Competition rules · Decision by weight, categories

Weight and weigh-in

Weight decides bouts the referees could not settle, and it sorts competitors into categories. Here are the weigh-in rules and the differences that count.

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§When is a bout decided by weight?

Under the WKO 2026 rules, when two extensions have not decided. The effective difference is 10 kg or more for men and 8 kg for women; the lighter competitor wins. If the difference is not reached, a final extension is fought.

EKO 2019At the European Championships the scale is used only in the open category (and, at the organiser's choice, in other championships); the valid differences are 5 kg for men (10 kg for super heavyweight and open), 3 kg for women (6 kg for super heavyweight, 8 kg for open). Example: 75.0 kg versus 80.0 kg, the lighter one wins; versus 79.9 kg, draw (art. 6.1, 6.24 to 6.25).

Karate Dream Festival 2026No decision by weight (p. 1).

Sources for this answer WKO 2026 — section “Extensions”; judging criteria, item 4 · EKO 2019 — art. 6.1, 6.15, 6.20, 6.24–6.25, pp. 6–8 · KDF 2026 — p. 1

§How is the weigh-in conducted?

Under the WKO 2026 rules, the weigh-in takes place whenever a decision by weight is needed, at the designated place outside the competition area, in the presence of a referee; the measured weight becomes the competitor's reference weight.

EKO 2019The registration weigh-in is done in sport underwear, conducted by two referees of different sex, with privacy for men and women (regulation art. 1.7, art. 4.4); the weigh-in that decides a bout is done in dogi with the compulsory protectors (art. 6.26); for youth, with all the equipment worn during the bout (art. 19.5, 20.5, 21.5).

Karate Dream Festival 2026The weigh-in is done by the executive committee before the competition for the weight-division categories; exceeding the limit disqualifies (p. 1).

Sources for this answer WKO 2026 — judging criteria, item 4 · EKO 2019 — regulation art. 1.7, p. 3; art. 4.4, p. 5; art. 6.26, p. 8 · KDF 2026 — p. 1, item 3

§What are the weight categories (EKO 2019)?

Men: lightweight under 65 kg; middleweight 65 to under 75 kg; light heavyweight 75 to under 85 kg; heavyweight 85 to under 95 kg; super heavyweight 95 kg and more; open weight with no limit. Women: lightweight under 50 kg; middleweight 50 to under 55 kg; light heavyweight 55 to under 60 kg; heavyweight 60 to under 65 kg; super heavyweight 65 kg and more; open weight.

Cadet boys: under 50, 50–55, 55–60, 60–65, 65–70, 70–75, over 75 kg; cadet girls: under 50, 50–55, 55–60, 60–65, over 65 kg. Junior men: under 60, 60–65, 65–70, 70–75, 75–80, 80 kg and more; junior women: under 50, 50–55, 55–60, 60–65, 65 kg and more. U21 men: under 65, 65–70, 70–75, 75–80, 80–85, 85–90, over 90 kg; U21 women: under 50, 50–55, 55–60, 60–65, over 65 kg.

Sources for this answer EKO 2019 — art. 4.1–4.2, p. 5; art. 19.6, p. 21; art. 20.6, p. 24; art. 21.6, p. 27

§What happens if the weigh-in weight differs from the declared weight?

At the Karate Dream Festival 2026, a difference of 7 kg or more between the weight on the entry form and the weight checked by the executive committee disqualifies the competitor; exceeding the limit of one's category also disqualifies.

EKO 2019When the draw was done before arrival, a difference of more than 7 kg between the declared weight and the weight checked before the competition disqualifies (art. 11.8); the competitor must be within the range of his category (art. 4.3).

Sources for this answer KDF 2026 — p. 1, items 3 and 4 · EKO 2019 — art. 4.3, p. 5; art. 11.8, p. 11

§Is weight used to rank competitors?

Yes, for places 5 to 8 under the WKO 2026 rules: the executive committee ranks the men's quarter-final losers according to the content of the bouts they won (rounds 2 to 4), in this order: number of wins by ippon, number of waza-ari, number of extensions (fewer), weight (lighter), other. Places 1 to 4 are decided by bouts.

2015 World ChampionshipPlaces 5 to 8 were decided by the number of boards broken at tameshiwari, then by the lighter weight (p. 1, item 5).

EKO 2019At tameshiwari, with an equal number of boards, the lighter competitor wins (art. 16.15).

Sources for this answer WKO 2026 — judging criteria, item 6 · 2015 World Championship — p. 1, item 5 · EKO 2019 — art. 16.15, p. 14

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 2015 Tournament document 11th World Karate Championship (2015) — Competition Rules (WKO) Official document

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

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