How is a karate kata scored?
B · Beginner · Judging · 3 of 3Each judge gives each performance a mark from 5.0 to 10.0, in steps of 0.1. The judge's higher mark is that judge's vote, and the athlete with the majority of the votes wins. The marks are not added together. A mark of 0.0 means disqualification, and a kata bout cannot end in a draw.
How it works
- The scale: 5.0 to 10.0 in increments of 0.1.
- 5.0: the lowest mark for a kata accepted as performed.
- 10.0: a perfect performance.
- 0.0: disqualification.
- The guide: 9 and above is excellent, 8 very good, 7 good, 6 acceptable and 5 insufficient.
- The vote: each judge points out a winner by the relative marks that judge gave the two.
- The result: the majority of the judges' votes.
- The panel: seven judges in round-robin rounds and five in eliminations, drawn at random by computer.
- Neutral: no judge may share the nationality or federation of either athlete.
- With flags: where there is no electronic system, five judges raise a red or blue flag together on the head judge's whistle.
The glossary has the kata scoring, the judges, the aka and ao, the kata criteria, the disqualification and the bout.
Tricky cases
Aka's marks add up to more than ao's, but ao has four of the seven votes. Who wins?
Ao. The winner is determined by the majority of votes, not by the sum of the marks.
What does a mark of 5.0 mean?
The lowest mark possible for a kata that is accepted as performed. The guide calls the 5 band insufficient.
Can a kata bout be drawn?
No. No draws are allowed, and an odd-numbered panel voting for one athlete or the other always gives a majority.
What if a judge gives both athletes the same mark?
Not stated. The rules say each judge points out a winner from the relative marks, and do not say what happens to equal marks.
Why the rule exists
A vote by each judge stops one very high or very low mark from deciding a bout, which can happen when marks are averaged. An odd number of judges means a vote always produces a winner. The marks are still recorded, because they show how each judge reached the vote.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Round-robin rounds | Seven judges | WKF Kata 4.1 |
| Eliminations | Five judges | WKF Kata 4.1 |
| Flags | Five judges, one of them the head judge | WKF Kata 4.9; 5.14 |
| Team medal matches | A timekeeper is added | WKF Kata 4.5 |
| Kumite | Points for techniques, not marks | WKF Kumite 8.6 |
From the rule book
World Karate Federation, Kata Competition Rules (version 2026.0, valid from 1 January 2026), Articles 4, 5.4, 5.5, 5.10 and 5.14. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Kata Competition Rules.