BKF Four Nations Championships 2023

Saturday April 8th 2023

Sunday April 9th 2023

DEMONSTRATION CATEGORY

HOME NATIONS KATA TEAMS

With a view to affording our national teams an opportunity to stress test their Kata under competition conditions, we will host a demonstration category (with separate medals):

• Home Natins Kata Teams (teams need to be from the same country).

• Male or female teams are welcome.

• Any age from 14 years is welcome.

• Bunkai is an option in the final only - as long as both teams wish to proceed on this basis.

WITH THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

The British Karate Federation would like to thank our sponsors for the BKF Four Nations Championships 2023.

Cumberland Packaging Ltd, Southend-on-Sea
cumberlandpackaging.co.uk

HSG Packaging, Bradford
hsgpackaging.com

Know It All, Leicestershire
knowitall.co.uk

Onboard Corrugated Limited, Wolverhampton
onboardcorrugated.com

Photography and Recording

The BKF plan to engage a photographer who will take action shots of the competitors. Video and photographs will be taken at the event for promotional purposes, however, should anyone have a concern please contact the event organiser prior to the event.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR COACHES

For BKF members, only NGB-accredited coaches are permitted in the Tatami area and must display their accreditation badges upon entry. If the badge is not shown, a spectator fee will apply. Anyone wishing to coach at the Tatami must have NGB accreditation to verify that they are aware of the required rules, responsibilities and expected conduct. Without this accreditation, a coach pass will not be issued by the event organiser to BKF members.

Coach dress code:
Coaches must be in association tracksuits and clearly display their coaching ID badge. Inappropriate dress, as deemed by the Chief Referee, will be refused access to the competition area. Only coaches adhering to the correct dress code and in possession of a coaching pass will be allowed in the competition area.

Coach medical:
We record every injury that gives us the slightest concern, however, symptoms often occur after the incident and we would ask that the coach or representative informs the medical team of any concerns he or she has at the time of the incident, or any time after, no matter how trivial it may seem.

Repechage

We fully intend to have Repechage for CADETS, JUNIORS and SENIORS Individual Kumite and Kata. However, the Chief Referee has the authority to withdraw the repechage if the time frame becomes critical. Competitors can only compete in their own categories and cannot move up to compete in another category. In the unlikely event of low-category entries, the organisers reserve the right to amalgamate categories.

Insurance

It is the responsibility of each individual, or parent/guardian of a competitor if under 18 years of age, to have their own insurance cover for the event. Please advise your competitors accordingly regarding insurance cover. It is the responsibility of the clubs/coaches to ensure that all competitors are aware of this and have been advised of adequate cover. Association/club parental consent to compete is also required. This is the responsibility of the association.

Health and Safety issues have been discussed and we try to plan for every eventuality. However, this is a busy tournament and due care and attention are required in all areas. Would all coaches/parents ensure that their children are properly chaperoned. Karate matches are performed in bare feet; please ensure proper footwear is used in the arena and surrounding areas, especially approaching the mats.

Disclaimer

Karate is a martial art and contact sport. People can and do get injured and we cannot accept responsibility for any such injury, loss or accident arising from your participation in our training, competitions or associated activities and ask that you are aware, agree and accept this by entering or giving permission to enter this event. We should also be notified, in writing, of any medical condition that may have relevance to their participation in Karate.

If you require any further information or assistance, then please contact the Tournament Organiser Raj
Bhardwaj via tournaments@britishkaratefederation.com.

All Competitor & Coach Registration is via Sportdata

All entries are online only via Sportdata. For registration please visit: www.sportdata.org

It is the responsibility of coaches to ensure that all competitors are registered and are in the correct categories. Competitors are only allowed to compete in their own age/weight category and are not allowed to move up a category. Entries will only be accepted via your coach/association and not from individuals.

Coach Registration: All coaches must register online via Sportdata before the closing date. Coach passes will only be issued to coaches who are NGB accredited (for BKF members) and registered via Sportdata (for international and non-WKF coaches).

Volunteers can also register via Sportdata. Volunteers will be provided with: a BKF Official polo shirt; lunch; tea/coffee and an excellent vantage point to watch the Championships.

Entry fees

The closing date for entries and payment of entry fees is Sunday 2nd April 2023.

No late entries will be permitted. Payment should be made at the time of entry. However, if entry fees are not received by the closing date entries will be removed from the draw.

Please ensure that if paying by BACS you have an identifying reference against your payment i.e. club or association name. Please also provide a receipt or confirmation of your BACS payment to the organiser via tournaments@britishkaratefederation.com.

Publication of the draw and timeline

A first draft of the draw will be published on Monday 3rd April 2023 via Sportdata. Coaches will be invited to check for any errors (these usually involve a change in weight category). A new draw will follow any addition / subtraction of an athlete in a given category.

The timeline for the Championships weekend will be published on Tuesday 4th April 2023 on Sportdata.

Finals and Medals

Each category will run straight through to the final and medals will be announced and awarded on the mats immediately after each category.

Rules of the day

The doors will open at 7:30am and the event will start 8.30am prompt both days. Later in the day, (i.e. for categories starting from 10am onward), athletes should aim to arrive at least two hours before they are scheduled to compete.

Should the event run ahead of schedule category start times may be brought forward. Competitor check-in will be carried out prior to each category starting.

Kata - there will be no Kata Bunkai required (with the potential exception of the final of International Kata Teams).
With a view to smooth and timely running of this championships, Kata will be judged using the flags system.

13 years and under - alternate Katas; for individuals, pairs and teams.

13 years and under - AKA and AO will perform their Kata simultaneously i.e. on an area at the same time.

Kata and Kumite for 14 years and above will be held under WKF rules, which will be strictly applied (other than the flags system for Kata being deployed and Kumite team categories will have 3 athletes, with a minimum of two permissible).

Kumite weigh-in: We will operate spot weight checks. Any competitor found not to be the correct weight for the category they have entered will not be allowed to compete. We cannot move competitors to another weight category if they fail the weight checks. Athletes competing on the Sunday may volunteer to weigh in on the Saturday by reporting to the Tournament Organiser.

Pairs & Teams: All members of team must be from the same club/association.

Compulsory protective wear:
Red/blue foot protection and hand mitts, as well as gum shields are compulsory for all. Body protectors and chest guards are compulsory at 12 years and above.

14 years and above – all females must wear a chest protector.

Anyone with braces on the lower teeth MUST have a full upper and lower gum shield.

BKF Chief Referee: Mr Dale Gamble: REFEREES’ BRIEFING 8.00am

Housekeeping

Bags and equipment should not be left where they potentially present a trip hazard. Nor should they be left at the side of the Tatami whilst competing.

Spectators in the seating area should remain seated. Spectators should not stand by the barriers adjacent to the Tatami as this blocks the view of seated spectators and causes a potential health and safety hazard.

Official Hotel

The BKF recommends the following hotel, which is four miles from the competition venue:

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HAMILTON, Keith Street, Hamilton, ML3 7BL
Locate on Google Maps

Athlete Operating Procedure

Each category (or pool of a category) is scheduled to run on a specific Tatami. The category will be clearly announced over the public address system and the athletes in that category should then make their way to the corresponding holding area (i.e. if you’re scheduled to be on Tatami 1 – wait in holding area 1).

Holding areas for each Tatami will be clearly designated in the area adjacent to the Tatamis, behind the barrier. Coaches should ensure that their competitors have assembled in the correct holding area.

A Tatami Official will then collect the competitors, one by one for each match. The first visit for any category (or pool) will select competitors for the current bout plus next bout. Bout competitors will then take a seat in the allocated area awaiting their bout.

Coaches should consult the available draw sheets to determine the competitors' position in the draw. (This is available via Sportdata and is also displayed within the arena area.)

Please note that once called, competitors should remain within the holding area to ensure that they do not miss their bout. It is the coaches’ responsibility to have competitors available for the bout as it is called.

Compliance with the above procedure will help to maintain a constant flow and avoid competitors
missing their bouts. Your support in this procedure is appreciated.

Arena layout