What is not allowed in karate kumite?
I · Intermediate · Fouls and penalties · 6 of 10Kumite forbids anything that cannot be controlled or that avoids the fight. That covers excessive contact, any contact to the throat, attacks to the arms, legs, groin and joints, open-hand attacks to the face and attacks with the head, knees or elbows. Dangerous throws, feigning injury, clinching, pushing and talking to the opponent are also banned.
How it works
- Contact: excessive contact for the area attacked, and any contact with the throat.
- Targets: the arms, legs, groin, joints and instep.
- Open hand: attacks to the face with open-hand techniques.
- Head, knees, elbows: attacks with them, real or simulated.
- Uncontrolled attacks: techniques that by their nature cannot be controlled.
- Throws: dangerous or forbidden ones.
- A downed opponent: kicks against an opponent lying flat on the floor.
- Acting: feigning or exaggerating injury.
- Not fighting: leaving the area, passivity, avoiding combat and clinching, wrestling, pushing or standing chest to chest without attempting a technique.
- Self-endangerment: mubobi, such as turning the back or dropping the guard.
- Conduct: talking to or goading the opponent, disobeying the referee and discourtesy to officials.
The glossary has the prohibited behaviour, the mubobi, the jogai, the passivity and avoiding combat, the control and skin touch and the penalty.
Tricky cases
Can an athlete kick the opponent's thigh to slow them down?
No. Attacks to the legs are prohibited. A leg sweep that takes the opponent off balance is a different thing and is allowed.
An athlete throws an elbow that misses on purpose, to make the opponent flinch. Is that allowed?
No. Simulated attacks with the head, knees or elbows are prohibited, as well as real ones.
An athlete goes down and the opponent kicks. Is that an ippon or a foul?
It depends on how the athlete is lying. A legal technique on a downed opponent is an ippon. A kick against an opponent lying flat on the floor is prohibited.
Can a coach be removed from the floor?
Yes. The referee may ban a coach who does not behave properly or who interferes with the bout, and hold up the bout until the coach complies.
Why the rule exists
Every item protects one of two things. Some protect the body: the joints, the throat and the face cannot take a blow that slips past control. The others protect the contest, by making sure both athletes stand in range and try to score.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Arms, legs, groin, joints, instep | Not targets | WKF Kumite 9.1.1 |
| Face | No open-hand techniques | WKF Kumite 9.1.1 |
| Opponent lying flat | No kicks | WKF Kumite 9.1.1 |
| Opponent down but not flat | A legal technique scores ippon | WKF Kumite 8.6 |
| National competitions | Federations may adapt the rules, but not those on safety, scoring, fouls or penalties | WKF Kumite 17.1 |
From the rule book
World Karate Federation, Kumite Competition Rules (version 2026.01, valid from 1 January 2026), Articles 9.1 and 17.1. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Kumite Competition Rules.