| Competition details | |
|---|---|
| Discipline | Karate |
| Type | Kumite and Kata, biennial |
| Organiser | World Karate Federation (WKF) |
| Divisions | |
| Current weight divisions | Male -60Kg,-67Kg, -75Kg, -84Kg and +84Kg. Female -50Kg, -55Kg, -61Kg, -68Kg and +68Kg. |
| History | |
| First edition | 1970 in Tokyo, Japan |
| Editions | 26 (2023) |
| Final edition | 2023 in Budapest, Hungary |
| Most wins |  Japan (214 medals) |
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 (WKF).[1][2][3][4][5] The competition is held in a different city every two years.[6] Championships in the 2000s included Madrid in 2002, Monterrey in 2004, Tampere in 2006, Tokyo in 2008, and Belgrade in 2010.[7][8] The competition was initially riddled with controversy regarding karate styles and the ruleset.[2][9][10][11][12]
In 1980, women were first allowed to compete in the championships.[9]
Competition and events
Kumite
Kumite Rules
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 (hantei ), or by an accumulation of prohibited behaviors imposed against a contestant.
Scoring & Penalties
 |
- Ippon (three points)
- Jodan (head, face, neck) kicks
- Any scoring technique delivered on a thrown or fallen opponent
- Waza-ari (two points)
- Chudan (abdomen, chest, back, side) kicks
- Yuko (one point)
- Tsuki (punch)
- Uchi (strike)
- 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 (jogai ) 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 (mubobi )
- Avoiding combat as a means of preventing the opponent having the opportunity to score
- Passivity – not attempting to engage in combat (cannot be given after less than the last 10 seconds of the match)
- 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 (uniform) 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
- Category 1
- 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
Rules
[13]
1. Conformity - with standards in form and style (Ryu-ha)
2. Technical performance:
- Techniques
- Stances
- Transitional movements
- Timing/Synchronisation
- Correct breathing
- Focus (Kime)
- 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.[14][15]
Team World Championship / Cup
It was held since 2024.[16][17][18]
Editions
| Edition | Year | Host city | Country | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1970 | Tokyo | .svg/1280px-Flag_of_Japan_(1870%E2%80%931999).svg.png) Japan |
2 |
| 2 | 1972 | Paris |  France |
2 |
| 3 | 1975 | Long Beach |  United States |
2 |
| 4 | 1977 | Tokyo | Japan |
2 |
| 5 | 1980 | Madrid | .svg/1280px-Flag_of_Spain_(1977%E2%80%931981).svg.png) Spain |
10 |
| 6 | 1982 | Taipei |  Taiwan |
13 |
| 7 | 1984 | Maastricht |  Netherlands |
13 |
| 8 | 1986 | Sydney | .svg/1280px-Flag_of_Australia_(converted).svg.png) Australia |
15 |
| 9 | 1988 | Cairo |  Egypt |
16 |
| 10 | 1990 | Mexico City |  Mexico |
16 |
| 11 | 1992 | Granada |  Spain |
16 |
| 12 | 1994 | Kota Kinabalu |  Malaysia |
16 |
| 13 | 1996 | Sun City |  South Africa |
17 |
| 14 | 1998 | Rio de Janeiro |  Brazil |
17 |
| 15 | 2000 | Munich |  Germany |
17 |
| 16 | 2002 | Madrid | Spain |
17 |
| 17 | 2004 | Monterrey | Mexico |
17 |
| 18 | 2006 | Tampere |  Finland |
17 |
| 19 | 2008 | Tokyo | Japan |
17 |
| 20 | 2010 | Belgrade | .svg/1280px-Flag_of_Serbia_(2004%E2%80%932010).svg.png) Serbia |
16 |
| + Para Karate | ||||
| 21 | 2012 | Paris | France |
16 |
| 22 | 2014 | Bremen | Germany |
16 |
| 23 | 2016 | Linz |  Austria |
16 |
| 24 | 2018 | Madrid | Spain |
16 |
| 25 | 2021 | Dubai |  United Arab Emirates |
16 |
| 26 | 2023 | Budapest |  Hungary |
16 |
| Separate to Individual and Team Events | ||||
| 1 | 2024 | Pamplona | Spain |
4 |
| 27 | 2025 | Cairo | Egypt |
12 |
| 2 | 2026 | 4 | ||
| 28 | 2027 | Paris | France |
12 |
- 1972: [[association championnet]]
All-time medal table
The following reflects the all-time medal counts as of the 2023 World Karate Championships:
.svg/1280px-Flag_of_Serbia_and_Montenegro_(1992%E2%80%932006).svg.png)
.svg/1280px-Flag_of_Switzerland_(Pantone).svg.png)
.svg/1280px-Flag_of_the_Netherlands_Antilles_(1986%E2%80%932010).svg.png)
.svg/1280px-Flag_of_Canada_(Pantone).svg.png)
.svg/1280px-Flag_of_Yugoslavia_(1946-1992).svg.png)
.svg/1280px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png)
- IOA: In 1992, athletes from Yugoslavia competed independently under the Olympic flag. Yugoslav Tanja Petrovic won the bronze medal in the women's Kumite 60kg.
- RKF: Russian Karate Federation in 2021.
- ANA: Individual Neutral Athletes in 2023.
See also
References
- ^ Coleman, Jim (September 1992). "Questions and Answers with Wuko's Head Man". Black Belt Magazine. 30 (9). Active Interest Media: 30–33. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Black Belt". Active Interest Media. February 1974. p. 34. Retrieved 21 December 2014 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Malaysia welcome extra category. Thestar.com.my (2008-11-19). Retrieved on 2011-05-14, Archived from the original on October 18, 2012 on the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sports: Three fighters, one heart. Mike Camunas, March 7, 2008, Sptimes.com. Retrieved on 2011-05-14, Archived from the original on March 4, 2016 on the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Mmegi Online :: Karate team leaves for WFK Championships. Mmegi.bw (2010-10-22). Retrieved on 2011-05-14.
- ^ Olympic Bid Sports Capsules – Olympics – ESPN. Sports.espn.go.com (2009-06-14). Retrieved on 2011-05-14.
- ^ Vacoe, Fred (November 8, 2008). "World Karate Championships returning to Japan". Japan Today. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
- ^ "Karate World Championship to be Held in Belgrade Next Year". Ministry of Sport. Retrieved 2011-05-04.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "World Wide Tourneys". Black Belt Magazine. Active Interest Media. February 1974. p. 56. Retrieved 21 December 2014 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Young, Jim (February 1974). "Contact Karate Tournaments, Will they separate the fighters from the actors?". Black Belt Magazine. Active Interest Media. p. 15. Retrieved 21 December 2014 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Poland holds first national karate meeting". Black Belt Magazine. Active Interest Media. February 1974. p. 12. Retrieved 21 December 2014 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Black Belt - Internet Archive". Internet Archive. February 1974. p. 12. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
- ^ "Kata Rules. World Karate Federation". YouTube. 2016-04-08. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- ^ "Para-Karate". WKF. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
- ^ "Para Karate". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
- ^ "Qualification and competition system - Karate world cup 2024 - National team championships" (PDF). www.wkf.net.
- ^ "2024 WKF Team World Championships". WKF. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
- ^ "World Championships". WKF. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
External links
- Official WKF site
- World Karate Federation Results
- Medal Table
