"Traditional Karate"
Last Updated: 06.23.2007
Competition

    “A Karate contest conducted under the rules of the ITKF must conform to the definition of
    Karate.  All rules enacted by the ITKF must always be considered from the standpoint of
    helping and motivating the participant toward the perfection of human character through
    unlimited physical and mental seeking.”
                                                                                                                                       ITKF Constitution
                                                                                                                                 Article 1, Section 1.3

    Traditional Karate competitions, both national and international levels, follow the
    competition rules established by ITKF.  

  • Traditional Karate vs. General Sports
    In a general competitive sport, the competition rules define the sport itself.  For
    example, soccer is defined as the game played by the “soccer rules”.  In contrast,
    Traditional Karate competition rules do not define what Traditional Karate is.  Budo
    competition has its roots in a practice method called “Shiai” in which the practitioners
    try their techniques and test each other’s skills.  ITKF competition rules were compiled
    based on this “Shiai” philosophy: for the athletes to improve their mental and technical
    skills.  

  • Traditional Karate vs. Karate-like Sports
    The most visible and compelling difference between Traditional Karate and other
    Karate-like sports is that Traditional Karate’s competition rules specifically require each
    technique to have sufficient maximum force resulting in a “finishing blow.”  These other
    sports do not have competition rules that exact such a requirement of each of their
    techniques.  Because of this very important distinction, the training methods and
    biomechanics of Traditional Karate are therefore much different from these other sports.

  • Competition Categories of Traditional Karate

    Kumite (Sparring)
  1. Men’s Individual: Free sparring
  2. Women’s Individual: Ko-go sparring (Alternate offense and defense)
  3. Team: 3 persons

    Kata (Form)
  1. Men’s Individual
  2. Women’s Individual
  3. Team (3 persons perform a Kata together. In the final match, the athletes
    demonstrate the application of the techniques in the Kata.)

    Fuku-go (Alternate individual Kata and Kumite)
  1. Men
  2. Women (Ko-go sparring is used instead of free sparring)

    En-bu (A pair of athletes performs choreographed offense/defense techniques)
  1. Men: 2 Men (Free offense and defense)
  2. Mixed: Woman & Man (Man attacks and woman defends)


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International Traditional Karate Federation
The International Governing Body of Traditional Karate
International Traditional Karate Federation
Copyright © 2007 International Traditional Karate Federation.  All rights reserved.
1930 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1007, Los Angeles, CA 90057
Phone: 213-483-8262    Fax: 213-483-4060
E-mail: office@itkf.org
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