Competition rules · Chui, genten, shikkaku

Warnings and disqualification

A foul earns a warning (chui). Warnings add up to disqualification (shikkaku), and some behaviours disqualify directly. The texts differ in vocabulary: the WKO counts in chui, the EKO combines chui and genten.

Type at least two letters. Arrow keys move through the questions, Enter opens the chosen question, Escape closes the list.

§How do warnings (chui) work?

Under the WKO 2026 rules, a competitor who commits a foul receives “chui 1”. A foul deemed deliberate or malicious, or one that causes serious damage, may earn “chui 2” at once. The fourth warning (chui 4) results in disqualification. To give chui 2 or a disqualification for a single foul, the main referee confers with the corner judges.

EKO 2019The EKO counts in chui and genten: first foul, chui ichi; second chui = genten ichi (first penalty); a genten ichi may be given directly for a grave foul; at the fourth warning, genten ni = disqualification (art. 8.18 to 8.20, art. 13).

Sources for this answer WKO 2026 — section “Chui 1 and chui 2”; referee signals, d) · EKO 2019 — art. 8.18–8.20, p. 9; art. 13, p. 11 · KDF 2026 — p. 3, “Chui”

§How many warnings before disqualification?

Four. Chui 4 (WKO 2026, Karate Dream Festival 2026) or genten ni, i.e. the fourth warning (EKO 2019), disqualifies the competitor, even if he holds a waza-ari.

Sources for this answer WKO 2026 — section “Chui 1 and chui 2”, c); decision criteria, (6) d) · EKO 2019 — art. 11.6, p. 10; art. 14.9 d), p. 12 · KDF 2026 — pp. 3 and 6

§Which conducts lead to direct disqualification?

The WKO 2026 rules disqualify (shikkaku): not following the referee's instructions during the bout; being late for the bout or not appearing; facing each other for one minute or more without fighting (both competitors); violent behaviour, a particularly malicious foul or conduct deemed particularly malicious; reaching chui 4.

EKO 2019Same list (art. 11.1 to 11.6, lateness of one minute at most), plus: refusing to engage after three calls, zero boards or deliberately giving up at tameshiwari (art. 11.7), a difference of more than 7 kg between the weight declared at entry and the checked weight (art. 11.8). Disqualification gives the win to the opponent (art. 11.9).

Karate Dream Festival 2026Added: vomiting during the bout; a modified or deteriorated protector; missing red items (red belt and red mark); phone, ring, necklace or other metal object, cloth or paper brought onto the mat; wrong court or lateness (p. 3).

Sources for this answer WKO 2026 — section “Disqualification” · EKO 2019 — art. 11.1–11.9, pp. 10–11 · KDF 2026 — p. 3

§Does a warning weigh in the decision?

Yes, depending on the gap. A one-warning gap has little influence: the decision rests on the content of the bout; but if everything is even in the final extension, the one with chui 1 loses. Two warnings apart: the one who has them loses in principle, unless he clearly dominates (6 to 4 or more), in which case a draw is possible. Three apart: he loses whatever his dominance. A waza-ari outweighs one, two or three warnings (with three, a draw remains possible if he is clearly outfought); with four, he is disqualified despite the waza-ari.

Karate Dream Festival 2026In the final extension, the competitor who is behind by two chui loses regardless of any apparent advantage, unless he scores a waza-ari or an ippon (p. 5, (4)).

Sources for this answer WKO 2026 — decision criteria, (3) to (6) · EKO 2019 — art. 14.6–14.9, p. 12 · KDF 2026 — pp. 5–6

§Can a decision be contested?

Very little. Under the WKO 2026 rules, the second (coach) may only ask for a check when there is an obvious miscount — number of warnings, number of flags — and at an appropriate time; the request is void once the competitor has left the area. Any other protest is prohibited. The referees, for their part, each have the right to object and ask for a discussion.

EKO 2019A written protest (rules not followed, organisational mistake, procedure) is handed to the head referee by the coach or country representative before the next round and judged by at least three referees; the 250 € fee is returned if the protest is upheld (competition regulation, art. 1.4).

Sources for this answer WKO 2026 — section “Protests”; judging criteria, item 2 · EKO 2019 — regulation, art. 1.4, p. 2

§What does a competitor risk by forfeiting a bout?

Under the WKO 2026 rules, a competitor who abandons a bout without legitimate reason must pay compensation of up to 150,000 yen. Two exceptions: an examination by the tournament doctor finding him unable to continue, and an unforeseen event concerning him (a family bereavement, for instance) occurring just before or during the bout, with the permission of the chief referee and the executive committee chairman.

Karate Dream Festival 2026 and All Japan 2013Same rule and same amount (KDF 2026, p. 3; All Japan 2013 entry instructions).

EKO 2019The EKO provides for the withdrawal of a competitor for a physical disability arising during the tournament, after examination and agreement of the doctor, the fighting-area chief referee and the tournament head referee (art. 12.1).

Sources for this answer WKO 2026 — section “Forfeit” · KDF 2026 — p. 3, “Giving up Competition” · All Japan 2013 — p. 1 · EKO 2019 — art. 12.1, p. 11

§What does “mitomezu” mean?

“Not recognised”: the referees do not uphold the ippon, waza-ari or foul that was signalled. The corner judge shows it by waving the two crossed flags with a long whistle; the main referee declares “mitomezu” depending on the case.

Sources for this answer WKO 2026 — section “Mitomezu”; referee signals, h) · EKO 2019 — art. 8.17, p. 9 · KDF 2026 — pp. 3 and 4

The other topics

The twelve rules topics, in questions and answers.
Ippon and waza-ari Fouls (hansoku) Warnings and disqualification Refereeing and decision Time of bouts Protectors Weight and weigh-in Kata Entry and procedure Tameshiwari Permitted and prohibited techniques Competition glossary All the topics

Texts consulted

Every answer cites its text. The rulebooks belong to their organisations; when in doubt, the official document prevails.

  • WKO 2026 Regulation WKO Competition Rules (全世界空手道連盟 試合規約), revised edition of 29 July 2026 — Japanese text, unofficial translation Official document Official page
  • EKO 2019 Regulation EKO — Kumite Competition Regulation and Rules (17 March 2019) Official document
  • WKO 2026 Tournament document Karate Dream Festival 2026 International Championship — Kumite Competition Rules (WKO) Official document
  • WKO 2013 Tournament document 45th All Japan Open Karate Championship 2013 — Instruction for Entry (WKO) Official document

Unofficial translation from Japanese (Claude, for the dojo, October 2026); the original text prevails.

From the rulebook to the mat.

Rules are there to be understood; the rest is learned at the dojo on Nuns’ Island, with a free first class.

Book a free trial class