Foul cup (groin protector): required. Mouthpiece: optional. Taping: prohibited, except with the tournament doctor's stamp. Nothing other than these protectors and underwear may be worn under the dogi trousers.
EKO 2019No protective clothing, bandages or guards under the dogi other than a genital guard; teeth protectors optional; all protectors are approved by the judges responsible for weight control (art. 2.2).
2015 World ChampionshipSame table: mouthpiece optional, groin protector required, taping prohibited (appendix, pp. 11–12).
Chest guard: required. Shin supporter: required. Under guard: optional. Mouthpiece: optional. Taping: prohibited, except with the tournament doctor's stamp. Nothing other than these protectors and underwear under the dogi trousers.
EKO 2019White breast cups, shin and foot protectors and a genital guard required; a white T-shirt may be worn under the dogi; teeth protectors optional (art. 2.2).
2015 World ChampionshipChest protector, groin protector and shin protector required, mouthpiece optional, taping prohibited (appendix, pp. 11–12).
Not in principle. The WKO 2026 rules prohibit taping, except with the tournament doctor's stamp; the doctor's instructions give the details.
EKO 2019In case of injury, bandages and protective materials are at the discretion of the tournament doctor and the head referee; in principle no support, bandage or tape in the first round, then at the doctor's discretion and with no padding effect (art. 2.6).
Karate Dream Festival 2018Anyone needing taping brings a valid medical document (in English) and presents the case to the tournament doctor on the day (Appendix 2).
§Which protectors for cadets, juniors and U21 (EKO 2019)?
Cadets (15 to 17): white shin protectors with instep and full foot, groin protection, knee protectors and white gloves required; the EKO unified helmet (chin, face with net/bars or plastic, top and back of the head) and the EKO protective vest (front, back, shoulders) required, provided by the hosts; girls also wear white breast cups; teeth protectors optional but recommended.
Juniors (17 to 19): white shin protectors with instep and full foot, knee and groin protection required; the EKO unified helmet required, provided by the hosts; breast cups for women; teeth protectors optional but recommended.
U21 (18 to 21): shin protectors with instep and groin protection required (white for women, with breast cups); teeth protectors optional but recommended.
Sources for this answerEKO 2019 — art. 19.7–19.8, p. 21; art. 20.7–20.8, p. 24; art. 21.7–21.8, p. 27
The KDF 2026 kumite rules refer to the Protector Guideline. The 2024 guideline approves, by product category: head guards with wire net only, white (three ISAMI models allowed in black); white chest guards for women (with a heart protection pad); white fist protectors, gloves and punching gloves prohibited; red belt or red mark; white foul cup for men, under guard for women; white knee protectors. The KDF 2018 also set, category by category (young children, elementary, junior high, high school, university, seniors), what is required, optional or prohibited — head, shin and instep, knee, fist, groin, chest — with the mouthpiece and belt holder optional for all; protectors are made of cloth (except the groin protector), white; everyone brings their own, on pain of disqualification.
Karate Dream Festival 2026If a protector of the legs, arms, chest or groin comes off during the bout, the main referee may give chui 1, then further chui if it keeps happening (head gear does not count); a modified or thinned protector disqualifies; a foul cup worn over the dogi earns chui 1 (p. 3).
Under the dogi trousers, men and women wear nothing other than the prescribed protectors and underwear (WKO 2026). Women may wear a white T-shirt under the jacket (EKO 2019, Karate Dream Festival 2018).
EKO 2019Clean white dogi; nails cut short; long hair tied; jewellery and piercings not allowed; only a sport hijab without neck covering (black or white) may be used; no glasses, contact lenses allowed (art. 2.1 to 2.5).
Sources for this answerWKO 2026 — appended table “Protectors”, notes · EKO 2019 — art. 2.1–2.5, p. 4 · KDF 2018 — Appendix 2
The other topics
The twelve rules topics, in questions and answers.
Every answer cites its text. The rulebooks belong to their organisations; when in doubt, the official document prevails.
WKO2026RegulationWKO Competition Rules (全世界空手道連盟 試合規約), revised edition of 29 July 2026 — Japanese text, unofficial translationOfficial document Official page
EKO2019RegulationEKO — Kumite Competition Regulation and Rules (17 March 2019)Official document
