Judges - WKF Kumite Rules
ARTICLE 1: KUMITE COMPETITION AREA
1. The competition area must be flat and devoid of hazard.
2. The competition area will be a matted square, of a WKF approved type, with sides of eight metres (measured from the outside) with an additional two metres on all sides as a safety area. There will be a clear safety area of two metres on each side.
3. A line half a metre long must be drawn two metres from the centre of the competition area for positioning the Referee.
4. Two parallel lines each one metre long and at right angles to the Referee's line, must be drawn at a distance of one and a half metres from the centre of the competition area for positioning the competitors.
5. The Judges will be seated in the safety area, one directly facing the referee, and one behind each of the fighters, and one metre towards the Referee. Each will be equipped with a red and a blue flag.
6. The Arbitrator will be seated at a small table just outside the safety area, behind, and to the left of the Referee. He will be equipped with a red flag or sign, and a buzzer.
7. The score-supervisor will be seated at the official score table, between the scorekeeper and the timekeeper.
8. The one metre border should be in a different colour from the rest of the matted area.
EXPLANATION:
I. There must be no advertisement hoardings, walls, pillars etc. within one metre of the safety area's outer perimeter.
II. The mats used should be non-slip where they contact the floor proper but have a low co-efficient of friction on the upper surface. They should not be as thick as Judo mats, since these impede Karate movement. The Referee must ensure that mat modules do not move apart during the competition, since gaps cause injuries and constitute a hazard. They must be of approved WKF design.
This is provided for your information. Please check the WKF website for any amendments or changes to this information or for the latest news. www.wkf.net
