Are throws allowed in karate kumite?
A · Advanced · Fouls and penalties · 3 of 5Sweeps and throws are allowed, with limits. An athlete may grab with one hand to throw or score at once, and with both hands only after catching a kicking leg. The throw must pivot no higher than the hip, and the thrower must hold on so that the opponent lands safely. Shoulder throws and sacrifice throws are forbidden.
How it works
- Sweeps: the conventional leg sweeps, with no grab, are allowed.
- Throws with a grip: allowed, with one hand on the opponent.
- Hip height: the pivot of the throw must not be above the thrower's hip.
- Holding on: the opponent must be held throughout so that a safe landing can be made.
- Forbidden: throws over the shoulder and sacrifice throws.
- One hand: an arm or the karategi may be seized to throw or to score directly, but not held for a run of techniques.
- Two hands: only when trapping a kicking leg to take the opponent down.
- Below the waist: it is forbidden to grab there and lift, or to pull the legs away.
- After a throw: the thrower must follow up at once, or the referee stops the bout.
- Clinching: broken up with "Wakarete".
The glossary has the prohibited behaviour, the ippon, the referee's calls, the control and skin touch, the karategi and the kumite.
Tricky cases
An athlete catches a kick with both hands and tips the kicker over. Is that legal?
Yes. Trapping the opponent's kicking leg is the one case where both hands may be used for a takedown. One hand then moves to the opponent's karategi or body to break the fall.
An athlete grabs a sleeve and holds it while throwing three punches. Is that allowed?
No. One hand may seize an arm or the karategi for a throw or one direct scoring technique, but not to keep hold for continuous techniques.
Is a judo-style throw over the shoulder allowed?
No. Over-the-shoulder throws are expressly forbidden, and so are sacrifice throws, in which the thrower falls to bring the opponent down.
An athlete throws the opponent and both hesitate. What does the referee do?
Call "Yame". The bout is stopped when an athlete falls or is thrown and neither follows up at once with a scoring technique.
Why the rule exists
A sweep followed by a strike is a classic karate combination, and the three points for scoring on a downed opponent reward it. The limits keep it karate and not wrestling, and keep the fall safe: a low pivot and a held sleeve bring the opponent down on the side, not on the head.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sweep without a grab | Allowed | WKF Kumite 10.4.7 |
| Throw with one hand gripping | Allowed, at hip height or below | WKF Kumite 10.4.7; 10.4.8 |
| Both hands | Only on a caught kicking leg | WKF Kumite 10.4.9 |
| Over the shoulder or sacrifice | Forbidden | WKF Kumite 10.4.8 |
| Grabbing below the waist to lift | Forbidden | WKF Kumite 10.4.10 |
From the rule book
World Karate Federation, Kumite Competition Rules (version 2026.01, valid from 1 January 2026), Articles 7.10, 8.6, 9.1.1 and 10.4.7 to 10.4.12. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Kumite Competition Rules.