How does a kata performance start and end?
A · Advanced · The competition · 1 of 3When the name appears on the monitor, the athlete has 35 seconds to walk to a starting point, bow and make the first move. The name of the kata is announced after the bow, not before. The performance starts facing the judges and is assessed from the opening bow to the closing bow.
How it works
- Opening: the two athletes bow to the judges and then to each other.
- 35 seconds: from the name appearing on the monitor to the first move after the bow.
- Walking on: promptly, with no prolonged marching.
- Starting point: anywhere within the competition area.
- Facing the judges: the kata must start that way.
- Bow, then name: the athlete bows, announces the kata so that it can be heard and begins without delay.
- Assessment: from the bow that starts the kata to the bow that ends it.
- Afterwards: the athlete returns to the end of the area and waits for the result.
- Closing: the athletes bow to each other, then to the judges, then leave.
- Kit: a white karategi with the red or blue belt, and one minute to correct anything irregular.
The glossary has the rei, kata, the aka and ao, the kata faults and disqualification, the judges and the karategi.
Tricky cases
An athlete calls out the kata name and then bows. Does it matter?
Yes. Announcing the kata before the bow, and not after it, is a foul that the judges must take into account.
An athlete takes 40 seconds to begin. Is that a disqualification?
No. Using more than 35 seconds is time wasting, which is a foul and lowers the marks.
An athlete forgets to bow at the end. What happens?
Disqualification. Failing to bow at the beginning and at the completion of the kata is on the list.
Must a kata start from the centre of the mat?
No. The starting point may be anywhere within the perimeter of the competition area.
Why the rule exists
The bow is part of karate's etiquette, and the rules treat it as part of the performance. The 35-second limit and the ban on marching answer a habit that had grown up, of athletes turning the walk to the starting point into a show of its own. Announcing the name lets the judges check the kata against the one registered.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Name before the bow | Foul | WKF Kata 5.7 |
| More than 35 seconds | Foul, as time wasting | WKF Kata 5.7; 6.6 |
| No bow | Disqualification | WKF Kata 5.8 |
| Not facing the judges at the start | Disqualification | WKF Kata 5.8 |
| Team medal match | Assessed to the bow after the bunkai | WKF Kata 5.3.1 |
From the rule book
World Karate Federation, Kata Competition Rules (version 2026.0, valid from 1 January 2026), Articles 2.2, 5.3, 5.7, 5.8 and 6.4 to 6.12. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Kata Competition Rules.