Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu
RULES FOR OFFICIALS
1. Conduct: Conduct yourselves at all times with confidence, respectfulness and good manners. Maintain a friendly aloof manner. At your station you are in charge. Avoid familiarity with any competitor. Render all judgments immediately and fairly. Do not hesitate to warn any one of disrespectful behavior and, if, it continues report, or, disqualify him. In the Kumite rings, the Center Referee is in charge at all times. He may be replaced only by the Tournament Director. Help keep the enjoyment level, of being in the competitions, high; especially for the lower grades. You are a role model; be a good one. Try to keep the “magic” alive.
Empty Hand Kata
1. Only regular kata allowed. No "Free
Style", "Musical", "Team", "Tournament" or any other modern affectation that
plagues today's tournaments will be allowed. This includes gymnastic routines in
kata.
2. Judging: When rendering judgment for Kata competition
these factors must be considered:
A.) Kata is highly individualistic.
B.) The chances are very good you do not know the
kata being performed.
C.) When you do know the kata being performed,
stylistic differences can cause you to assume the performance is
incorrect; when, in fact, the competitor is
executing the maneuvers in accordance with his style’s directives.
D.) Do not expect lower grades to perform to
Black Belt standards. Keep in mind the level of the division you are
judging.
E.) There are universal biomechanical principles
that allow you to know, through observation, if the competitor is
performing the kata correctly.
3. Scoring: Between zero and ten is awarded the competitor
after his kata is completed. Zero is awarded if the competitor does not finish
his kata, or, unintentionally falls down during the performance of his kata. Ten
is awarded when the kata performance was perfect. Five stands for average
performance for the level of the competitor. Scores should range between four
and eight for most of the competitors. Half points or tenths of a point are also
used in scoring the performances. Whether halves or tenths are used is up to the
discretion of the Tournament Director. A minimum of five Judges is used. Seven
Judges are preferable. The high and low scores are ignored in tallying the
total; excepting the case of a tie.
In the case of a tie:
First the low score given is used as
the tie breaker; failing at this, the high score is used.
If still tied: both competitors
repeat the kata they previously performed; and, the Judges score them again.
If this fails to break the tie, both
are awarded the place. The place below is vacated. For example: for First Place
both receive First Place; there is no
Second Place, Third Place receives Third Place, not, Second Place.
4. Match procedure: An announcement will be made in the
competitor staging area for a division to assemble. The division will be led
single file out to the competition area. Competitors will line up, opposite the
Judges, in the order that they will compete. At the command, “Bow to the Judges”
they bow to the Judges and the Judges bow to them. The competitors (and Judges)
then sit down, in order, in the area designated to them. The first competitor
will be called up to perform and the next competitor will be notified to be “On
Deck” to warm up. Starting at the left back corner of the ring, the competitor
will walk along the line to the center of the back line, turn to face the
Judges, then, enter the ring. The competitor will walk up to within two meters
of the Judges; bow to them and announce his name, his style, and the name of the
kata is about to perform. If there is any special announcement regarding his
performance, he makes it at this time. For example: “I will end facing to the
left at the conclusion of the kata instead of facing forward as is normal”. The
competitor then bows to the Judges, backs away from them to the place he wishes
to start, and commences his routine. It is the responsibility of the competitor
to place himself in the proper location so he may complete his kata without
interruption. At the end of his performance, he faces to the Judges, bows to
them, does an about face, and marches to the back line, turns and walks along
the back line to the right back corner and sits down in his place in the line of
competitors. At this time the Judge in charge of the ring announces, “Gentlemen
are you ready?”, then, “Call for points.” At this time the scores are raised so
the Scorekeeper can read and record them as he walks be hind the Judges. The
scorekeeper taps him on the shoulder and says “Thank you” to each of the Judges
when he finishes recording the score of the Judge. The Judge may now return the
score cards to his lap.
Weapons Kata
1. Judging: The rules for Weapons Kata are
exactly the same as the rules for Empty Hand Kata with these exceptions:
A.)
The kata is stopped and a score of zero is given, if, the competitor
drops a weapon.
B.)
All weapons used must be real;
and, the proper weight and size for the competitor. No “light weight” or
“toothpick” Bo, wooden kama, or “break apart”
weapons are allowed. The decision of the Tournament Director is
final in these types of matters.
C.)
No Nunchaku, Sword, or any other kata the Tournament Director deems
inappropriate are allowed.
D.)
It is the responsibility of the competitor to place himself in the
proper location so he may complete his kata
without interruption or endangering the Judges or
anyone else.
Jiyu Kumite
1. Judging: When rendering judgment for a
point, you must see the impact.
Hearing is not enough. The technique must
land on a target area for points. The
blow must not be heavy or full contact but must have been able to cause severe
damage if it had not been deliberately pulled by the competitor. No front hand
back knuckle strikes may count nor a fully extended technique which had expended
its force before making contact.
2. Awarding point procedure: After seeing a point any judge
or referee should shout “point.” The Center Referee will break the opponents.
Time will stop on his command “Break.” The competitors move to their prospective
start positions and the referee calls “Ready, Point.” Lift corresponding
arm overhead towards the competitor to be awarded the point. If one side judge
awards to a competitor he receives ½ point, if two Side Judges a full point, if
the Center Referee a full point. In the event both Side Judges award one
competitor and the Center Referee the other, both get a full point. If the
Center Referee is positive no point was scored, he may, after consulting with
the side judge, rule no ½ point to be awarded. He may not over rule both Side
Judges.
3. Match procedure: An announcement will be made in the
competitor staging area for a division to assemble. The division will be led
single file out to the competition area. Competitors will line up, opposite the
Judges, in the order that they will compete. At the command, “Bow to the Judges”
they bow to the Judges and the Judges bow to them. The competitors then sit
down, in order, in the area designated to them. The first set of competitors
will be dressed by the equipment handlers (E/H) and led to the ring. The second
set will immediately be dressed afterwards. The competitors will bow to the
Center Referee then to each other at the command of the referee “ Bow to me”,
“To each other”. At the command “Fighting positions”, competitors assume their
fighting stances., “Fight” they begin. At the command “Break” both competitors
cease fighting and back away from each other with guards up. At the command “On
line” both competitors return to their start positions. To continue the bout,
the Center Referee gives the command, “Continue”. At the end of the match the
score/time keeper throws a blue bean bag into the ring to notify the Center
Referee. The Center Referee calls “Break” then “Bow to each other”, “To me”. The
score/time keeper holds up the color paddle of the winner. Center Referee
announces, “winner” and lifts his corresponding arm overhead towards the winner.
The winner reports to the score/time keeper then to the E/H nearby to remove his
gear and is escorted to the winners’ pool by the E/H. The loser reports to the
far side E/H, is undressed and escorted to the losers’ pool. At the end of the
competition they are led back to the staging area.
4. Disqualifications: When the decision has been made
to award the match to a competitor due to the disqualification of his opponent,
the Center Referee announces, “winner by Technical Knockout” or “winner by
disqualification” or “winner due to opponent incompetence”.
Bogu Kumite
1. Judging: The Center Referee runs the
ring. He may overrule a Side Judge’s decision; but, not both of them, if they
are in agreement. When rendering judgment, the power of the strikes and which
opponent physically dominated the other is what is important Good attitude,
honor, and respect are wonderful things, especially in a winner; but, are no
grounds for winning or losing in Bogu Kumite. If both are standing when time is
called, don’t be worried, call it the way you saw it. If you saw it as a draw,
call it a draw.
2. Awarding point procedure: Normally, Bogu Kumite, as
practiced by us, has a non stop, no points match setup. In those special times
where the point system is used these are the rules for awarding points. The
point must land on a target area (an area covered by head or body armor, or, the
legs from mid thigh upwards including the groin area). The strike must be seen
to enter cleanly and with enough power that, were no armor present, the opponent
would be rendered incapable of continuing to fight, or, killed. After seeing a
point any judge or referee should shout “point.” The referee will break the
opponents. Time will stop on his command “Break.” The competitors move to their
prospective start positions and the referee calls “Ready, Point.” Referee and
judges lift corresponding arm overhead towards the competitor to be awarded the
point. If one side judge awards to a competitor he receives ½ point, if two Side
Judges a full point, if the Center Referee a full point. In the event both Side
Judges award one competitor and the Center Referee the other, both get a full
point. If the Center Referee is positive no point was scored, he may, after
consulting with the side judge, rule no ½ point to be awarded. He may not over
rule both Side Judges.
3. Match procedure: An announcement will be made in the
competitor staging area for a division to assemble. The division will be led
single file out to the competition area. Competitors will line up, opposite the
Judges, in the order that they will compete. At the command, “Bow to the Judges”
they bow to the Judges and the Judges bow to them. The competitors then sit
down, in order, in the area designated to them. The first set of competitors
will be dressed by the equipment handlers (E/H) and led to the ring. The second
set will immediately be dressed afterwards. The competitors will bow to the
Center Referee then to each other at the command of the referee “ Bow to me”,
“To each other”. At the command “Fighting positions”, competitors assume their
fighting stances., “Fight” they begin. At the command “Break” both competitors
cease fighting and back away from each other with guards up. At the command “On
line” both competitors return to their start positions. To continue the bout,
the Center Referee gives the command, “Continue”. At the end of the match the
score/time keeper throws a blue bean bag into the ring to notify the Center
Referee. The Center Referee calls “Break”, then, “Ready, Point.” Referee and
judges lift corresponding arm overhead towards the competitor to be awarded the
victory. Normally, the Center Referee and at least one of the Side Judges agree
on one competitor. In the case of the Center Referee indicating one victor and
the two Side Judges a tie, the match goes to the Center Referee’s decision. If
the Center Referee indicates a tie and, either, both of the Side Judges indicate
one competitor, or, one a tie and the other a victor, the match goes according
to the Side Judges opinion. In the event of a tie, (two Side Judges for one,
Center Referee for the other) the competitors fight for another round. This
continues until one is finally declared the winner. Center Referee says then
“Bow to each other”, “To me”, then announces “winner” and lifts his
corresponding arm overhead towards the winner. The winner reports to the
score/time keeper then to the E/H nearby to remove his gear and is escorted to
the winners’ pool by the E/H. The loser reports to the far side E/H, is
undressed and escorted to the losers’ pool. At the end of the competition they
are led back to the staging area.
4. Disqualifications: When the decision has been made
to award the match to a competitor due to the disqualification of his opponent,
the Center Referee announces, “winner by Technical Knockout” or “winner by
disqualification” or “winner due to opponent incompetence”.
5. Ejection procedure: Ask the competitor to leave the
competition area and summon security to remove him from the premises.
Home