Dear National Federations,The WKF is collaborating with CELAD (Spanish Anti-Doping Agency) to prepare an Anti-Doping Game Zone for the EKF European Championships in Guadalajara, Spain on 22-23 of March between 11:00 – 18:00. Visit with your athletes & coaches and play games, have fun, and you could win a WKF exclusive ¨ Karate for Life” T-shirt and more. Most importantly, join us in giving our athletes an opportunity to protect their right to fair competition.
After an initial trial of the Electronic Scoring System with joysticks at the past K1 – Youth League in Fujairah (UAE) and as a result of the reports of the said event, it is considered that the Electronic Scoring System shall still undergo some adjustments to optimize the system for best results.
Therefore, it has been decided that the Electronic Scoring System will not be used at the upcoming official events. According to the schedules all adjustments shall be ready by the time of the K1 – Youth League in A Coruña (Spain), where the Electronic Scoring System will again be in place for its use.
Taking this into consideration, it is highly recommended for all Referees and Judges to attend the K1 – YL in A Coruña, whenever possible, as it will be a great opportunity to receive detailed briefings on the subject and get well familiarised with the new system. WKF
In the links below, you can find the Karate 1-Youth League and Karate 1-Series A Organizing Rules for 2023 with the major changes which have already been communicated in previous correspondence.
Major Additions¨ The use of WKF ¨ Approved Karategis” with embroidered brands on the shoulders in RED or BLUE will be compulsory in all the categories of Kata and Kumite, for all official WKF events (World Championship, Karate 1 Premier League, Series A and Youth League).
Youth League The inclusion of U21 Categories (10 Kumite +2 Kata) The inclusion of additional Female U14 (-52kg, +52kg), Cadet (-61kg+61kg), and Junior (-66kg,+66kg) categories.
After submitting the requested certification and having passed the practical tests carried out by the WKF, the helmet produced and commercialized by the brand Daedo has obtained the WKF Approved certificate.
This is the first helmet with WKF Approved certificate, and other brands with homologated protections are in process to obtain it. For more information, please visit the following link.
“For Competitors <14 years of age the use of WKF Approved Faces mask or protective Helmet and Chest Protector is compulsory. For the same age group, starting 1.1.2024, the protective WKF Helmet will be compulsory from 1.1.2024, providing a transition period of all of 2023 where either protection (WKF Approved Face mask or WKF Helmet) can be used.”
EKF members, After having been approved by the WKF EC, all NFs have been informed on the mandatory use of red and blue karategis in Karate 1 events and in World Championships, starting 1st of January 2023.
Thus applying this regulation, the EC of the EKF has approved the mandatory use of the red and blue karategis, starting 1st of January 2024.
In the meantime, i.e. during 2023, the red and blue Karategi ruling in EKF events would be optional but not mandatory.
Following the communication made on May 18th, 2022, the WKF Executive Committee approved on October 22nd, 2021, the mandatory use of “WKF Approved” Karategis with embroidered brands on the shoulders, in RED and BLUE, in all WKF official events (World Championships and Karate 1 – Premier League, Series A and Youth League) from January 1, 2023.
From 1st January 2023 will be mandatory in all the WKF official eventsthe use of “WKF approved” Karategis with embroidered brands on theshoulders in RED and BLUE.
The following brands got the WKF Approval for their Karategis, including the ones with embroidered brands on the shoulders in Red and Blue:
The WKF has received a communication from the joysticks manufacturer (Electronic Scoring System) that due to the logistics global situation of the supply of electronic components (chips) it will not be possible to meet the established deadlines for production of the joysticks in time for January 1st 2023.
Considering these circumstances, the Karate 1 – Series A Athens 2023 and the Karate 1 – Premier League Cairo 2023 will have to take place with the flag scoring system.
Once the WKF verifies the availability of the joysticks, we will send a communication to all of you, informing about the event in which the electronic scoring system will be implemented.
The new Karate 1 season will start soon with the new year 2023 and registration for the first Series A event of the year is in fact already ongoing.
In our efforts for monitoring our events and introducing the necessary amendments, please be advised that the WKF Executive Committee has approved the following:
Inclusion of the U21 categories in the Karate 1 Youth League events
The aim of this proposal is to broaden opportunities to these age classes, allowing them to participate at the Youth League events would give them more opportunities.
With the inclusion of these categories, most Youth League events will have to start their competition one day earlier (on Thursday), although this will be announced separately for each event.
The limit for the number of competitors for Kata categories is increased from 96 to 128 athletes in the Youth League and Series A events
Increasing the limit of participants for Kata categories in the YL and SA events will balance out opportunities for Kata competitors, who have one single category.
The above measures will be implemented already for all events from 1st January 2023, and as a result, ongoing registration processes for them (Series A Athens) will adapt to these implementations already.
In line with the other Continental Federations, the EKF EC has approved the Coach Course Programme detailed in the attached document.
This program will consist of two annual courses to be held in each of the European Championships (Senior and Junior). The first course to be held will be the one corresponding to the next EKF Junior, Cadet & U21 Championships in Cyprus in 2023, where the requirement of having the relevant coach level will be first implemented for coaches that want to officiate at the said EKF event.
It will also be possible to homologate WKF coach licenses for the Kata/Kumite levels (not for accredited level) and, the process of homologating certifications will be already implemented now, allowing to do so before the start of the 2023 season.
GERMANY
UKRAINE
SWEDEN
GREECE
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
CHINESE TAIPEI
GEORGIA
GUATEMALA
MEXICO
COLOMBIA
TURKIYE
KAZAKHSTAN
Emilio Merayo 