AMERICAN BUSHIDO-KAI KARATE
TOURNAMENT RULES
INDIVIDUAL KATA
1. Kata scores determined by: correct movement, expression and performance of technique, attitude/spirit exhibited, kata technique difficulty, fight dynamics (form-power-focus-speed)
2. Scoring for below black belt rank will start at 5 and go to 9.
Scoring for black belts will start at 7 and go to 10.
· Left hand – closed fist denotes 5 points
· Right hand – indicates full points (3 fingers above closed fist is 8 points)
· ¼ point will be designated by right under held on top left closed fist
· ½ points will be designated by a crossed wrist/forearm.
· ¾ point will be designated by right hand held under left closed fist
· EXAMPLE –
o 8 ½ score - Left Hand closed fist, Right Hand 3 fingers extended with Right Wrist crossed over the top of Left Wrist pointing down
o 7 ¾ score – Left Hand closed fist, Right Hand 2 fingers extended with Right Fist sitting under Left Closed Fist
o 6 ¼ score – Left Hand closed fist, Right Hand 1 finger extended with Right fist sitting on top of Left Closed Fist
o 5 score – minimum score Extend Left Closed fist with Right Hand on lap
3. In divisions of 6 or more: the first 3 competitors will be scored together after each have performed their kata
4. Tie scores will be decided by competitors performing the first kata of their system (or a repeat of the kata performed) and the judges will point to the one they judge as best.
5. Judges must be objective, attentive and consistent throughout the division from the first to the last competitor.
6. Judges must be black belts (Brown Belts allowed for non-black belt divisions) and dressed out. The degree of the black belt is less important than their personal knowledge of and proficiency in kata.
**All judges must be in full uniform.
7. A judge can only be removed or replaced by the tournament director. That must take place prior to the division competition or for gross negligence or favoritism.
8. The scores must be re-checked for errors prior to the places awarded.
9. A question on any of the kata rules should be brought to the director at the earliest opportunity and definitely prior to the places awarded.
TEAM KATA
1. Above rules apply to Team kata
2. 3 competitors are required to compete in the Team Kata event
3. Team Kata will start with one competitor in front and the other 2 competitors behind competitor number 1, they will start in a triangle
position.
4. Judging will consist of the above kata rules as well as uniformity of the competitors moving in sync with each other.
5. Team Kata will consist of two divisions-
a. Under Black Belt Division
i. All 3 competitors must be under black belt rank
b. Black Belt Division
i. At least one of the competitors must be of black belt rank
6. Each individual martial arts school may only enter 1 team in each division for Team Kata
POINT KUMITE / FIGHTING (GENERAL)
1. All divisions are point sparring divisions (Unless otherwise stated)
2. All techniques are scored as one point.
3. ALL 3rd place fights must be fought; we are not giving 2 - 3rd place awards
4. Scoring areas: Head (front, sides and back), neck (front and sides), chest, ribs, abdomen, groin
5. All contact is referenced as to what is age and rank appropriate.
6. Fouls – excessive contact, contact to non-scoring areas (i.e. spine, top of head, etc.), blind techniques, uncontrolled techniques, illegal techniques, joint attacks, continued fighting after ‘break’. Each foul results in a point being awarded to the opponent. Any 3 accumulated fouls is a disqualification.
7. Illegal, non-injurious contact in a non-face contact division awards a point to the perpetrators opponent. Same for the second infraction. A infraction is automatic Disqualification.
8. No face CONTACT for children or adults below Brown Belt, the face is still a valid target but the attack must be pulled before it hits the face. The area considered to be the face is the part of the face that would be protected by a catcher’s face mask. This area can sometimes include protected head gear portions of some manufacturers head gear. If an opponent “runs” into the attack it is the defenders fault, not the attackers
9. A majority of judges can disqualify an opponent for any aggressive technique that causes serious injury OR was intended to cause intentional significant injury.
10. Blood is not an automatic disqualification.
11. All bouts are 2 minutes running time unless the clock is stopped by the center official for a safety or injury reason.
12. Ring contact rule – stepping out to avoid contact – after 2 warnings, the third time awards a point for your opponent and every time there after. No penalty for fighting out where the loss of ring contact was a result of fighter engagement..
13. Dropping to avoid contact in a non-down fighting division is ruled the same as stepping out of the ring.
14. Sweeps must be at the boot and only for a follow-up technique.
15. In divisions where take downs are allowed, competitors will be allowed 5 seconds on the ground to score a follow up point. These divisions must have a padded fighting surface.
16. A point will not be awarded for a takedown alone, but any competitor that performs a takedown and follows with a striking technique that scores may be awarded 2 points. This is signaled by the judge holding up two fingers on the arm pointing to the competitor that scored the 2 points
17. Knee strikes are legal to the body in all divisions intermediate rank level and above and must be controlled.
18. No down fighting or submissions unless otherwise stated.
19. All competitors under 18 years of age and younger must wear head gear. All competitors must wear legal (dipped foam, i.e. Century) gloves and kick boots. With one inch of padded protection.
20. Groin protection and mouth pieces are also advised.
21. A fight may be stopped if a fighter is not defending or engaging.
22. All competitors must compete in their division only – only exception: Adult ABKA brown belts may fight as a black belt of they will be testing for black belt in less then 6 months.
23. Poor sportsmanship of a competitor is an automatic disqualification.
24. Poor sportsmanship of a parent, coach or spectator will result in their being removed from the event.
CONTINUOUS FIGHTING KUMITE RULES
1. ROUNDS ARE 2 MINUTE ROUNDS
2. ALL CONTACT IS CONTROLLED CONTACT – THIS IS NOT FULL CONTACT
3. ALL 3rd place fights must be fought; we are not giving 2 - 3rd place awards
4. Scoring areas: Head (front, sides and back), neck (front and sides), chest, ribs, abdomen, groin
5. All contact is referenced as to what is age and rank appropriate.
6. Fouls – excessive contact, contact to non-scoring areas (i.e. spine, top of head, etc.), blind techniques, uncontrolled techniques, illegal techniques, joint attacks, continued fighting after ‘break’. Any 3 accumulated fouls is a disqualification. .
7. A majority of judges can disqualify an opponent for any aggressive technique that causes serious injury OR was intended to cause intentional significant injury.
8. Blood is not an automatic disqualification.
9. All bouts are 2 minutes running time unless the clock is stopped by the center Official for a safety or injury reason.
10. Ring contact rule – stepping out to avoid contact – after 2 warnings, the third time awards a point for your opponent and every time there after. No penalty for fighting out where the loss of ring contact was a result of fighter engagement.
11. Knee strikes are legal to the body in all continuous divisions and must be controlled.
12. All competitors under 18 years of age and younger must wear head gear. All competitors must wear legal (dipped foam, i.e. Century) gloves and kick boots. With one inch of padded protection. Bag gloves, boxing gloves are not allowed.
13. Groin protection and mouth pieces are also advised.
14. Poor sportsmanship of a competitor is an automatic disqualification.
15. Poor sportsmanship of a parent, coach or spectator will result in their being removed from the event.
16. A submission ends the fight.
17. No joint submissions will be allowed below the waist.
18. Fighters will be stood up after 15 seconds of ground fighting if there is no direct and obvious move for a submission.
19. A fight may be stopped if a fighter is not defending or engaging.
20. A fight may be stopped for excessive force, uncontrolled strikes, wild strikes, or uncontrolled behavior. Any judge may call for time and address these issues.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS AND NOTIFICATIONS
*Tournament Director has final say in all tournament matters
**Rules and divisions may be modified, added, combined, or eliminated at anytime by the tournament director
***Issues with judging, competition, competitive nature, or any other concerns must be brought to the Division’s Center Official first and then to the Tournament Director
****ANY PERSON MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE TOURNAMENT AT THE DESCRETION OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR - USUALLY FOR INAPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR, FOUL LANGUAGE, POOR SPORTSMANSHIP, VULGAR LANGUAGE OR CLOTHING, OR ANY GENERALLY OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR