WKGB Welsh Open Karate Championships 2025

Kata categories

Code	Category	Code	Category
KATA - INDIVIDUAL
KA01	Kata mixed U10 years	KA08	Kata female junior
KA02	Kata female U12 years	KA09	Kata male junior
KA03	Kata male U12 years	KA10	Kata female senior 16 years+
KA04	Kata female U14 years	KA11	Kata male senior 16 years+
KA05	Kata male U14 years	KA12	Kata disability, mixed, U16 years
KA06	Kata female cadet	KA13	Kata disability, mixed, U16 years+
KA07	Kata male cadet	KA14	Kata disability, wheelchair, mixed

Code	Category	Code	Category
KATA - TEAMS
KAT1	Kata pairs mixed U16 years	KAT2	Kata pairs mixed years+

Kumite categories

FEMALE INDIVIDUAL KUMITE
Code	Category	Code	Category
KU01	U10 years -25kg	KU09	Junior -59kg
KU02	U10 years +25kg	KU10	Junior +59kg
KU03	U12 years -37kg	KU11	U21 years -61kg
KU04	U12 years +37kg	KU12	U21 years +61kg
KU05	U14 years -47kg	KU13	Senior -61kg
KU06	U14 years +47kg	KU14	Senior +61kg
KU07	Cadet -54kg	KU15	Senior open
KU08	Cadet +54kg	KU16	Veterans 35 years+

MALE INDIVIDUAL KUMITE
Code	Category	Code	Category
KU17	U10 years -27kg	KU25	Junior -68kg
KU18	U10 years +27kg	KU26	Junior +68kg
KU19	U12 years -40kg	KU27	U21 years -75kg
KU20	U12 years +40kg	KU28	U21 years +75kg
KU21	U14 years -50kg	KU29	Senior -67kg
KU22	U14 years +50kg	KU30	Senior -75kg
KU23	Cadet -57kg	KU31	Senior +75kg
KU24	Cadet +57kg	KU32	Senior open
		KU33	Veterans 40 years+

TEAM KUMITE
Code	Category	Code	Category
KUT01	Female U10 years	KUT06	Male U10 years
KUT02	Female U12 years	KUT07	Male U12 years
KUT03	Female U14 years	KUT08	Male U14 years
KUT04	Female Cadet	KUT09	Male Cadet
KUT05	Female Senior 18 years+	KUT10	Male Senior 18 years+
		KUT11	Mixed Junior (M-F-M)

1. COACHES

Only National Governing Body-accredited coaches are permitted in the tatami area. Coaches must be in their association tracksuits and a current National Governing Body Tatami Coach ID badge must be visible.

The coach is responsible for competitor behaviour, correct entries, ensuring competitors are licenced, and ensuring they have the correct equipment.

2. OFFICIALS

We request that all associations provide a nationally qualified referee/judge and/or table official.

All officials are to report to the Chief Referee at 09:15. Competition starts promptly at 10:00, with Kata. Please register online via SportData.

3. RULES

The competition will be held under WKF rules with some minor changes. In all instances, the Chief Referee’s decision will be final. Note that competitors’ weights, ages, and licences may be checked randomly. Open to members of WKF national governing bodies only.

All competitors and coaches would benefit from reading and familiarising themselves with the rules & statutes pertaining to tournament.

World Karate Federation Rules

3.1 KUMITE

Protective equipment, compulsory

Red/blue gloves and boots, gumshield, groin guards (males), chest guards (female), and shin guards are required for kumite at all ages.
Females Cadet / Junior / U21 / Senior, the chest guard is also compulsory.
Equipment must be WKF-approved for Cadet / Junior / U21 / Senior. Can be WKF ‘style’ for U14.
For U14 kumite, helmets and body protectors are mandatory;
- Helmets - White WKF-style. Must have attached face covering. Open headguards are not permitted.
- Body protector - U14s to wear over the jacket. Cadet/Junior/U21/Senior, must wear under jacket.

Duration of bouts

Individuals
Under 14	1.5 min
Cadet & junior	2 min
Under 21 & senior	3 min
Veterans	2 min

Teams
Under 14	1.5 min
Cadet / junior / senior	2 min

Repechage

Will be used for Cadet, Junior, U21, & Senior individual kumite categories. If timings become critical, the tournament organiser may withdraw the repechage.

Round-robin

For individual categories with only 3 athletes, round-robin will be used. No round-robin for team categories.

Note to all competitors

Competitors are not permitted to compete outside of their category; age or weight.
Members of Kumite Teams and Kata Pairs must be from the same association.

3.2 KATA

U10 & U12: Minimum of 2 kata, alternating each round [added 13.11.24]
- For U10 & U12, Aka and Ao will perform their kata at the same time.
U14: Different kata must be performed each round, to a max of 4 kata; can then repeat.
14 years+: WKF Rules - different kata each round to a max of 5 kata then non-consecutive repeat.
Disability: Minimum of 2 kata. Alternating each round.

4. OTHER INFORMATION

COMPETITOR & COACH REGISTRATION - 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.

All coaches must register online via Sportdata before the closing date. The event is not open to members of non-WKF bodies.

5. Entry fees

The *closing date* for entries and payment of entry fees is Friday 11th July 2025.

Competitors
Individual events	£15
Teams / pairs	£20

Spectators
Adult / 16 years+	£6
Juniors / U16 years	£4

Payment should be made at the time of entry, via BACS. Entries will remain on the waiting list until payment has been received. If entry fees are not received by the closing date, entries will be removed.

When paying by BACS, please use your association name or initials. Please provide payment receipt as confirmation of your BACS payment via email to events@welshkarate.org.uk.

Or by BACS payment direct to:

WKGB Limited
Bank	NatWest
Account no	19415419
Sort code	52-21-03

TOURNAMENT ORGANISER, CONTACT

Sensei Chico Mbakwe events@welshkarate.org.uk

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 competitions 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, please contact the Tournament Organiser.

Photography

We may use photographs/video footage of the event for promotional material for our social media platforms and website. By participating in the event, you are consenting to your image being used for this purpose. Individuals taking photographs etc. must remain on the spectator side of the safety barrier.

6. Rules of the day

The doors will open at 9:30am and the event will start 10.00am prompt. Later in the day, (i.e. for categories starting from 12pm onward), athletes should aim to arrive at least an hour 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: With a view to smooth and timely running of this championship, Kata will be judged using the flags system.

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.

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.

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.

7. Hotels & parking

A variety of hotels are within easy walking / driving distance of the Sport Wales National Centre.

HOTELS

Hotel Name	Address	Phone Number	Rating	Walking distance
The Spires Serviced Apartments Cardiff	10 Cathedral Rd, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9LJ	0345 270 0090	4-star	10 minutes
Holiday Inn Cardiff City Centre	Castle St, Cardiff CF10 1XD	0371 942 9240	3-star	10 minutes
Lincoln House Hotel	118-120 Cathedral Rd, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9LQ	029 2039 5558	3-star	10 minutes
Pontcanna Inn Hotel	36 Cathedral Rd, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9LL	029 2023 2917	3-star	10 minutes
Angel Hotel Cardiff	Castle St, Cardiff CF10 1SZ	029 2064 9200	3-star	15 minutes
Hilton Cardiff	Kingsway, Greyfriars Rd, Cardiff CF10 3HH	029 2064 6300	4-star	20 minutes
Premier Inn Cardiff City Centre Stadium Hotel	Custom House St, Cardiff CF10 1AP	03330 346631	3-star	20 minutes
Travelodge Cardiff Central	Imperial Gate, St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 1FA	0871 984 6224	3-star	20 minutes
Travelodge Cardiff Central Queen Street	Queen St, Cardiff CF10 2RG	0871 984 8484	2-star	20 minutes
Park Plaza Cardiff	Greyfriars Rd, Cardiff CF10 3AL	029 2011 1111	4-star	25 minutes

PARKING

Finding space to park nearby can add 20 minutes to your journey / arrival time.

Because spaces in the sports centre car park and nearby roads run out quickly, you should plan your journey with enough time to reach the venue after finding a parking spot.

📍 View parking options on Google Maps
Parking nearby

8. Athlete Operating Procedure

Categories
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 Tatami (i.e. if you’re scheduled to be on Tatami 1 – wait in holding area 1).

Coaches
Coaches should ensure that their competitors have assembled in the correct Tatami / area.

Coaches should consult the available draw sheets to determine the competitor's 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 Tatami area to ensure that they do not miss their bout. It is the coach's 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.