Full Contact Kumite Rules

The rules may vary a little bit from competition to the next depending on the organizers and the judges. For each competition, tournament or kumite, the rules are normally clearly stated.

We are trying to illustrate here the general rules used in full contact Karate like Toshindo.

General Rules

Shihan sparring with a student

• One bout should normally last two or three minutes and one extension two minutes. The referee signals the start of a match with the command KAMAETE - HAJIME.
• The victory is awarded to the karateka, who has score one full point, who has scored two half points, which make one full point, who won by decision, whose opponent was disqualified or failed to take part in the bout without good reason.
• Each contestant must wear a clean white karate gi.
• Finger and toe nails must be cut short, no protective clothing, bandages or guards must be worn other than a groin guard and shin/instep protector of a type approved by the contest referee. In the event of injury to a competitor, the wearing of bandages or other protective materials is at the absolute discretion of the tournament doctor and the head referee, whose decision shall be final and binding upon the competitor.

How to score

• Full point win - IPPON: With the exception of techniques which are fouls and not allowed by the contest rules, any technique that connect and instantaneously downs the opponent for longer than 3 seconds, scores a full point. When a contestant informs the referee or judges that he is beaten as the result of techniques allowed within the contest rules, his opponent shall be awarded a full point. A serious foul by or the disqualification of a contestant will automatically give the other contestant the win in a contest.
• Half point win - WAZA-ARI: Where a contestant is knocked down by a technique allowed within the contest rules and regain a standing position within 3 seconds, a half point can be awarded to his opponent. The (downed) opponent will be allowed to continue with the contest only if in opinion of the referee he is fit to do so. This will be after consultation with the doctor, at the referees discretion. When an opponent is downed with a technique including foot sweeps and a well focused but non-contact technique is followed through, WAZA-ARI is awarded.
• Decision win - YUSEI: When no definite IPPON or WAZA-ARI has been scored, the judges may award a win by decision on the basis of superior techniques skill and fighting spirit.
• From the fourth round , if the winner cannot be decided on the basis of weight difference, the number of boards broken at the breaking test (tamashiwari) becomes a criterion in awarding the victory.

Illegal Techniques (hansoku)

• punch to the face
• strike to the groin area or to the knee
• hitting the opponent while he is on the floor

Legal Techniques

• hits to the body (punch, elbow, kick, knee)
• kick and knee kick to the legs (inside and outside) and to the head
• knockdown technique followed by a finishing punch