ARTICLE 4: THE REFEREE PANEL
1. The Refereeing Panel for each match shall consist of one Referee (SHUSHIN), four Judges (FUKUSHIN), and one Match Supervisor (KANSA).
2. The Referee and Judges of a Kumite bout must not have the nationality of either of the participants.
3. In addition, for facilitating the operation of matches, several timekeepers, caller announcers, record keepers, and score supervisors shall be appointed.
4. In addition, for facilitating the operation of bouts/matches, 2 Tatami Managers, 1 Tatami Manager Assistant, 1 Score Supervisor and 2 Score Keepers shall be appointed. An exception is Olympic events where there will be only 1 Tatami Manager.
EXPLANATION:
I. At the start of a Kumite match, the Referee stands on the outside edge of the match area. On the Referee’s left stand Judges numbers 1 and 2, and on the right stands Judges numbers 3 and 4.
II. After the formal exchange of bows by contestants and the referee panel, the Referee takes a step back, the Judges and the Referee turn inwards, and all bow together. All then take up their positions.
III. When changing the Judges, the departing Officials, except the Match Supervisor, take up position as at the start of the bout or match, bow to each other, and then leave the area together.
IV. When individual Judges change, the incoming Judge goes to the outgoing Judge, they bow together and change positions.
V. In team matches provided that the entire panel holds the required qualification, the positions of referee and judges may be rotated between each bout.