1. The competition area must be flat and devoid of hazard.

2. The competition area will be a WKF Approved matted square, with sides of eight metres (measured from the outside) with an additional one metre on all sides as a safety area. There will be a clear safety area of two metres on each side. Where an elevated competition area is used, the safety area should be of an additional one (1) metre on each side.

3. Two mats are inverted with the red side turned up in one metre distance from the mat centre to form a boundary between the contestants. When starting or resuming combat the contestants will be standing front and centre on the mat facing each other.

4. The Referee will be standing centred between the two mats facing the Competitors at a distance of two metres from the safety area.

5. Each judge will be seated at the corners on the mat in the safety area. The referee may move around the entire tatami, including the safety area where the judges are seated. Each judge will be equipped with a red and a blue flag.

6. The Match Supervisor will be seated just outside the safety area, behind, and to the left or right of the Referee. He/she will be equipped with a red flag or sign, and a whistle.

7. The score-supervisor will be seated at the official score table, between the scorekeeper and the timekeeper.

8. Coaches will be seated outside the safety area, on their respective sides at the side of the tatami towards the official table. Where the tatami area is elevated, the coaches will be placed outside the elevated area.

9. The one metre border must be in a different colour from the rest of the matted area.

NOTE: See also APPENDIX 5: LAYOUT OF THE KUMITE COMPETITION AREA