The World Karate Federation, or WKF, is the largest karate organization in the world. It is also the karate governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee. WKF rules are used not just in international competition, but also by member organizations at the local and national levels.
Gear
The WKF has certain officially sanctioned gear required of all competitors. Nonsanctioned gear is not allowed in tournaments. You will be required to wear a white gi that meets WKF requirements for length. You will also be required to bring two belts, two pairs of sparring gloves and two pair of shin pads with feet protection. The reason for the duplication of gear is that you wear red gear if you are designated as the red competitor and the blue gear if you are designated blue. You must also wear a gum shield. Women must wear a chest protector. Men do not have to wear a groin guard, but it is recommended. Competitors under the age of 18 must wear a face mask and body protector.
Points
Proper techniques are awarded either one, two or three points, called ippon, nihon and sanbon, respectively. All techniques must be delivered with correct form, focus, distance and timing to score. Kicks to the head and techniques landed on a falling or fallen opponent score three points. Kicks to the body score two points. Punches to the body score one point. Punches must land within designated areas to score. Those areas include the head, face, sides of the neck, abdomen, chest, back and sides. Strikes to the limbs do not score. Neither do strikes to prohibited areas of the body. Whoever gets the most points in the two or three minutes of the round wins the match.
Penalties
Penalties are called for excessive contact or contact to prohibited areas. Purposely attacking the arms, legs, groin, joints, or instep is not allowed. Open-hand attacks to the face are also prohibited, as are unsafe sweeps and throws. Touching the throat is prohibited. Wrestling and clinching are prohibited. Poor sportsmanship is also prohibited. Penalties, in order of severity, include a warning, a point given to the offender's competitor, two points given to the opponent or disqualification.
Injuries
If a competitor is knocked down, he has 10 seconds to get back up or be disqualified. If a competitor is injured, the tournament doctor must be called to the ring. The doctor assesses whether the competitor is fit to continue. If the injury forces the competitor to drop out of the fight, the referee panel must decide if excessive contact is responsible for the injury. If it isn't, the injured fighter loses. If it is, the injured fighter wins the fight. Either way, the injured competitor cannot fight again in the tournament because of the medical disqualification.
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