Karate World Championships

{{short description|Karate competition}}

{{Infobox martial arts tournament

| name = Karate World Championships

| current_event =

| image =

| caption =

| date =

| locale =

| english =

| localnames =

| nickname =

| discipline = Karate

| competition =

| type = Kumite and Kata, biennial

| organiser = World Karate Federation (WKF)

| director =

| qualification =

| skill =

| weight = Male -60Kg,-67Kg, -75Kg, -84Kg and +84Kg. Female -50Kg, -55Kg, -61Kg, -68Kg and +68Kg.

| first = 1970 in Tokyo, Japan

| number = 26 (2023)

| last = 2023 in Budapest, Hungary

| firstwinner =

| mostwins = {{flag|Japan}} (188 medals)

| mostrecent =

}}

The Karate World Championships, also known as the World Karate Championships, are the highest level of competition for karate organized by the World Karate Federation (WKF).{{cite journal|last=Coleman|first=Jim|date=September 1992|title=Questions and Answers with Wuko's Head Man|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9s8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30|journal=Black Belt Magazine|publisher=Active Interest Media|volume=30|issue=9|pages=30–33|access-date=8 November 2014}}{{cite magazine|date=February 1974|title=Black Belt|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ|publisher=Active Interest Media|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ/page/n33 34]|access-date=21 December 2014|via=Internet Archive}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20121018004959/http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/11/19/sports/2582072&sec=sports Malaysia welcome extra category]. Thestar.com.my (2008-11-19). Retrieved on 2011-05-14, Archived from the [http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/11/19/sports/2582072&sec=sports original] on October 18, 2012 on the Wayback Machine[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091141/http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/07/Sports/Three_fighters__one_h.shtml Sports: Three fighters, one heart]. Mike Camunas, March 7, 2008, Sptimes.com. Retrieved on 2011-05-14, Archived from the [http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/07/Sports/Three_fighters__one_h.shtml original] on March 4, 2016 on the Wayback Machine.[http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=8&aid=5808&dir=2010/October/Friday22 Mmegi Online :: Karate team leaves for WFK Championships]. Mmegi.bw (2010-10-22). Retrieved on 2011-05-14. The competition is held in a different city every two years.[https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=4258063 Olympic Bid Sports Capsules – Olympics – ESPN]. Sports.espn.go.com (2009-06-14). Retrieved on 2011-05-14. Championships in the 2000s included Madrid in 2002, Monterrey in 2004, Tampere in 2006, Tokyo in 2008, and Belgrade in 2010.{{cite news|last=Vacoe|first=Fred|url=http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/world-karate-championships-returning-to-japan|title=World Karate Championships returning to Japan|date=November 8, 2008|work=Japan Today|access-date=2010-02-23}}{{cite news|title= Karate World Championship to be Held in Belgrade Next Year|work= Ministry of Sport|url= http://www.mos.gov.rs/en/vest/karate-world-championship-be-held-belgrade-next-year|access-date= 2011-05-04}}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The competition was initially riddled with controversy regarding karate styles and the ruleset.{{cite magazine|date=February 1974|title=World Wide Tourneys|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ|magazine=Black Belt Magazine|publisher=Active Interest Media|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ/page/n55 56]|access-date=21 December 2014|via=Internet Archive}}{{cite magazine|last=Young|first=Jim|date=February 1974|title=Contact Karate Tournaments, Will they separate the fighters from the actors?|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ|magazine=Black Belt Magazine|publisher=Active Interest Media|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ/page/n14 15]|access-date=21 December 2014|via=Internet Archive}}{{cite magazine|date=February 1974|title=Poland holds first national karate meeting|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ|magazine=Black Belt Magazine|publisher=Active Interest Media|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ/page/n11 12]|access-date=21 December 2014|via=Internet Archive}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ/page/n11 12] |title=Black Belt - Internet Archive |date=February 1974 |publisher=Internet Archive |access-date=2015-09-27}}

In 1980, women were first allowed to compete in the championships.

Competition and events

=Kumite=

  • Individual kumite – men and women
  • Team kumite – men and women

==Kumite Rules==

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

==Scoring & Penalties ==

{{example farm|date=January 2016}}

  • Ippon (three points)
  • Jodan (head, face, neck) kicks
  • Any scoring technique delivered on a thrown or fallen opponent
  • Waza-ari (two points)
  • Chudan (abdomen, chest, back, side) kicks
  • Yuko (one point)
  • Tsuki (punch)
  • Uchi (strike)
  • Prohibited behavior
  • Category 1
  • Techniques which make excessive contact, in regards to the scoring area attacked, or 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 reason than executing a takedown upon catching the opponent's kicking leg
  • Grabbing the opponent's arm or karategi (uniform) 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 other 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
  • Warnings and penalties
  • Chukoku is imposed for the first instance of a minor infraction in the applicable category.
  • Keikoku is imposed for the second instance of a minor infraction in that category, or for infractions not serious enough 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; 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 offender's score will be zeroed and the opponent's score will be set at eight points.
  • Shikkaku is a penalty of disqualification in which the offender is expelled from the entire tournament. Generally, it is given for particularly severe infringements, beyond that which would normally result in hansoku being given. In a team match, the offender’s score is set to zero, and the non-offender’s score is set to eight points, as with a normal hansoku.

=Kata=

  • Individual kata – men and women
  • Team kata (synchronized) – men and women
  • Team kata with bunkai

== Rules ==

{{Cite web|title=Kata Rules. World Karate Federation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfoEpnV3Psw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/MfoEpnV3Psw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|date=2016-04-08|website=YouTube|access-date=2020-05-24}}{{cbignore}}

1. Conformity - with standards in form and style (Ryu-ha)

2. Technical performance:

  • Techniques
  • Stances
  • Transitional movements
  • Timing/Synchronisation
  • Correct breathing
  • Focus (Kime)
  • Technical difficulty

3. Athletic performance:

  • Strength
  • Speed
  • Balance
  • Rhythm

4. Fouls:

  • Minor loss of balance
  • Performing a movement in an incorrect or incomplete manner
  • Asynchronous movement
  • Use of audible cues
  • Belt coming loose
  • Time wasting
  • Cause injury in the execution of Bunkai

List of Karate World Championships

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Edition

!Year

!Host City

!Country

!Events

11970Tokyoalign="left"|{{flagcountry|JPN|1947}}2
21972Paris association championnetalign="left" |{{FRA}}2
31975Long Beachalign="left"|{{USA}}2
41977Tokyoalign="left"|{{flagcountry|JPN|1947}}2
51980Madridalign="left"|{{flagcountry|ESP|1977}}10
61982Taipeialign="left"|{{TWN}}13
71984Maastrichtalign="left"|{{NED}}13
81986Sydneyalign="left"|{{AUS}}15
91988Cairoalign="left"|{{EGY}}16
101990Mexico Cityalign="left"|{{MEX}}16
111992Granadaalign="left"|{{ESP}}16
121994Kota Kinabalualign="left"|{{MAS}}16
131996Sun Cityalign="left"|{{SAF}}17
141998Rio de Janeiroalign="left"|{{BRA}}17
152000Munichalign="left"|{{GER}}17
162002Madridalign="left"|{{ESP}}17
172004Monterreyalign="left"|{{MEX}}17
182006Tamperealign="left"|{{FIN}}17
192008Tokyoalign="left"|{{JPN}}17
202010Belgradealign="left"|{{flagcountry|SRB|2004}}16
212012Parisalign="left"|{{FRA}}16
222014Bremenalign="left"|{{GER}}16
232016Linzalign="left"|{{AUT}}16
242018Madridalign="left"|{{ESP}}16
252021Dubaialign="left"|{{UAE}}16
262023Budapestalign="left"|{{HUN}}16
272025Cairoalign="left"|{{EGY}}16

All-time gold medal table (1970-present)

The following reflects the all-time medal counts as of the 2023 World Karate Championships:

{{Medals table

| caption =

| host =

| flag_template = flagcountry

| event =

| team =

| gold_JPN = 98 | silver_JPN = 55 | bronze_JPN = 61

| gold_FRA = 58 | silver_FRA = 45 | bronze_FRA = 71

| gold_GBR = 13

| gold_ESP = 24 | silver_ESP = 32 | bronze_ESP = 75

| gold_ITA = 21 | silver_ITA = 38 | bronze_ITA = 67

| gold_TUR = 13

| gold_NED = 10

| gold_IRI = 10

| gold_GER = 7

| gold_AZE = 8

| gold_USA = 5

| gold_EGY = 10

| gold_BRA = 5

| gold_VEN = 4

| gold_FIN = 3

| gold_SRB = 8

| gold_CRO = 3

| gold_RUS = 3

| gold_SWE = 1

| gold_GRE = 3

| gold_AUS = 2

| gold_MEX = 2

| gold_AUT = 2

| gold_SCG = 2

| gold_TPE = 1 | silver_TPE = 4 | bronze_TPE = 7

| gold_VIE = 1 | silver_VIE = 3 | bronze_VIE = 0

| gold_CHN = 2 | silver_CHN = 2 | bronze_CHN = 1

| gold_SVK = 1

| gold_SUI = 1

| gold_AHO = 1

| gold_SEN = 1

| gold_BEN = 1 | silver_BEN = 0 | bronze_BEN = 1

| gold_CHI = 2

| gold_GEO = 2 | silver_GEO = 0 | bronze_GEO = 1

| gold_EST = 1 | silver_EST = 0 | bronze_EST = 0

| gold_POL = 1 | silver_POL = 0 | bronze_POL = 0

| gold_RSA = 1 | silver_RSA = 0 | bronze_RSA = 0

| gold_UZB = 1 | silver_UZB = 0 | bronze_UZB = 0

| gold_JOR = 1 | silver_JOR = 0 | bronze_JOR = 0

| gold_HKG = 0 | silver_HKG = 1 | bronze_HKG = 2

}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}