World Karate Federation: Examination Questions for
Kumite Referees and Judges
1. If the competition area is elevated another meter to a total of 3 meters is required on
all sides. - Answer- True, 1.5 (should be a comma after 'elevated.')
2. Any Voluntary religious headwear can be worn. - Answer- False, 2.1.2.b) (WKF
approved).
3. The karate-Gi jacket must be more than three-quarters thigh length. - Answer- False,
2.2.1.g)
4. The karate-Gi trousers must cover at least two-thirds of the shin. - Answer- True,
2.2.1.l)
5. The karate-Gi jacket sleeve must be no longer than the bend of the wrist. - Answer-
True, 2.2.1.j)
*6. If a contestant's karate-Gi jacket sleeves are too long and a suitable replacement
cannot be found in time the Referee can allow him to turn them up on the inside. -
Answer- FALSE 2.2.1.k)
7. Competitors may wear 1 or 2 discreet rubber band or ponytail retainer in their hair.
Ribbons, beads, and other decorations are prohibited. - Answer- As practical matter
could be TRUE, the rationale is similar i.e. not metal and not more than 2. Possibly
false? Article 2.2.5 ("One or two discreet rubber bands on a single pony tail is
permitted." No mention of retainer).
8. Earrings are allowed if they are covered with tape. - Answer- False, 2.2.11
9. Metallic teeth (dental) braces may be worn at the contestant's own risk if approved by
the Referee and the Official Doctor. - Answer- True, 2.2.7
10. Contestants must bow properly to each other at the start and end of the bout. -
Answer- True, 7.4
*11. The coach may change the team fighting order during a round. - Answer- False
3.7.5
12. If a contestant is injured in an individual match the coach can enter a replacement if
he notifies the Organising Commission first. - Answer- False, no 1.1.2023 rule states
this. Section 3.5 of 1.1.2020 states this rule.
13. Each Judge must be equipped with a red and a blue flag or electronic signal device.
- Answer- True, 1.8
,14. If two teams have the same number of victories and points, a deciding bout will be
held. - Answer- True, 12.2.2
15. The Match Supervisor (KANSA) will be seated just outside the safety area, will be
equipped with only a whistle. - Answer- True, 1.9
16. Disqualification by KIKEN means that the contestants are disqualified from that
category. - Answer- True, 3.5.1
17. Heels of more than 4 cm may not be worn with the uniform. - Answer- True, 2.1.2.e)
18. Senior Male bouts are three minutes, and Women, Cadets, and Juniors, two
minutes. - Answer- False, 5.1
19. Kumite team members may wear any type of Karate Gi. - Answer- False, 2.2.2
20. Different type of stripes may be used for team members. - Answer- False, 2.2.2
21. A competitor does not need to change the jacket if ties are torn off during the match.
- Answer- True, 2.2.1.i)
22. Competitors may wear any white Karate Gi. - Answer- False, 2.2.1
23. A fast combination of CHUDAN Geri and TSUKI each of which score in their own
right will be given IPPON. - Answer- False, 8.3
24. In Senior matches a light "glove touch" to the throat need no result in a warning or
penalty provided there is no actual injury. - Answer- False, 8.8
25. A kick in the groin will not result in a penalty provided the offender did not do it
intentionally. - Answer- False, 9.1.1.2)
26. Starting 2023, for Competitors under14 years of age, the WKF approved protective
helmet is allowed and compulsory from 1.1.2024. - Answer- True, 2.2.9
27. If SENSHU is withdrawn when it is less than 15 seconds left of the bout, no further
SENSHU can be awarded to either competitor. - Answer- True, 12.1.3
28. Should a competitor that has been awarded SENSHU receives a Category 2
warning for avoiding combat when there is less than 15 seconds left of the bout - the
competitor will automatically forfeit this advantage. - Answer- False, 12.1.2 There is no
category 2.
29. Voluntary religiously headwear must be approved by the WKF. - Answer- True,
2.1.2.b); 2.2.6; 2.3.2.b)
, 30. The WKF Competition Supervisor, or the Organizing Commission, can allow
Coaches to instead of the track suit top to use any t-shirt. - Answer- False, 2.3.4
31. HANSOKU-CHUI is given when the contestant's potential for winning has been
seriously reduced by the opponent's foul. - Answer- True, 10.2.1 "for more serious
infractions that reduces the other Competitor's chances of winning"; The 2023 rules
does not state this, the 2020 rules do state this at Art 9, Explanation VII
32. An "exchange" is the period preceding when the bout is halted, and the clock
stopped. - Answer- True, 3.1.3
33. The weight tolerance admitted for male and female 0.5 kg. - Answer- False,3.2.2.d)
34. HANSOKU is imposed for serious rules infractions. - Answer- True, 10.3.1
35. SHIKKAKU can only be imposed after a warning has been given. - Answer- False,
10.3.1; 10.4.5; 10.4.17;
36. If a contestant acts maliciously, SHIKKAKU and not HANSOKU is the correct
penalty. - Answer- True, 10.3.1
37. If a contestant acts maliciously, HANSOKU is the correct penalty. - Answer- False,
10.3.1
38. A competitor can be given SHIKKAKU if the behaviour of the coach or non-
combatant members of the contestant's delegation is considered to harm the prestige
and honour of Karate-do. - Answer- False. Current (2023) rule 9.1.2 refers to ban from
competition floor, not Shikkaku. 9.1.3 refers to having accreditation withdrawn. 10.3.3
refers to WKF Disciplinary Commission or Executive Committee. This rule was Article 8,
Explanation XIX of the 1.1.2020 rules, it is not in the 2023 rules.
39. The same tolerance applies to both the upper and lower limits of a weight class. -
Answer- True, 3.2.2.d)
40. For individual competition, the Round-robin system followed by quarterfinals, semi-
finals and final is applied. - Answer- False, 3.3
41. There are five criteria to be met in determining a score. - Answer- False, 8.5
42. A male team must present minimum five competitors for the initial round. - Answer-
True, 3.6.1
43. Male teams comprise five to seven members with five competing in a round. -
Answer- True, 3.6.1
Kumite Referees and Judges
1. If the competition area is elevated another meter to a total of 3 meters is required on
all sides. - Answer- True, 1.5 (should be a comma after 'elevated.')
2. Any Voluntary religious headwear can be worn. - Answer- False, 2.1.2.b) (WKF
approved).
3. The karate-Gi jacket must be more than three-quarters thigh length. - Answer- False,
2.2.1.g)
4. The karate-Gi trousers must cover at least two-thirds of the shin. - Answer- True,
2.2.1.l)
5. The karate-Gi jacket sleeve must be no longer than the bend of the wrist. - Answer-
True, 2.2.1.j)
*6. If a contestant's karate-Gi jacket sleeves are too long and a suitable replacement
cannot be found in time the Referee can allow him to turn them up on the inside. -
Answer- FALSE 2.2.1.k)
7. Competitors may wear 1 or 2 discreet rubber band or ponytail retainer in their hair.
Ribbons, beads, and other decorations are prohibited. - Answer- As practical matter
could be TRUE, the rationale is similar i.e. not metal and not more than 2. Possibly
false? Article 2.2.5 ("One or two discreet rubber bands on a single pony tail is
permitted." No mention of retainer).
8. Earrings are allowed if they are covered with tape. - Answer- False, 2.2.11
9. Metallic teeth (dental) braces may be worn at the contestant's own risk if approved by
the Referee and the Official Doctor. - Answer- True, 2.2.7
10. Contestants must bow properly to each other at the start and end of the bout. -
Answer- True, 7.4
*11. The coach may change the team fighting order during a round. - Answer- False
3.7.5
12. If a contestant is injured in an individual match the coach can enter a replacement if
he notifies the Organising Commission first. - Answer- False, no 1.1.2023 rule states
this. Section 3.5 of 1.1.2020 states this rule.
13. Each Judge must be equipped with a red and a blue flag or electronic signal device.
- Answer- True, 1.8
,14. If two teams have the same number of victories and points, a deciding bout will be
held. - Answer- True, 12.2.2
15. The Match Supervisor (KANSA) will be seated just outside the safety area, will be
equipped with only a whistle. - Answer- True, 1.9
16. Disqualification by KIKEN means that the contestants are disqualified from that
category. - Answer- True, 3.5.1
17. Heels of more than 4 cm may not be worn with the uniform. - Answer- True, 2.1.2.e)
18. Senior Male bouts are three minutes, and Women, Cadets, and Juniors, two
minutes. - Answer- False, 5.1
19. Kumite team members may wear any type of Karate Gi. - Answer- False, 2.2.2
20. Different type of stripes may be used for team members. - Answer- False, 2.2.2
21. A competitor does not need to change the jacket if ties are torn off during the match.
- Answer- True, 2.2.1.i)
22. Competitors may wear any white Karate Gi. - Answer- False, 2.2.1
23. A fast combination of CHUDAN Geri and TSUKI each of which score in their own
right will be given IPPON. - Answer- False, 8.3
24. In Senior matches a light "glove touch" to the throat need no result in a warning or
penalty provided there is no actual injury. - Answer- False, 8.8
25. A kick in the groin will not result in a penalty provided the offender did not do it
intentionally. - Answer- False, 9.1.1.2)
26. Starting 2023, for Competitors under14 years of age, the WKF approved protective
helmet is allowed and compulsory from 1.1.2024. - Answer- True, 2.2.9
27. If SENSHU is withdrawn when it is less than 15 seconds left of the bout, no further
SENSHU can be awarded to either competitor. - Answer- True, 12.1.3
28. Should a competitor that has been awarded SENSHU receives a Category 2
warning for avoiding combat when there is less than 15 seconds left of the bout - the
competitor will automatically forfeit this advantage. - Answer- False, 12.1.2 There is no
category 2.
29. Voluntary religiously headwear must be approved by the WKF. - Answer- True,
2.1.2.b); 2.2.6; 2.3.2.b)
, 30. The WKF Competition Supervisor, or the Organizing Commission, can allow
Coaches to instead of the track suit top to use any t-shirt. - Answer- False, 2.3.4
31. HANSOKU-CHUI is given when the contestant's potential for winning has been
seriously reduced by the opponent's foul. - Answer- True, 10.2.1 "for more serious
infractions that reduces the other Competitor's chances of winning"; The 2023 rules
does not state this, the 2020 rules do state this at Art 9, Explanation VII
32. An "exchange" is the period preceding when the bout is halted, and the clock
stopped. - Answer- True, 3.1.3
33. The weight tolerance admitted for male and female 0.5 kg. - Answer- False,3.2.2.d)
34. HANSOKU is imposed for serious rules infractions. - Answer- True, 10.3.1
35. SHIKKAKU can only be imposed after a warning has been given. - Answer- False,
10.3.1; 10.4.5; 10.4.17;
36. If a contestant acts maliciously, SHIKKAKU and not HANSOKU is the correct
penalty. - Answer- True, 10.3.1
37. If a contestant acts maliciously, HANSOKU is the correct penalty. - Answer- False,
10.3.1
38. A competitor can be given SHIKKAKU if the behaviour of the coach or non-
combatant members of the contestant's delegation is considered to harm the prestige
and honour of Karate-do. - Answer- False. Current (2023) rule 9.1.2 refers to ban from
competition floor, not Shikkaku. 9.1.3 refers to having accreditation withdrawn. 10.3.3
refers to WKF Disciplinary Commission or Executive Committee. This rule was Article 8,
Explanation XIX of the 1.1.2020 rules, it is not in the 2023 rules.
39. The same tolerance applies to both the upper and lower limits of a weight class. -
Answer- True, 3.2.2.d)
40. For individual competition, the Round-robin system followed by quarterfinals, semi-
finals and final is applied. - Answer- False, 3.3
41. There are five criteria to be met in determining a score. - Answer- False, 8.5
42. A male team must present minimum five competitors for the initial round. - Answer-
True, 3.6.1
43. Male teams comprise five to seven members with five competing in a round. -
Answer- True, 3.6.1
