WKF

Attire and protective equipment are governed by Article 2. Competitors wear a plain white karategi without stripes or piping, with the national emblem or flag as permitted by that Article (Article 2).

The competition area is governed by Article 1. It is a flat, unobstructed matted square (tatami), with the dimensions and safety area set out in that Article (Article 1).

Each Kumite match is controlled by a Referee panel — Referee, Judges and Match Supervisor — whose composition is set out in Article 4, and whose powers and duties are set out in Article 15 (Article 4).

Bout duration is governed by Article 5: senior male and female categories are three minutes of effective time (Article 5.1).

Kumite scoring is governed by Article 8. A score is awarded when two or more judges indicate it, or on video review (Article 8.1).

Prohibited behaviour is governed by Article 9, which groups violations into two categories and defines what each covers (Article 9).

Control is the organising safety principle of WKF Kumite: a technique must have the potential to be effective without actually delivering injurious contact (Article 8.5), and contact beyond that is prohibited behaviour (Article 9).