Karate World Championships


The Karate World Championships, also known as the WKF World Karate Championships, are the highest level of competition for karate organized by the World Karate Federation. The competition is held in a different city every two years. Championships in the 2000s included Madrid in 2002, Monterrey in 2004, Tampere in 2006, Tokyo in 2008, and Belgrade in 2010. The competition was initially riddled with controversy regarding karate styles and the ruleset.
In 1980, women were first allowed to compete in the championships.

Competition and events

Kumite

The result of a bout is determined by a contestant obtaining a clear lead of eight points, having the highest number of points at time-up, obtaining a decision, or by an accumulation of prohibited behaviors imposed against a contestant.

Scoring & Penalties

  • Ippon
  • *Jodan kicks
  • *Any scoring technique delivered on a thrown or fallen opponent
  • Waza-ari
  • *Chudan kicks
  • Yuko
  • *Tsuki
  • *Uchi
  • Prohibited behavior
  • *Category 1
  • **Techniques which make excessive contact, in regards to the scoring area attacked, or make contact with the throat
  • **Attacks to the arms or legs, groin, joints, or instep
  • **Attacks to the face with open hand techniques
  • **Dangerous or forbidden throwing techniques
  • *Category 2
  • **Feigning or exaggerating injury
  • **Exit from the competition area not caused by the opponent
  • **Self-endangerment by indulging in behavior which exposes the contestant to injury by the opponent, or failing to take adequate measures for self-protection
  • **Avoiding combat as a means of preventing the opponent having the opportunity to score
  • **Passivity – not attempting to engage in combat
  • **Clinching, wrestling, pushing, or standing chest-to-chest without attempting a scoring technique or takedown
  • **Grabbing the opponent with both hands for any other reason than executing a takedown upon catching the opponent's kicking leg
  • **Grabbing the opponent's arm or karategi with one hand without immediately attempting a scoring technique or takedown
  • **Techniques which, by their nature, cannot be controlled for the safety of the opponent, and other dangerous and uncontrolled attacks
  • **Simulated attacks with the head, knees, or elbows
  • **Talking to or goading the opponent
  • **Failing to obey the orders of the referee
  • Warnings and penalties
  • *Chukoku is imposed for the first instance of a minor infraction in the applicable category.
  • *Keikoku is imposed for the second instance of a minor infraction in that category, or for infractions not serious enough to merit hansoku-chui.
  • *Hansoku-chui is a warning of disqualification usually imposed for infractions for which a keikoku has previously been given in that bout; it may be imposed directly for serious infringements which do not merit hansoku.
  • *Hansoku is the penalty of disqualification following a very serious infraction or when a hansoku-chui has already been given. In team matches, the offender's score will be zeroed and the opponent's score will be set at eight points.
  • *Shikkaku is a penalty of disqualification in which the offender is expelled from the entire tournament. Generally, it is given for particularly severe infringements, beyond that which would normally result in hansoku being given. In a team match, the offender’s score is set to zero, and the non-offender’s score is set to eight points, as with a normal hansoku.

    Kata

  • Individual kata – men and women
  • Team kata – men and women
  • Team kata with bunkai

    Rules

1. Conformity - with standards in form and style
2. Technical performance:
  • Techniques
  • Stances
  • Transitional movements
  • Timing/Synchronisation
  • Correct breathing
  • Focus
  • Technical difficulty
3. Athletic performance:
  • Strength
  • Speed
  • Balance
  • Rhythm
4. Fouls:
  • Minor loss of balance
  • Performing a movement in an incorrect or incomplete manner
  • Asynchronous movement
  • Use of audible cues
  • Belt coming loose
  • Time wasting
  • Cause injury in the execution of Bunkai

    Para Karate

Para was first held in 2012 as a demonstration and was followed by the official Para Karate World Championships 2014,2016,2018,2021,2023 and 2025. In 2015 WKF recognised by the IPC.

Team World Championship / Cup

It was held since 2024.

Editions

The following reflects the all-time medal counts as of the 2023 World Karate Championships: