Ippon and waza-ari

An ippon is a win by full point. The WKO 2026 rules recognise three cases: a technique — punch (tsuki), kick (keri), elbow strike (hiji-uchi) or other — landed instantly on a part of the body other than the prohibited areas, after which the opponent stays down for three seconds or more; the loss of the will to fight for three seconds or more; or two waza-ari scored in the same bout.

A waza-ari is a half point. It is awarded when an allowed technique downs the opponent momentarily and he gets up within three seconds; when the opponent loses the will to fight but recovers within three seconds; when he does not fall but suffers damage that makes him lose his balance; or when a foot sweep (ashi-barai), or dodging a do-mawashi kaiten-geri, is followed by a well-timed low punch (gedan-zuki).

Yes. In every text consulted, two waza-ari in the same bout equal one ippon, hence the win.

Through the three-second rule. If, after the waza-ari signal, the competitor does not get up within three seconds, or does not regain the will to fight within three seconds, the corner judge switches to the ippon signal. The main referee declares the ippon only if three or more referees, including himself, so judge; with two or fewer, it remains a waza-ari.

Not on its own. A foot sweep (ashi-barai) that downs the opponent counts as a waza-ari when it is immediately followed by a well-timed gedan-zuki; the same applies when one dodges the opponent's do-mawashi kaiten-geri and follows up with that low punch.

If a competitor can no longer continue because of an effective technique (yuko waza) by the opponent, the tournament doctor may propose a “doctor stop”; the five referees or the chief referee declare it after deliberation. The competitor who suffered the damage loses the bout. If the stop results from a foul technique (hansoku waza), the one who committed the foul loses; the injured competitor wins that bout but cannot proceed to the next round.