The Tournament Director reserves the right to combine divisions where he sees fit.

• All contestants must wear a clean, white karate gi.

• Toenails and fingernails must be trimmed short.

NIHON SHOBU KUMITE RULES

FOR ALL BLACK & ADVANCE  BELTS (black & brown combined in a division)

 

1. Nihon Shobu: 2–Ippon (one full point), 1-Ippon (one full point) and 2- waza ari (two ½ points), or 4 - waza ari (four ½ points)

2. Nihon shobu bouts:  3-minutes running time.

3. Mouth guard and groin protector are mandatory for all male competitors in all kumite matches.

4. Head and shin guard optional for 14 years & under. No foot pads or instep pads allowed.

5. Chest guard is optional for female competitors.

6. Only Naugahyde type fist guards allowed. No cloth gloves.

7. Only safety glasses with restraining band or soft contact lenses are allowed.

8. If at end of match no one has scored 2 points, HANTEI or judge’s decision is called by referee.

9. In case of a tie, sudden death, 1-minute overtime 

CONTACT RULES

1. No contact to the face/head area, groin, joints or throat.

2. Light, non-injurious contact or skin touch to face and head area with punch or strike allowed in adult black belt divisions only.

3. Light, non-injurious contact or skin touch to face and head area allowed for kicking techniques.

4. Light controlled contact to the body is permitted.

5. Depending on severity of contact, a contestant may be penalized with hansoku chui - ½ point penalty or hansoku, disqualification pending judge’s decision.

6. Excessive contact to any area of body may result in hansoku pending judge’s decision.

NON-CONTACT RULES

1. Dangerous and/or uncontrolled techniques such as: uncontrolled spinning hook-kick, open-hand technique to the eyes, or throwing the opponent without control, will result in a non-contact penalty.

2. A technique thrown to head area that misses but passes through target by at least one-fist will be considered a non-contact violation.

NON-CONTACT PENALTIES:  

• 1^st time: keikoku, no point penalty

•  2^nd time: hansoku chui, no point penalty

• 3^rd time: hansoku or disqualification

JOGAI PENALTIES:

• 1^st time: keikoku, no point penalty

• 2^nd time: hansoku chui, no point penalty

• 3^rd time: hansoku. disqualification

• Beginner:  7^th Kyu and below

• Intermediate:  6^th , 5^th , and 4^th Kyu

• Brown Belt:  3^rd Kyu, 2^nd Kyu, and 1^st Kyu

• Advance:  black and brown belts combined

• Black Belt:  black belts only