.
Match procedure: An announcement will be made in the competitor staging area for a division to assemble. The division will be led single file out to the competition area. Competitors will line up, opposite the Judges, in the order that they will compete. At the command, "Bow to the Judges" they bow to the Judges and the Judges bow to them. The competitors then sit down, in order, in the area designated to them. The first set of competitors will be dressed by the equipment handlers (E/H) and led to the ring. The second set will immediately be dressed afterwards. The competitors will bow to the Center Referee then to each other at the command of the referee, "Bow to me", "To each other". At the command "Fighting positions", competitors assume their fighting stances., "Fight" they begin. At the command "Break" both competitors cease fighting and back away from each other with guards up. At the command "On line" both competitors return to their start positions. To continue the bout, the Center Referee gives the command, "Continue". At the end of the match the score/time keeper throws a blue bean bag into the ring to notify the Center Referee. The Center Referee calls "Break" then "Bow to each other", "To me". The score/time keeper holds up the color paddle of the winner. Center Referee announces, "winner" and lifts his corresponding arm overhead towards the winner. The winner reports to the score/time keeper then to the E/H nearby to remove his gear and is escorted to the winners' pool by the E/H. The loser reports to the far side E/H, is undressed and escorted to the losers' pool. At the end of the competition they are led back to the staging area.
Disqualifications: When the decision has been made to award the match to a competitor due to the disqualification of his opponent, the Center Referee announces, "winner by Technical Knockout" or "winner by disqualification" or "winner due to opponent incompetence".