ARTICLE 7: CRITERIA FOR DECISION

The result of a bout is determined by a contestant obtaining a clear lead of eight points, or at time-up, having the highest number of points, first unopposed point advantage (SENSHU), obtaining

1. No individual bout can be declared a tie. Only in team competition, when a bout ends with equal scores, or no scores, and neither contestant has obtained SENSHU, will the Referee announce a tie (HIKIWAKE).

2. In any bout, if after full time the scores are equal, but one contestant has obtained ‘first unopposed score advantage’ (SENSHU), that contestant will be declared the winner. In any individual bout, where no score has been obtained by either competitor, or the score is equal without any competitor has obtained ‘first unopposed score' advantage’, the decision will be made by a final vote of the four Judges and the Referee, each casting their vote. A decision in favour of one or the other competitor is obligatory and is taken on the basis of the following criteria:
a) The attitude, fighting spirit, and strength demonstrated by the contestants.
b) The superiority of tactics and techniques displayed.
c) Which of the contestants has initiated the majority of the actions.

3. The winning team is the one with the most bout victories including those won by SENSHU. Should the two teams have the same number of bout victories then the winning team will be the one with the most points, taking both winning and losing bouts into account. The maximum point’s difference or lead recorded in any bout will be eight.

4. If the two teams have the same number of bout victories and points, then a deciding bout will be held. Each team may nominate any one contestant of their team for purpose of fighting the extra bout, regardless if that person already has fought in a previous bout between the two teams. If the extra bout does not produce a winner based on superiority on points, nor any of the competitors receive SENSHU, the extra bout will be decided based on HANTEI according to the same procedure as for individual bouts. The result of the HANTEI for the extra bout will then also determine the result of the team match.

5. In team matches when a team has won sufficient bout victories or scored sufficient points as to be the established winner then the match is declared over and no further bouts will take place.

6. In instances where both AKA and AO are disqualified in the same match by Hansoku, the opponents scheduled for the next round will win by bye (and no result is announced), unless the double disqualification applies to a medal bout, in which case the winner will be declared by Hantei.

7. In instances where both AKA and AO are disqualified in the same bout by Hansoku, the opponents scheduled for the next round will win by bye (and no result is announced), unless the double disqualification applies to a medal bout, in which case the winner will be declared by Hantei.

EXPLANATION:

I. When deciding the outcome of a bout by vote (HANTEI) at the end of an inconclusive bout, the Referee will move to the bout area perimeter and call “HANTEI”, followed by a two-tone blast of the whistle. The Judges will indicate their opinions by means of their flags and the Referee will at the same time signal his vote by hand signal. The Referee will then give a short blast on his whistle, return to his original position and announce the decision and will then indicate the winner in the normal way.

II. By ‘first unopposed score advantage’ (SENSHU) is understood that one contestant has achieved the first instance of scoring on the opponent without having the opponent also score before the signal. In instances where both contestants score before the signal, no ‘first unopposed score advantage’ is awarded and both contestants retain the possibility of SENSHU later in the bout.