TheKarate World Championships, also known as theWKF World Karate Championships, are the highest level of competition forkarate organized by theWorld Karate Federation (WKF).[1][2][3][4][5] The competition is held in a different city every two years.[6] Championships in the 2000s includedMadrid in 2002,Monterrey in 2004,Tampere in 2006,Tokyo in 2008, andBelgrade in 2010.[7][8] The competition was initially riddled with controversy regarding karate styles and the ruleset.[2][9][10][11][12]
In 1980, women were first allowed to compete in the championships.[9]
The result of a bout is determined by a contestant obtaining a clear lead of eight points, having the highest number of points at time-up, obtaining a decision (hantei ), or by an accumulation of prohibited behaviors imposed against a contestant.
Any scoring technique delivered on a thrown or fallen opponent
Waza-ari (two points)
Chudan (abdomen, chest, back, side) kicks
Yuko (one point)
Tsuki (punch)
Uchi (strike)
Prohibited behavior
Category 1
Techniques which make excessive contact, in regards to the scoring area attacked, or make contact with the throat
Attacks to the arms or legs, groin, joints, or instep
Attacks to the face with open hand techniques
Dangerous or forbidden throwing techniques
Category 2
Feigning or exaggerating injury
Exit from the competition area (jogai ) not caused by the opponent
Self-endangerment by indulging in behavior which exposes the contestant to injury by the opponent, or failing to take adequate measures for self-protection (mubobi )
Avoiding combat as a means of preventing the opponent having the opportunity to score
Passivity – not attempting to engage in combat (cannot be given after less than the last 10 seconds of the match)
Clinching, wrestling, pushing, or standing chest-to-chest without attempting a scoring technique or takedown
Grabbing the opponent with both hands for any other reason than executing a takedown upon catching the opponent's kicking leg
Grabbing the opponent's arm orkarategi (uniform) with one hand without immediately attempting a scoring technique or takedown
Techniques which, by their nature, cannot be controlled for the safety of the opponent, and other dangerous and uncontrolled attacks
Simulated attacks with the head, knees, or elbows
Talking to or goading the opponent
Failing to obey the orders of the referee
Warnings and penalties
Chukoku is imposed for the first instance of a minor infraction in the applicable category.
Keikoku is imposed for the second instance of a minor infraction in that category, or for infractions not serious enough to merithansoku-chui.
Hansoku-chui is a warning of disqualification usually imposed for infractions for which akeikoku has previously been given in that bout; it may be imposed directly for serious infringements which do not merithansoku.
Hansoku is the penalty of disqualification following a very serious infraction or when ahansoku-chui has already been given. In team matches, the offender's score will be zeroed and the opponent's score will be set at eight points.
Shikkaku is a penalty of disqualification in which the offender is expelled from the entire tournament. Generally, it is given for particularly severe infringements, beyond that which would normally result inhansoku being given. In a team match, the offender’s score is set to zero, and the non-offender’s score is set to eight points, as with a normalhansoku.
Para was first held in 2012 as a demonstration and was followed by the official Para Karate World Championships 2014,2016,2018,2021,2023 and 2025. In 2015 WKF recognised by the IPC.[14][15]
IOA: In 1992, athletes from Yugoslavia competed independently under the Olympic flag. Yugoslav Tanja Petrovic won the bronze medal in the women's Kumite 60kg.
^Sports: Three fighters, one heart. Mike Camunas, March 7, 2008, Sptimes.com. Retrieved on 2011-05-14, Archived from theoriginal on March 4, 2016 on the Wayback Machine.
Japan (214 medals)
Japan
France
United States
Spain
Taiwan
Netherlands
Australia
Egypt
Mexico
Spain
Malaysia
South Africa
Brazil
Germany
Finland
Serbia
Austria
United Arab Emirates
Hungary
China
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