Karate kata rules rules, for watching
Start with the rules you see all the time, then the ones that change results.
Checked 14 October 2026
Settling an argument? Search all 9 rules
- How does a karate kata competition work?
- Which kata can an athlete perform, and can a kata be repeated?
- How does a kata performance start and end?
- What is team kata, and what is bunkai?
- How is a karate kata scored?
- What do judges look for in a kata?
- What counts as a mistake in a kata?
- What gets an athlete disqualified in kata?
- How are kata groups decided, and can a result be protested?
Where these rules come from
| Tag | Document |
|---|---|
| WKF Kata plus article | World Karate Federation, Kata Competition Rules, Rules Version 2026.0, valid from 1 January 2026 (30 pages). Read in full: Articles 1 to 10 and Appendix 2 |
| WKF Kumite plus article | World Karate Federation, Kumite Competition Rules, Rules Version 2026.01, used only for comparisons |
| R | "Why the rule exists", or a point reasoned from the rule, not stated in it |
| C | Common usage or general knowledge, not a rule |
Checked on 14 October 2026.