World Karate-Do Federation

W.K.F.

KARATE KUMITE RULES

Table of Contents


ARTICLE 2: OFFICIAL DRESS


  1. Contestants and their coaches must wear the official uniform as herein .defined.
  2. The Referee Council may disbar any official or competitor who does not comply with this regulation.

REFEREES

  1. Referees and Judges must wear the official uniform designated by the Referee Council. This uniform must be worn at all tournaments and courses.
  2. The official uniform will be as follows:
    A single breasted navy-blue blazer bearing two silver buttons.
    A white shirt with long or short sleeves, depending on prevailing climatic conditions.
    An official tie worn without tie pin.
    Plain light gray trousers without cuffs.
    Unpatterned dark blue or black socks and black, slip on shoes for use off the match.

CONTESTANTS

  1. (a) Contestants must wear a white unmarked Karate Gi without stripes or piping. Only the national emblem or flag of the country may be worn. This must be on the left breast of the jacket and may not exceed an overall size of 10 cm. Only the original manufacturers labels may be displayed on the Gi and in the normally accepted locations (i.e. bottom right corner of the Gi jacket and waist position on the trousers). In addition, an identifying number issued by the Organizing Committee may be worn on the back. One must wear a red belt and the other a white belt. The white and red belts must be around 5 centimeters wide and of a length sufficient to allow 15 centimeters free on each side of the Knot.

    (b) Notwithstanding paragraph 1a. above, the Directing Committee may authorize the display of special labels or trademarks, of approved sponsors.

  2. The jacket, when tightened around the waist with the belt, must be of minimum length that covers the hips, but no longer than mid thigh. In the case of women, a plain white T-shirt may be worn beneath the Karate jacket.
  3. The maximum length of the jacket sleeves must be no longer than the bend of the wrist and no shorter than halfway down the forearm. Jacket sleeves may not be rolled up.
  4. The trousers must be long enough to cover at least two thirds of the shin and may not be rolled up.
  5. Each contestant must keep his hair clean and cut to a length that does not obstruct smooth bout conduct. Hachimaki (head band) will not be allowed. Should the Referee consider any contestant's hair too long and/or unclean, he may, with the Referee Council's approval, disbar the contestant from the bout. In Kumite match hair slides are prohibited, as are metal hair grips. In Kata a discreet hair clip is permitted.
  6. Contestants must have short fingernails and must not wear metallic or other objects which might injure their opponents.
  7. Mitts and gum shields are compulsory. Boxes and soft shin pads are allowed. Shin/instep protectors are forbidden. Glasses are forbidden (soft contact lenses can be worn at the contestant's own responsibility). The wearing of unauthorized clothing or equipment is forbidden. Women may wear the authorized additional protective equipment.
  8. The protective equipment must meet standard specifications.
  9. The use of bandages or braces because of injury must be approved by the Referee Council, on the advice of the official doctor.

COACHES

  1. The coach shall at all times during the tournament, wear a tracksuit and display his license.


EXPLANATION:

The contestant must wear a single belt. This will be Aka if he is the red fighter and white if Shiro. Belts of grade should not be worn during the bout.

White protective mitts with not more than one centimeter of padding and an uncovered thumb must be worn. The padding must not be capable of displacement.

Mitts must be approved by the Homologation Commission

Gum shields must be properly fitted by a dentist. Groin protectors using a removable plastic cup slipped into a jockstrap will not be permitted and persons found hearing them will be penalized.

There may well be a religious basis for the wearing of certain items such as turbans. Persons wishing, by virtue of their religion, to wear what would otherwise be construed as unauthorized clothing must notify the Referee Council in advance of a tournament. The Referee Council will examine each application on it's merit. No accommodation will be made for people who just turn up on the day and expect to participate.

!f a fighter comes into the area inappropriately dressed, he or she will not be immediately disqualified; instead the fighter will be given a minute to remedy matters.

If the Referee Council agrees, Refereeing Officials may be allowed to remove their blazers.

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