Competitor Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the competitor to know the rules and be ready for competition when called to do so. He/she must be at the appropriate ring when competition begins. If the competitor is not at his/her ring ready to compete when competition begins, he/she will not be allowed to compete. If a competitor leaves the ring after the competition begins and is not present when his/her name is called to compete, he/she will be disqualified.
Age or Rank Change:
Please notify us immediately if your age or rank changes.
If your age or rank changes before June 1st – Points will be moved to your new Standings Division.
If your age or rank changes on or after June 1st – Points will stay in the Standings Division you started the year in.
You MUST always compete in your current age and rank division at each tournament. Divisions at each event may vary from the IPPONE standings divisions on our website.
Weapons & Kata (Forms)
Score Ranges for Forms & Weapons:
Novice 6.00-7.00 - Intermediate 7.00-8.00 - Advance 8.00-9.00 - Black Belt 9.00-10.00 (3rd digit must always be a 0 or 5)
Under Belt Divisions (Novice, Intermediate & Advance): 3 Judges may be used
Black Belt Divisions (Adult & Jr.): Must have 5 Judges
Scoring with 5 judges: Drop the highest & lowest scores and add remaining three scores together.
If a competitor drops his/her weapon during their kata, they will not be scored and will be disqualified.
Divisions of 16 or more competitors will be split.
Fighting
No Head Official can overrule any majority call.
Must ALWAYS be majority rule for any of the guidelines.
All late calls will be dismissed. Head Official must call at same time as corner judges.
Under Belts: 3 points, no time limit / Black Belts: 5 points, no time limit
All techniques are worth one point. Only controlled sport karate techniques are allowed.
Punches and kicks much retract after scoring.
Fist must be closed when using back fist or hammer fist strikes. The only open hand techniques allowed are a ridge hand or knife hand to the side of the head.
No wild or uncontrolled techniques are allowed.
Competitors going out of bounds will be given 2 warnings. Subsequent out of bounds will earn a point for their opponent. A competitor can score with one foot out of bounds.
A competitor cannot score if he/she falls down after a scoring attempt. A competitor must maintain control at all times.
Coaching is up to the promoter of the event. No abusive, violent, unsportsmanlike or overzealous coaching will be tolerated. Coaches can never interfere with the proper running of the ring or the decision of the judges. Coaches are not allowed in the ring without the Head Official’s permission. If a Coach violates any of the above-mentioned rules they will be issued a warning. If the Coach continues to violate the rules a point will be deducted from their competitor’s score (if the competitor’s score is zero than a point is awarded to their opponent).
Under Belts
Legal Target Areas: Helmet contact only (NO face contact) including forehead, sides and face shield (if equipped), as well as chest, ribs, abdomen and kidneys.
Non -Target Areas: Face, top or back of head, neck, throat, groin, legs, knees, hips, buttocks, shoulders, arms, feet and spine.
Black Belts (Adult & Junior)
All the above, plus the following:
Face contact: Light face contact is allowed.
Sweeps: Only sweeps to the back of the front leg at mid-calf or below and followed up immediately by a sport karate technique are allowed. The tournament promoter has the right to disallow sweeps for their event. Please be sure to review rules prior to each event.
REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED SAFETY EQUIPMENT
IPPONE - approved headgear, hand and foot pads, mouthpieces, groin cups (for male competitors only) are mandatory for all competitors in sparring divisions.
The competitor’s equipment will be checked prior to competing. If it is deemed unsafe or does not fit properly, he/she will be asked to change the equipment before competing. Insufficiently padded gloves, foot, and head gear will not be allowed. Equipment must be in a good state of repair and free of heavy taping, tears or any other repairs that may cause injury. It is the responsibility of the competitor to have the proper equipment.
Head Gear: The front, sides and back of the head must be covered by a soft padded surface. A face shield is optional but not required.
Hand Pads: A soft padded surface must cover the fingers, wrist and thumb, and must be made of foam or equivalent (no cloth). All gloves should be point sparring gloves, not boxing gloves.
Foot Pads: A soft padded surface must cover the instep, sides, toes, ankle and back of the heel, and must be made of foam or equivalent (no cloth). The bottom of the foot does not have to be padded. (Note – IPPONE has approved the use of “Ringstar” or Ringstar Equivalent sparring shoes in Black Belt divisions only. They must be “sparring shoes” and not “training shoes.” Example “Ringstar Strikepro” are not allowed because they are not designed for sparring.)
Mouthpiece: A properly fitted mouthpiece is required.
Males must wear a protective cup.
Optional Equipment: Chest protector, shin guards & forearm guards.
It is the responsibility of the competitor to know the rules and be ready for competition when called to do so. He/she must be at the appropriate ring when competition begins. If the competitor is not at his/her ring ready to compete when competition begins, he/she will not be allowed to compete. If a competitor leaves the ring after the competition begins and is not present when his/her name is called to compete, he/she will be disqualified.
Age or Rank Change:
Please notify us immediately if your age or rank changes.
If your age or rank changes before June 1st – Points will be moved to your new Standings Division.
If your age or rank changes on or after June 1st – Points will stay in the Standings Division you started the year in.
You MUST always compete in your current age and rank division at each tournament. Divisions at each event may vary from the IPPONE standings divisions on our website.
Weapons & Kata (Forms)
Score Ranges for Forms & Weapons:
Novice 6.00-7.00 - Intermediate 7.00-8.00 - Advance 8.00-9.00 - Black Belt 9.00-10.00 (3rd digit must always be a 0 or 5)
Under Belt Divisions (Novice, Intermediate & Advance): 3 Judges may be used
Black Belt Divisions (Adult & Jr.): Must have 5 Judges
Scoring with 5 judges: Drop the highest & lowest scores and add remaining three scores together.
- If there is a tie: The low score is added to total score. If tie remains, the high score is added to total score. If there is still a tie, Black Belts perform another Kata or Weapons Kata. Under belts may perform same Kata or Weapons Kata.
- Ties: All judges will vote for a winner of the tied competitors.
If a competitor drops his/her weapon during their kata, they will not be scored and will be disqualified.
Divisions of 16 or more competitors will be split.
Fighting
No Head Official can overrule any majority call.
Must ALWAYS be majority rule for any of the guidelines.
All late calls will be dismissed. Head Official must call at same time as corner judges.
Under Belts: 3 points, no time limit / Black Belts: 5 points, no time limit
All techniques are worth one point. Only controlled sport karate techniques are allowed.
Punches and kicks much retract after scoring.
Fist must be closed when using back fist or hammer fist strikes. The only open hand techniques allowed are a ridge hand or knife hand to the side of the head.
No wild or uncontrolled techniques are allowed.
Competitors going out of bounds will be given 2 warnings. Subsequent out of bounds will earn a point for their opponent. A competitor can score with one foot out of bounds.
A competitor cannot score if he/she falls down after a scoring attempt. A competitor must maintain control at all times.
Coaching is up to the promoter of the event. No abusive, violent, unsportsmanlike or overzealous coaching will be tolerated. Coaches can never interfere with the proper running of the ring or the decision of the judges. Coaches are not allowed in the ring without the Head Official’s permission. If a Coach violates any of the above-mentioned rules they will be issued a warning. If the Coach continues to violate the rules a point will be deducted from their competitor’s score (if the competitor’s score is zero than a point is awarded to their opponent).
Under Belts
Legal Target Areas: Helmet contact only (NO face contact) including forehead, sides and face shield (if equipped), as well as chest, ribs, abdomen and kidneys.
Non -Target Areas: Face, top or back of head, neck, throat, groin, legs, knees, hips, buttocks, shoulders, arms, feet and spine.
- Face contact: First time one point to opponent, second time disqualification. Must be Majority Rules.
- If competitor incurs face contact because of their own negligence, then face contact will not be called. Example: A competitor moves their head into a kick or punch that otherwise would have been controlled by their opponent
- Malicious/Excessive contact will result in disqualification (must be Majority Rule).
- Touching face shield in not considered face contact unless it is excessive contact (i.e. head rocks back)
Black Belts (Adult & Junior)
All the above, plus the following:
Face contact: Light face contact is allowed.
Sweeps: Only sweeps to the back of the front leg at mid-calf or below and followed up immediately by a sport karate technique are allowed. The tournament promoter has the right to disallow sweeps for their event. Please be sure to review rules prior to each event.
REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED SAFETY EQUIPMENT
IPPONE - approved headgear, hand and foot pads, mouthpieces, groin cups (for male competitors only) are mandatory for all competitors in sparring divisions.
The competitor’s equipment will be checked prior to competing. If it is deemed unsafe or does not fit properly, he/she will be asked to change the equipment before competing. Insufficiently padded gloves, foot, and head gear will not be allowed. Equipment must be in a good state of repair and free of heavy taping, tears or any other repairs that may cause injury. It is the responsibility of the competitor to have the proper equipment.
Head Gear: The front, sides and back of the head must be covered by a soft padded surface. A face shield is optional but not required.
Hand Pads: A soft padded surface must cover the fingers, wrist and thumb, and must be made of foam or equivalent (no cloth). All gloves should be point sparring gloves, not boxing gloves.
Foot Pads: A soft padded surface must cover the instep, sides, toes, ankle and back of the heel, and must be made of foam or equivalent (no cloth). The bottom of the foot does not have to be padded. (Note – IPPONE has approved the use of “Ringstar” or Ringstar Equivalent sparring shoes in Black Belt divisions only. They must be “sparring shoes” and not “training shoes.” Example “Ringstar Strikepro” are not allowed because they are not designed for sparring.)
Mouthpiece: A properly fitted mouthpiece is required.
Males must wear a protective cup.
Optional Equipment: Chest protector, shin guards & forearm guards.