Referees - WKF Kumite Rules
ARTICLE 2: OFFICIAL DRESS
1. Contestants and their coaches must wear the official uniform as herein defined.
2. The Referee Commission 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 Commission. 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 short sleeves.
An official tie, worn without tiepin.
Plain light-grey trousers without turn-ups.
Plain dark blue or black socks and black slip-on shoes for use on the match area.
Female referees and judges may wear a hair clip.
CONTESTANTS
1. Contestants must wear a white karate gi without stripes or piping. The national emblem or flag of the country will be worn on the left breast of the jacket and may not exceed an overall size of 12cm by 8cm (see Appendix 9). Only the original manufacturer’s labels may be displayed on the gi. In addition, identification issued by the Organising Committee will be worn on the back. One contestant must wear a red belt and the other a blue belt. The red and blue belts must be around five centimetres wide and of a length sufficient to allow fifteen centimetres free on each side of the knot.
2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 above, the Directing Committee may authorise the display of special labels or trademarks of approved sponsors.
3. The jacket, when tightened around the waist with the belt, must be of a minimum length that covers the hips, but must not be more than three-quarters thigh length. Female competitors may wear a plain white T-shirt beneath the Karate jacket.
4. The maximum length of the jacket sleeves must be no longer then the bend of the wrist and no shorter than halfway down the forearm. Jacket sleeves may not be rolled up.
5. The trousers must be long enough to cover at least two thirds of the shin and must not reach below the anklebone. Trouser legs may not be rolled up.
6. Contestants must keep their hair clean and cut to a length that does not obstruct smooth bout conduct. Hachimaki (headband) will not be allowed. Should the Referee consider any contestant's hair too long and/or unclean, he may disbar the contestant from the bout. In Kumite matches hair slides are prohibited, as are metal hairgrips. In Kata, a discreet hair clip is permitted. Ribbons and other decorations are prohibited.
7. Contestants must have short fingernails and must not wear metallic or other objects, which might injure their opponents. The use of metallic teeth braces must be approved by the Referee and the Official Doctor. The contestant accepts full responsibility for any injury.
8. The following protective equipment is compulsory:
8.1 WKF approved mitts, one contestant wearing red and the other wearing blue.
8.2. Gum shield
8.3. The female chest protector approved by the WKF
8.4. The shin pads approved by the WKF, one contestant wearing red and the other wearing blue
8.5. The foot protection approved by the WKF, one contestant wearing red and the other wearing blue
Groin Guards are not mandatory but if worn must be of approved WKF type
9. Glasses are forbidden. Soft contact lenses can be worn at the contestant's own risk.
10. The wearing of unauthorised clothing or equipment is forbidden.
11. All protective equipment must be W.K.F. homologated.
12. It is the duty of the Arbitrator (Kansa) to ensure before each match or bout that the competitors are wearing the approved equipment. (In the case of Continental Union, International, or National Federation Championships it should be noted that WKF approved equipment, must be accepted and cannot be refused).
13. The use of bandages, padding, or supports because of injury must be approved by the Referee on the advice of the Official Doctor.
COACHES
1. Coaches shall at all times during the tournament, wear the official tracksuit of their National Federation and display their official identification.
EXPLANATION:
I. The contestant must wear a single belt. This will be red for AKA and blue for AO. Belts of grade should not be worn during the bout.
II. Gum shields must fit properly. Groin protectors using a removable plastic cup slipped into a jockstrap are not permitted and persons wearing them will be held at fault.
III. There may well be a religious basis for the wearing of certain items such as turbans or amulets. Persons wishing, by virtue of their religion, to wear what would otherwise be construed as unauthorised clothing must notify the Referee Commission in advance of a tournament. The Referee Commission will examine each application on its merit. No accommodation will be made for people who just turn up on the day and expect to participate.
IV. If a contestant comes into the area inappropriately dressed, he or she will not be immediately disqualified; instead the fighter will be given one minute to remedy matters.
V. If the Referee Commission agrees, Refereeing Officials may be allowed to remove their blazers.
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
