ARTICLE 1: COMPETITION

1. The competition area must be flat and devoid of hazard.
2. The competition area must be a minimum of a size to permit the uninterrupted performance of Kata.

ARTICLE 2: OFFICIAL DRESS

1. Contestants, Referees and Judges must wear the official uniform as defined in Article 2 of the Kumite Rules.
2. Any person who does not comply with this regulation may be disbarred.

Contestants who present themselves incorrectly dressed will be given one minute in which to remedy the situation.

ARTICLE 3: ORGANIZATION OF COMPETITION

1. Kata competition takes the form of team and individual matches. Team matches consist of competition between 3 person teams. Each team is exclusively male, or exclusively female. The individual Kata match consists of individual performance in separate male and female divisions.
2. The contestants will be expected to perform both compulsory ("SHITEI") and free selection ("TOKUI") Katas during the competition in accordance to the schools of Karate-Do recognized by the WKF based on Goju-Ryu, Shito-Ryu, Shoto-Kan and Wado-Ryu systems. No variations will be permitted. A schedule of the compulsory Katas is given in Appendix l.

ARTICLE 4: THE REFEREE PANEL

1. The panel of seven or five (7 or 5) Judges for each match will be designated by the Referee Council before the match.
2. In addition, for the purpose of facilitating the operation of Kata competitions, score-keepers and caller/announcers will be appointed.

ARTICLE 5: SCORING

1. The Kata competition is organized into three rounds. The first round selects sixteen contestants, the second round selects eight contestants and the third round selects the winner and final placings.
2. Each Kata Judge displays the score by means of points. The cards bearing the points are held in the right hand.
3. When the score-keeper summates the scores for each contestant in a round, the maximum and minimum scores awarded are deleted. In the event of a tie in any round, the minimum score from the remaining scores will be added in and then incorporated into the total for that round. If the tie persists, then the maximum score from the remaining scores is added in for the total tally for that round. In the event of a continuing tie, the contestants must perform a further Kata which was not performed by the competitor in a previous round.

To minimize ties generally, a wider variation in scores should be encouraged such that in the first round, they are between 5 & 7, in the second round, between 6 & 8 and in the third round, between 7 & 9.

If there are less than sixteen entries to the first round, then that round can be omitted, such that the competition becomes a two-round event.

The Referee Council will decide what precise system will be used for each competition, after consultation with the Organizing Committee.

Ties are resolved by means of an additional Kata. A tie persisting after performance of the tie-breaker Kata will be resolved by majority decision of the panel.

ARTICLE 6: CRITERIA FOR DECISION

1. In assessing the performance of a contestant or team, the following criteria must be adopted:

   a. The Kata must be performed with competence and must demonstrate a clear understanding of the principles it contains.
   b. The Kata performance must have demonstrated correct focus of attention ("CHAKUGAN"), use of power, good balance and proper breathing.
   c. The performance should also be evaluated with a view to discerning other points.

2. A contestant is disqualified if he/she interrupts or varies the Kata, or he/she performs a Kata different from that drawn or announced. If the performance is brought to a halt, or the Kata is varied, the contestant(s) will be disqualified.
3. In team competition the competitors must perform their Kata with all three team members facing in the same direction toward the Chief Judge in the performance area.

For a momentary hesitation in the smooth performance of the Kata, quickly remedied, 0.1 should be deducted from the final score. For a momentary but discernible pause, 0.2 points should be deducted. For a distinct halt, disqualification results.

Momentary imbalance, with barely a wobble quickly remedied will result in a deduction in the scale 0.1- 0.3. Actual instabilities where there is a distinct but recoverable loss of balance will merit a deduction in the range 0.2 - 0.4. If the contestant loses balance completely and/or falls, a disqualification will result.

Other Criteria Include:

1. Correct breathing, good demonstration of power, speed, timing, balance and Kime.

2. Consistency and correctness of stances.

   a. Correct weight distribution according to the Kihon being demonstrated.
   b. Smooth and even transition (Hara remaining "weighted down ") between stances.
   c. Correct tension in stance.
   d. Feet edges firmly on floor.

   
   
3. Techniques demonstrate:
   

   a. Accuracy.
   b. Correct and consistent Kihon with the style being demonstrated.
   c. Correct tension, focus, Kime.
   d. Show proper understanding of the Kata Bunkai.

   
   
4. Kata uniformly demonstrates:
   

   a. Unwavering concentration.
   b. Contrast in tension, breathing and movement.
   c. An understanding of those techniques being demonstrated.
   d. A realistic, rather than 'theatrical" demonstration of the Katas meaning.

Team Kata :

All those ingredients inherent in the criteria for Individual Kata

The Kata, nevertheless must not alter in rhythm or timing for the sake of synchronization. It must demonstrate the correct dynamic of Kata as if performed by an individual.

No external cues, (e.g. audible breathing) should be given during the Kata as an aid to synchronization.

A mistake in synchronization of Team Kata requires the same numerical deductions as in o technical mistake in individual Kata. This means for example, the movements must initiate in unison as well as end in unison.

ARTICLE 7: OPERATION OF MATCHES

1. The contestant will respond to the calling of his/her name by going directly to the competition area. He/she will stand on a designated line and bow to the panel. He/she will announce clearly the name of the Kata which is to be performed and then start it. On completion of the Kata, the contestant will return to the designated line and await an award from the panel.

1. The Chief Judge will call for a decision ("HANTEI") and blow a sharp blast on the whistle. The Judges will, in unison, raise their scorecards such that they are clearly visible to the scorekeeper.
2. The caller/announcer will announce the scores awarded and when these have been registered, the Referee will blow a further sharp blast on the whistle, whereupon the cards will be lowered.
3. In the first round, the contestant must perform a scheduled Kata. The choice must be announced in advance so as to be included in the drawsheet for that round. In the second round a different choice, similarly notified, must be made from the schedule. In the third round, the contestant may perform any Kata not previously performed from the listed Katas by the four major styles of Karate recognized by the WKF, Goju-Ryu, Shito-Ryu, Shoto-Kan and Wado-Ryu. The name of the free Kata must be entered into the draw sheet prior to the commencement of the third round.

The Chief Judge must ensure that all Judges are ready before he calls for scores to be displayed. The Kata Judge must ensure that the score displayed is readily visible to the Scorekeeper.

Lights shining on the scorecards can make them difficult to read. The Chief Judge must ensure that the Scorekeeper has recorded all the scores before lowering the cards.

The contestant must perform a different Kata in each round.

A tie-breaker Kata may not be one already performed in the same or an earlier round. It may, however, be performed again in a later round but not then as a tie-breaker. In the first two rounds, the tie-breaker Kata must be chosen from the Shitei list. In the final round the tie-breaker Kata choice is free (within the limits stated in this paragraph).

1.1 The World Karate-Do Federation deplores the use of pharmaceutical substances in order to gain an advantage in competition.

1.2 To confirm that no such substances are used by athletes in World Karate-Do Federation competition, a random testing program will be implemented.

1.3 The prohibited pharmaceutical substances in the booklet called "The Control of Drug Abuse in Sport", copies of which may be obtained from the WKA Treasury.

2. Operation of the Testing Program :

2.1 The drug testing program for the WKF Championships will be under the direction of the Medical Committee, appointed by the WKF Directing Committee. The Direction Committee has the reciprocal power to rescind the appointment.

2.2 The nominated Medical Committee may co-opt persons to assist them in the operation of the program. This co-option must be agreed by the WKF Directing Committee.

2.3 The Medical Committee will provide the necessary sampling kit approved by the International Olympic Committee and will conduct the operation of the program in accordance with it's rules.

2.4 The sampling program will be in principal, at random though the Medical Committee will be authorized to make specific tests where there is a doubt concerning whether a contestant appears to be drugged. There is also a provision for the WKF-DC to impose a scheme of testing, in addition to the random program, such as that whole classes of athletes (e.g. finalists) may be routinely tested.

3. Notification of Results :

3.1 The Medical Committee is responsible for making all arrangements for the transport and analysis of samples. The analysis must be performed at a laboratory specifically equipped and trained to deal with drug abuse.

3.2 The Medical Committee will be notified of the analysis results by the laboratory and will, in turn, supply a written statement to a nominated officer of the WKF-DC. The officer will be responsible for notifying the entire WKF-DC.

4. Disciplinary Sanctions:

4.1 The WKF-DC will be authorized to impose sanctions upon athletes whose samples are found to contain prohibited substances. Notification of these sanctions (which include permanent disbarment from WKF and Continental Union competition) will be made to the President of the concerned National Federation. The President of the National Federation will be required to acknowledge the notification within twenty'-eight (28) days of it's dispatch.

4.2 There is a right of appeal, by way of presentation of mitigating circumstances. The report of the laboratory cannot be contested. The appeal must be lodged by the National Federation and all expenses relative to the appeal hearing will be born by the National Federation.

4.3 The sanction imposed will remain in being until the result of the appeal is made known to the National President.

4.4 The appeal will be considered by a meeting of the WKF-DC together with such co-opted technical persons as the Committee feel it will be appropriate to have present. Testimony will be considered from all competent sources.

4.5 It is part of the requirements of the WKF, that an athlete agrees to cooperate unreservedly in the operation of the program. Any refusal to cooperate will be treated in the same way as a positive sample notification and sanction applied.

5. Further Information:

5.1 For further information on the drug test to be made please contact the WKF main office.

5.2 For further information on the IOC's regulations regarding doping, please contact your National Olympic Committee.