How does team kumite work in karate?
I · Intermediate · Officials, injuries and teams · 10 of 10A men's team match is five bouts and a women's is three. The team that wins more bouts wins, and if the bouts are level the team with more points wins. If that is level too, each team picks one athlete for a deciding bout. A mixed team match has four or six bouts, with equal numbers of men and women.
How it works
- Men's teams: five bouts. A squad may hold up to eight athletes.
- Women's teams: three bouts. A squad may hold up to five.
- Mixed teams: four or six bouts, half by men and half by women.
- No weight categories: except in mixed team events that use them.
- Fighting order: handed in on a form before each match, and changeable between rounds but not during one.
- Winning the match: most bout victories, including bouts won on senshu. Then most points.
- Still level: an extra bout between one athlete from each team, decided by hantei if needed.
- Match over early: once a team cannot be caught, the remaining bouts are not fought, except in a round robin.
- A drawn bout: allowed inside a team match.
- Disqualification or no-show in a bout: 8-0 to the other team, counted as yuko.
The glossary has kumite, the bout, the senshu, the hantei, the kiken and the hansoku and shikkaku.
Tricky cases
Each team wins two bouts and one is drawn. Who wins?
The team with more points across the match. If the points are also equal, an extra bout decides it.
Can a team pick, for the extra bout, an athlete who has already fought?
Yes. Each team may nominate any one of its athletes, whether or not they fought earlier in that match.
A coach changes the fighting order after handing in the form. What happens?
The team is disqualified by shikkaku. The order can be changed for a new round only if it is notified in writing beforehand.
A men's team leads three bouts to none. Are the last two bouts fought?
No, in an elimination match: the match is declared over. In a round robin all bouts must be fought.
Why the rule exists
A team match tests depth: a single champion can win only one bout. Counting bouts first and points second rewards the team that wins more often, and the points come in only to separate teams that could not be split. The fixed fighting order stops a team from waiting to see the opponent before choosing.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Men | Five bouts; at least three athletes for later elimination matches | WKF Kumite 3.5.1; 3.5.5 |
| Women | Three bouts; at least two athletes | WKF Kumite 3.5.2; 3.5.5 |
| Mixed | Four or six bouts | WKF Kumite 3.5.6 |
| Level on bouts | Most points | WKF Kumite 12.5.1 |
| Level on points | Extra bout | WKF Kumite 12.5.2 |
| Round robin | Every bout fought | WKF Kumite 12.5.4 |
From the rule book
World Karate Federation, Kumite Competition Rules (version 2026.01, valid from 1 January 2026), Articles 3.5, 3.6, 6.2 and 12.5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Kumite Competition Rules.