Karate World Championships

The WKF Karate World Championships also known as the World Karate Championships, are the highest level of competition for Karate.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} The competition is held in a different city every two years.^[6] The most recent events include Madrid in 2002; Monterrey in 2004; Tampere in 2006; Tokyo in 2008, and Belgrade in 2010.^[7][8] The competition was initially riddled with controversy regarding Karate stylists and the ruleset.^{[2][9][10][11][12]}

In 1984 women were first allowed to compete in competitions.^[9]

Competition and events

Kumite

• Individual kumite - Men and Women
• Team kumite - Men and Women

Kumite Rule

The result of a bout is determined by a contestant obtaining a clear lead of eight points, or at time-up, having the highest number of points, obtaining a decision (hantei), or by an accumulation of prohibited behaviors, imposed against a contestant.

Scoring

• Ippon (three points)
  • Jodan kicks (high kicks)
  • Any scoring technique delivered on a thrown or fallen opponent
• Waza-ari (two points)
  • Chudan kicks (middle kicks)
• Yuko (one point)
  • Tsuki (punch)
  • Uchi (strike)
• Jodan (head, face, neck), Chudan (abdomen, chest, back, side)
• Prohibited behavior
  • Category 1
    • Techniques which make excessive contact, having regard to the scoring area attacked, and techniques which make contact with the throat.
    • Attacks to the arms or legs, groin, joints, or instep.
    • Attacks to the face with open hand techniques.
    • Dangerous or forbidden throwing techniques.
  • Category 2
    • Feigning, or exaggerating injury.
    • Exit from the competition area (jogai) not caused by the opponent.
    • Self-endangerment by indulging in behavior, which exposes the contestant to injury by the opponent, or failing to take adequate measures for self-protection (mubobi).
    • Avoiding combat as a means of preventing the opponent having the opportunity to score.
    • Passivity – not attempting to engage in combat (cannot be given after less than the last 10 seconds of the match).
    • Clinching, wrestling, pushing, or standing chest to chest without attempting a scoring technique or takedown.
    • Grabbing the opponent with both hands for any other reasons than executing a takedown upon catching the opponents kicking leg.
    • Grabbing the opponents arm or karategi with one hand without immediately attempting a scoring technique or takedown.
    • Techniques, which by their nature, cannot be controlled for the safety of the opponent and dangerous and uncontrolled attacks.
    • Simulated attacks with the head, knees, or elbows.
    • Talking to, or goading the opponent, failing to obey the orders of the referee.
• Terms of warnings and penalties.
• Chukoku is imposed for the first instance of a minor infraction for the applicable category.
• Keikoku is imposed for the second instance of a minor infraction for that category, or for infractions not sufficiently srious to merit Hansoku-chui.
• Hansoku-chui is a warning of disqualification usually imposed for infractions for which a KEIKOKU has previously been given in that bout although it may be imposed directly for serious infringements, which do not merit HANSOKU
• Hansoku is the penalty of disqualification following a very serious infraction or when a HANSOKU CHUI has already been given. In team matches the fouled competitor’s score will be set at eight points and the offender’s score will be zeroed.

Kata

• Individual kata - Men and Women
• Team kata (synchronized) - Men and Women

team kata with bunkai

List

Year	Host City	Country
1970	Tokyo	Japan
1972	Paris	France
1975	Long Beach	United States
1977	Tokyo	Japan
1980	Madrid	Spain
1982	Taipei	Republic of China (Taiwan)
1984	Maastricht	Netherlands
1986	Sydney	Australia
1988	Cairo	Egypt
1990	Mexico City	Mexico
1992	Granada	Spain
1993	Tokio	Azerbaijan
1996	Sun City	South Africa
1998	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil
2000	Munich	Germany
2002	Madrid	Spain
2004	Monterrey	Mexico
2006	Tampere	Finland
2008	Tokyo	Japan
2010	Belgrade	Serbia
2012	Paris	France
2014	Bremen	Germany
2016	Linz	Austria

See also

• Asian Karate Championships

References

1. Coleman, Jim (September 1992). "Questions and Answers with Wuko's Head Man". Black Belt 30 (9): 30–33. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
2. "Black Belt". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
3. Malaysia welcome extra category. Thestar.com.my (2008-11-19). Retrieved on 2011-05-14.
4. Sports: Three fighters, one heart. Sptimes.com. Retrieved on 2011-05-14.
5. Mmegi Online :: Karate team leaves for WFK Championships. Mmegi.bw (2010-10-22). Retrieved on 2011-05-14.
6. Olympic Bid Sports Capsules – Olympics – ESPN. Sports.espn.go.com (2009-06-14). Retrieved on 2011-05-14.
7. "World Karate Championships returning to Japan". Japan Today. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
8. "Karate World Championship to be Held in Belgrade Next Year". Ministry of Sport. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
9. "Black Belt". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
10. "Black Belt". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
11. "Black Belt". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
12. "Black Belt - Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-09-27.

External links

• Official WKF site
• World Karate Federation Results