2024 Uechiryu Butokukai Intramural Rule Book
Table of Contents
General Rules
Kata, Weapons, Kumite
Freestyle Kata, Freestyle Bunkai/Kumite
Please also refer to our Filming & Etiquette Guidelines
1. General Rules
Competitors: Each competitor must present him/herself to the Head Judge suitably attired and physically prepared to compete. Jewelry or any object which the Head Judge feels might endanger either the competitor or others, cannot be worn. Finger and toe nails must be properly cut or covered to eliminate any possible chance of injury to an opponent or judge. It is the competitor’s duty to be ready to compete when called upon to do so. If he/she is not suitably attired or physically prepared to compete as deemed by the head judge, the competitor may be penalized for delay of time.
Uniform: All competitors must wear a complete (top and bottom) traditional white karate uniform in a good state of repair (void of rips, cuts, dirt etc.). A competitor with offensive words or artwork on the uniform may be denied the privilege of participation. The appropriate color belt must be worn in competition. Shoes may be worn in kata, weapons, and kumite competition if they do not damage or mark the competition floor.
Wrong Division: If any competitor competes in a division for which he/she is not qualified for because of age, weight, gender, or stylle, he/she will be disqualified from that form, fighting, or weapon division, and all awards and rating points (if awarded) are forfeited.
Coaching: Once the competitors enter the ring, there is no coaching permitted. In addition, the following rules apply:
Never, at any time, can a coach, friend, team member, etc., enter the ring without the Head Judge’s permission. Only the officials, competitors, and medical personnel are allowed in a ring.
No abusive, violent, unsportsmanlike, or overzealous conduct by anyone outside the ring is permitted.
A coach cannot ask for a time out; only a competitor may ask for a time out.
A coach can never, at any time, interfere with the proper running of the ring or the decisions of the judges.
The Head Judge issues penalties for any coaching during a match and any of the above coaching infractions. The penalty is assessed to the competitor the person is coaching for.
Removal of Officials and Protest: If a competitor feels that an official should be removed from a form division for good reason, he/she must file a protest before the division gets under way. If a competitor feels that an official should be removed from a sparring division, he/she may file a protest at any time, before or after the division starts. The proper way to file a protest is through the tournament arbitrator. The decision regarding the actual removal of the official is the arbitrator’s decision. The decision is final. If an arbitrator cannot be immediately found, the competitor should ask the Head Judge to hold the division until the arbitrator can be summoned to the ring. All protests should be made in an orderly, proper, and sportsman-like manner.
If a competitor wishes to protest about anything, he/she should notify the Head Judge. The Head Judge will summon the arbitrator to the ring to render a decision on the protest. All protests must be filed immediately. No protest is allowed after competition has resumed.
Changing of Officials: A sparring official can be changed at any time during a division once a match has stopped. A form judge cannot be removed until the division he/she is judging is completed.
2. Scoring for Kata, Fam/Sync Kata, Weapons, Kumite, Freestyle Kata, Freestyle Bunkai/Kumite
Each form, kumite and weapon routine is judged on execution, presentation, and difficulty.
Execution: The act or process of performing (executing) the techniques of the kata or kumite. The execution stage of judging is the most critical and should weigh the most in the judge’s final score. The elements of execution include balance, power, speed, stability, proper technique, coordination, flexibility, stamina, timing & skill.
Presentation: The image or impression of the competitor as reflected in his/her performance of the form or kumite. The presentation stage is the second most important or critical element of judging and should weigh accordingly in the judge’s final score. The elements of presentation include confidence, poise, determination, commitment, imagery, respect, sportsmanship, realism, concentration, spirit, showmanship & appearance.
Difficulty: The complexity and intricacy of the form or weapon routine. The difficulty category is the least critical of the three judging categories, but could become the deciding factor of winning or losing if a judge feels that two competitors are equally as good in the execution and presentation categories. Value should never be awarded for difficult techniques or forms performed poorly. Difficulty alone, without proper execution, should always be downgraded. The elements of difficulty include complexity of techniques, flexibility, balance, versatility of techniques, stamina, length, ambidexterity, and form/kumite difficulty.
External Aids: No external aids such as props, music, etc., can be used in any division except those divisions where explicit permission is granted. In divisions where permission has been granted, no external aids can be used that would damage, disrupt, or render the competition area unsafe for the other competitors, spectators or judges.
For Judges: When judging form and weapon competitors, you are actually comparing the competitors in the division against each other to arrive at the best 3 or 4. This requires extreme attentiveness and memory of details to make an accurate judging decision.
To help you better arrive at a correct decision, the following two procedures are recommended:
Watch the first three competitors before scoring. The first three competitors will give you a representation of the division. The rest of the competitors will be evaluated and weighed against these first three.
Write down your scores and a quick reference note regarding the competitor beside each score. In divisions with large number of competitors, it becomes difficult to remember each score that you have awarded. Remembering each score becomes more difficult when using the hundredths scoring range. Additionally, writing down your scores solves any disputes that could arise if the scorekeeper inadvertently wrote down a judge’s score incorrectly.
Additional Considerations for Judging a Weapons Division: Judging a weapon division is no different than judging an empty hand form division except the main emphasis and value to the form is placed on the competitor’s use of the weapon. Important elements of weapon judging, in addition to execution, presentation, and difficulty, are:
The head judge will check all weapons for safety. Weapons are subject to head judge’s approval. No sharp weapons will be allowed.
The head judge will make sure all spectators and competitors are at a safe distance from the performing competitor.
Intentional or excessive striking on floors will result in disqualification.
The competitor’s control of the weapon: The weapon should be seen as an extension of the competitor’s arms and hands. The absolute control of the weapon at all times within the routine is essential.
The transition and combination of regular martial arts techniques with the weapon (i.e., kicking, blocking, etc.).
The percentage of weaponry movements to non-weaponry movements: The majority of any weapon form should consist of the use of the weapon.
Safety. No reckless or careless use of the weapon that would harm the competitor, another competitor, the judges, or spectators.
Dropping the weapon unintentionally will result in a one and half (1.5) point deduction from the total score.
Scoring of Kata, Family/Sync Kata, Weapons, Kumite
The first three (3) competitors must perform before any scores are given when there are six (6) or more competitors in a division.
Score Range: Scores will range between 8.5 to 9.5 points with a 9.0 being the average score.
The high and low scores should always be eliminated before totaling the scores when five (5) or more judges are involved.
Ties: If, after adding up the scores for each competitor, there is a tie, the high and low scores can be added back in to break the tied scores. Competitors still tied for first (1st) place will receive a majority vote from the judges to win. How a tied first (1st) place is determined is at the discretion of the tournament officials.
Kumite: There will be no major alterations of traditional kumite. The results of adding extra movements or changes to a kumite will be one (1) point deducted from the competitor’s score. (Competitors wishing to make such changes to their kumite should compete in the Freestyle Kumite/Bunkai Division)
3. Freestyle Kata & Freestyle Bunkai/Kumite
Kata: Competitors showcase their favorite martial arts movements by creating their own kata. Move sets are not limited to Uechi techniques.
Bunkai/Kumite: Competitor teams showcase their favorite applications of Uechi Kata in the form of pre-arranged bunkai or kumite. Bunkais and kumites can be formal or informal based on pacing and theme and do not have to be official Uechi Bunkai or Kumite (Kyu Kumite, Dan Kumite, Kanshiwa Bunkai, Seisan Bunkai, ect.).
Teams for Bunkai/Kumite: Teams must consist of either 2, 3, or 4 competitors.
Scoring: Participants/Teams are judged based on understanding of technique, creativity, timing, and pace in the same manner as the kata and kumite divisions, but more emphasis is placed on creativity and performance.
Time Limit:
Kata: There is a 1.5 minute maximum time limit. Once this limit is reached competitors must complete their performance.
Bunkai/Kumite: There is a three-minute maximum time limit. Once this limit is reached competitors must complete their performance.
Music: Music is permitted during Freestyle events.