Karate Kumite

Karate Kumite (KK) is  the traditional karate Kumite point sparring. It is a point based tatami combat sport, operating at high speeds and with extraordinary precision and control. 

By Traditional Karate Kumite, the individual match in adult categories is decided by “Shobu Ippon”. “Shobu Ippon” means one point match where the participants try to score one point before their opponent within the time limit.

Ippon, literally “one full point”, is the highest score a fighter can achieve in a Japanese martial arts ippon-wazari contest. There are two possible points which participant can receive: wazari and ippon. A Waza-ari is awarded for a technique almost comparable to that needed to score Ippon. An ippon is awarded for a technique which is judged as decisive, this is usually a move which connects cleanly, with good form and with little opportunity for the opponent to defend against it

For a full list of rules and regulations, please download the official WKU Karate Kumite rule set: Karate Kumite Rules