Welcome!
Every fall, our club holds a tournament open to traditional karate practitioners. Our goal is to provide everyone with a fun, safe and exciting opportunity to enhance our karate training.
The 42nd Annual Tournament will place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center, 1976 Observatory Dr, Madison, WI 53706. Check-in starts at 10:00, and the tournament is scheduled to start at 11:30 am. Download the poster here!
Location
We will have Court 1 and 2 in the Bakke Recreation & Wellbeing Center in the UW-Madison Campus. There is a parking garage across from the entrance on Observatory Drive.
Registration information
The registration form for the tournament is available online, and it is also available in PDF format.Online registration will be available without late registration fees until 10 pm Central Time on Wednesday, October 22nd. If you choose online registration, you will have to bring the signed registration form (which will be e-mailed to you) when you check in (with your payment if you choose not to pay online). If you use the PDF form, please fill it out, print it, and mail it postmarked by Saturday, October 18th to avoid late registration fees.
The registration fee is $30 for one event, and $40 for 2 or more events. The cost for late registration is $45 for one event, and $60 for two or more events.
Check in for competitors will start at 10:00 am, the referee and judges session will start at 11:00 am (competitors are welcome to participate), and the tournament will start at 11:30.
Event Types
We have divisions based on rank in the following events:
The tentative order of events will be:
The categories for individual events are usually:
- Beginners (9 to 8 Kyu)
- Intermediate (7 to 6 Kyu)
- Intermediate Advanced (5 to 4 Kyu)
- Brown Belts (3 to 1 Kyu)
- Shodan
- Nidan and up
The rank categories are determined for each tournament depending on the number of competitors with different ranks. Note that categories may be combined to provide competitors with a better experience.
Adult Events
Adults will compete within their categories in individual kata and the individual kumite events. Team kata and enbu may have different categories as well, if enough participants are registered. Team kumite will be separate for men's and women's teams and also may have separate categories if enough teams are present.
The adult participants will have the following options of individual kumite events:
- Beginners (9th kyu and 8th kyu) will compete in One Time Attack sparring
- Participants in the Intermediate category (7th to 6th kyu) will compete in Level 1 sparring.
- Participants in the Intermediate Advanced category (5th to 4th kyu) will compete in Level 2 sparring.
- Brown belts and above may chose among Ko-Go kumite, Jiyu Kumite (free sparring), or both.
The Fukugo event is open to brown and black belts, and will use Jiyu Kumite for the sparring portion.
What is Kihon Ippon Kumite (One Time Attack)
The one time attack event is an alternating attack and response, starting from a fixed initial position. It uses the same setup as regular Shotokan rank tests (for example, see here). Please review the one time attack rules, and feel free to ask us any questions.
What are Kumite Levels (Sparring Level 1-3)
This year we are offering a new type of sparring event for color belts. It is designed to introduce students below shodan to the Budo aspect of kumite. The intent is to develop the student's understanding of distance, proper target, timing, and todome-waza (finishing blow) while executing the technique from the free-style position. At the same time, this event provides an opportunity for the development of judging experience, as the criteria are the same as for Jiyu Kumite (free sparring)
Please check back often, as additional details and clarifications about the event will be posted periodically. You can download a printable copy of the rules
Main points of consideration
- Budo spirit (fighting spirit, etiquette, appearance)
- Form and transition — posture, eye vector, balance
- Todome-waza — proper technique, kime, and zanshin
- Timing — proper rhythm of attack or counter
- Ma-ai — technique applied at the appropriate distance
Format of Competition
There is an attacker and defender designation for each exchange. Red (Aka) side attacks first, then when all attacks are finished, White (Shiro) side becomes the attacker.
Level 1 Exchanges
There are four exchanges (two for each side attacking). The attacking techniques are upper level step punch (oi-tsuki jodan) for the first attack, and reverse punch shifting in to the body (gyaku tsuki chudan). The competitors are in fighting stance (jiyu dachi) and are moving with the purpose to establish proper distance and timing for their actions. Note: switching of the leading leg in the stance is not allowed.
Procedure
- Both competitors stand in ready position (Shizen-Tai) at their designated starting positions.
- Chief referee (Shushin) announces “Aka oi-tsuki jodan - hajime” or “Red side upper level step punch - begin” and both competitors step forward in fighting stance (jiyu dachi).
- The attacker must get into proper distance for the attack and execute the announced attack within 5 seconds. The defender moves with the attacker to maintain proper distance and to be able to respond with the proper timing.
- The exchange is judged based on kumite rules, with the possible award of Waza-ari (half point) to either side
- Both competitors go back in ready position (Shizen-Tai) at their designated starting positions.
- Chief referee (Shushin) announces “Aka gyaku tsuki chudan - hajime” or “Red side reverse punch to the body - begin” and both competitors step forward in fighting stance (jiyu dachi).
- The exchange is judged based on kumite rules, with the possible award of Waza-ari (half point) to either side
- The procedure is repeated with Shiro (White) side as attacker
Constraints
- The defender must defend using go-no-sen timing, i.e. the defender must allow the attacker to initiate their attack. The goal of the defender is to evade and/or block the attack, and counter-attack before the attacker may have a chance for a second attack.
- The attacker must hold their position after executing the attack, providing a stationary target to the defender (similar to Kihon Ippon kumite, and Jiyu Ippon kumite).
- Due to this constraint on the attacker, there is no Ippon (full point) awarded at that level.
- Any contact (except minor) perpetrated by the defender may result in disqualification
Scoring considerations
- The attacker can score in two ways, either by performing the attack with the proper form, power, distance and timing (waza-ari), or if their attack disturbs the opponent's ability to counterattack (ni-ten), including the case where the defender escapes too far to be able to execute a proper counter attack.
- The defender can score with the properly executed counter attack, with the proper timing, and distance.
Level 2 Exchanges
There are six exchanges (three for each side attacking). The attacking techniques are upper level punching attack, either jab or reverse punch (kizami-tsuki jodan or gyaku tsuki jodan) for the first attack, reverse punch shifting in to the body (gyaku tsuki chudan), and front kick (using the back leg) to the body (mae geri chudan).The competitors are in fighting stance (jiyu dachi) and are moving with the purpose to establish proper distance and timing for their actions. Note: switching of the leading leg in the stance is not allowed.
Procedure
- Both competitors stand in ready position (Shizen-Tai) at their designated starting positions.
- Chief referee (Shushin) announces “Aka jodan tsuki - hajime” or “Red side upper level punch - begin” and both competitors step forward in fighting stance (jiyu dachi).
- The attacker must get into proper distance for the attack and execute the announced attack within 5 seconds. The defender moves with the attacker to maintain proper distance and to be able to respond with the proper timing.
- The exchange is judged based on kumite rules, with the possible award of Waza-ari (half point) or Ippon (full point) to either side
- After the exchange both competitors go back in ready position (Shizen-Tai) at their designated starting positions
- Chief referee (Shushin) announces “Aka gyaku tsuki chudan - hajime” or “Red side reverse punch to the body - begin” and both competitors step forward in fighting stance (jiyu dachi).
- The attacker must get into proper distance for the attack and execute the announced attack within 5 seconds. The defender moves with the attacker to maintain proper distance and to be able to respond with the proper timing.
- After the exchange both competitors go back in ready position (Shizen-Tai) at their designated starting positions
- Chief referee (Shushin) announces “Aka mae geri chudan - hajime” or “Red side front kick to the body - begin” and both competitors step forward in fighting stance (jiyu dachi).
- The attacker must get into proper distance for the attack and execute the announced attack within 5 seconds. The defender moves with the attacker to maintain proper distance and to be able to respond with the proper timing.
- The procedure is repeated with Shiro (White) side as attacker
Constraints
- The defender can use only a single technique for the counter, either a punch, or a front kick.
- The defender is free to defend using any timing, including preemptive counter-attack.
- The attacker must defend against (or evade) the counter attack
- If the defender launches a preemptive counter-attack, the attacker is still able to execute a single attack, if they block or evade the preemptive strike.
Scoring considerations
- Superior timing and distance, together with a decisive technique (Todome Waza) can potentially lead to the award of Ippon (full point) for either side
- A penalty (Keikoku) is awarded to the attacker if the defender escapes too far to be able to execute a proper counter attack.
Level 3 Exchanges
For the 2025 tournament, we are not using Level 3 kumite. We will review it again for next year.
There are six exchanges (three for each side attacking). The three types of attacks are as follows:
- Punching combination - two punching attacks, any sequence, any legal target. Defender can counter with one or two techniques.
- Kicking combination - one punch, one kick, in any sequence, any legal target. Defender can counter with one or two techniques.
- Combination exchange - attacker attacks with any combination of two techniques, defender responds with one or two techniques, and attacker has a final chance for counter-counter-attack.
Procedure
- Both competitors stand in ready position (Shizen-Tai) at their designated starting positions.
- Chief referee (Shushin) announces “Aka tsuki renzoku waza - hajime” or “Red side punching combination - begin” and both competitors step forward in fighting stance (jiyu dachi).
- The attacker must get into proper distance for the attack and execute the announced attack within 5 seconds. The defender moves with the attacker to maintain proper distance and to be able to respond with the proper timing.
- The exchange is judged based on kumite rules, with the possible award of Waza-ari (half point) or Ippon (full point) to either side
- After the exchange both competitors go back in ready position (Shizen-Tai) at their designated starting positions
- Chief referee (Shushin) announces “Aka keri renzoku waza - hajime” or “Red side kicking combination - begin” and both competitors step forward in fighting stance (jiyu dachi).
- The attacker must get into proper distance for the attack and execute the announced attack within 5 seconds. The defender moves with the attacker to maintain proper distance and to be able to respond with the proper timing.
- After the exchange both competitors go back in ready position (Shizen-Tai) at their designated starting positions
- Chief referee (Shushin) announces “Aka renzoku waza - hajime” or “Red combination exchange - begin” and both competitors step forward in fighting stance (jiyu dachi).
- The attacker must get into proper distance for the attack and execute the announced attack within 5 seconds. The defender moves with the attacker to maintain proper distance and to be able to respond with the proper timing.
- The procedure is repeated with Shiro (White) side as attacker
Constraints
- The kicks that can be used in this event are front kick (mae-geri), side kick (yoko geri), or roundhouse kick (mawashi geri)
- The defender is free to defend using any timing, including preemptive counter-attack.
- The attacker must defend against (or evade) the counter attack
- If the defender launches a preemptive counter-attack, the attacker is still able to execute a single attack, if they block or evade the preemptive strike.
- The attacker cannot use a sweep (ashi barai). The defender is allowed to use a sweep, which is counted as one of their two allowed techniques.
Scoring considerations
- Superior timing and distance, together with a decisive technique (Todome Waza) can potentially lead to the award of Ippon (full point) for either side
- A penalty (Keikoku) is awarded to the attacker if the defender escapes too far to be able to execute a proper counter attack.
What is Ko-Go Kumite?
The goal of Ko-Go kumite is to develop the use of combinations in sparring for both the attacker and the defender. The Ko-Go kumite rules are based on the WTKF rules.
What is En-bu?
The En-bu event is a two person pre-arranged encounter where an attacker and a defender demonstrate the use of karate techniques for self defense. The encounter should last for about one minute (40 seconds for 4th kyu and below), and participants are judged on the same principles as kata. This year, there is a single division for same gender or mixed gender partners. Based on participation, the division may be split by age, or rank.
What is Fukugo?
The Fukugo event is a single elimination event where the final round is free sparring (Jiyu Kumite), and each preceding round alternates between performance of the Kitei compulsory form, and free sparring. This event is for brown and black belts only.
Important Dates
Saturday, Octrober 18th
All paper registrations should have been be mailed by this date. To avoid late fees, register online!
Wednesday, October 22nd
All online registrations must be submitted by 10:00 pm Central time. Late fees will be added to any online registrations after that.
