Northwest Open Invitational Karate Championships

RULES

1. STATE OF THE BOUT

 

 

 

The contestants shall stand about 12 feet part at the center of the contest area facing the referee. They shall simultane­ously salute by bowing to the referee and then each other. The contest shall then be started immediately upon the command of the referee of “Hajame,” start, begin or go.

 

 

 

The bout shall be started, stopped temporarily, or ended only upon the command of the referee.

 

 

 

2. TERMINATION OF THE BOUT

 

 

 

A contest comes to an end at the signal of the referee when three full points have been scored or at the expiration of time as signaled by the timekeeper. In case of extension periods, the match shall end when one full point is scored or at the ex­piration of time.

 

 

 

When a contest comes to an end, the contestants shall return to the positions originally taken at the start of the contest, stand face to face, and following the declaration by the referee, make the salutation simultaneously, first to each other and secondly to the referee, then leave and the winner report to the official scorer or reporter.

 

 

 

3. SCORING THE BOUT

 

 

 

A. Since on attack is not effective in all instances, a scoring system shall be used to reflect the outcome of a match should the competition have been in earnest. It shall he the opinion of the referee and judges to determine a “KILLING” blow —  a blow with CONTROLLED magnitude focused on one of the VITAL target points.

 

 

 

B. The winner shall be determined and judged on the basis of:

 

1. One Point, Two Points, Three Points

2. Decision

3. Draw – One Extension

4. Bye

5. Forfeit

6. Disqualification of Opponent

 

 

 

4. TARGET POINTS

 

 

 

All fatal and vital points of the body from the top of the head, to and including the groin, stomach, chest, face, neck  an and Lack I and kidneys shall be recognized targets for a killing blow. The face is excluded as a target for all Junior and White Belt contestants

 

 

 

NOTE: THE EYES ARE EXCLUDED FROM ATTACK.

 

 

 

Deceptive gestures to the eves WILL NOT be permitted. Open hand tactics to the face will NOT be permitted. These exclusions to the generally accepted Karate Scoring Rules are inserted because of the apparent danger to the contestants.

 

 

 

A. In order to score a point, a contestant must be within range and the blow or kick must come close to the intended target. If a natural weapon, when delivered, is at its maximum range, but short of its target, it shall not be scored. A partially extended arm or leg short of its target shall merit a score. Fully extended deliveries which by-pass the intended target shall not be scored. Further elaboration for awarding paints are as follows:

 

 

 

1. A single but controlled attack, undeflected or unblocked, landing directly to one of the vital points mentioned, whether delivered with a foreknuckle, punch, back knuckle, hammerfist, chop, heel of hand, elbow or foot [front, side or back] and knee shall be considered by the judges as constituting one point provided that the strongly focused attack is executed with [a] good form and balance; [b] proper distance, and [c] explosive but controlled force.

 

 

 

2. If an attack is less than fully focused, a point shall be recognized in the following cases:

 

 

a. When the opponent moves into a blow or kick.

 

b. When a sequence of consecutive blows and/or kicks are undeflected or unblocked.

 

c. When a blow or kick is delivered while the opponent is on the ground.

 

 

3. Three out of the five judges must be in accord to declare a point. Any one of the three judges may call a point at which time the referee shall stop the bout. The official must then describe briefly what be saw. At east two other judges must be in accord with the described point for it to count. The point shall be awarded on the basis that the blow or kick would have landed with sufficient force and direction to have disabled the opponent.

 

 

 

4. Three points automatically wins the match.

 

 

 

5. Where no points have been scored during the allotted time then there will be a decision. If the match was dull and lack of training was obvious, there will be no overtime. If the match was of a highly skilled technique and the lack of point scoring was due to even matching, overtime will be allowed until a point is scored.

 

 

 

6. When a contestant deliberately steps out of bounds to avoid being scored upon, or rolls out of bounds to avoid being scored upon, then the referee may award a point to the opponent.

 

 

 

7. No points shall be called outside the contest area.

 

 

 

B. Decision: When neither contestant has succeeded in getting a point and should not have been in the tournament, the winner shall be determined by the decision of the referee and the four judges. All five will take into consideration and compare: the attitudes, skill of the techniques they hand, and will award the decision to the contestant who, in their opinion, was superior.

 

 

 

 

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