ARTICLE 6: OPERATION OF MATCHES
1. At the start of each bout and in answer to their names, the two contestants, or teams, one wearing a red belt (AKA), and the other wearing a blue belt (AO), will line up at the match area perimeter facing the Chief Kata Judge. Following a bow to the Judging Panel and then to each other, AO will then step back out of the Match Area. After moving to the starting position AKA will bow and make a clear announcement of the name of the Kata that is to be performed, and begin the kata. On completion of the Kata, AKA will after bowing at the end of the kata leave the area to await the performance of AO who will follow the same procedure for performing his/her kata. After AO’s Kata has been completed both will return to the match area perimeter and await the decision from the Panel.
2. If the Chief Judge is of the opinion that a competitor should be disqualified, he/she may call the other Judges in order to reach a verdict.
3. If a contestant is disqualified the Chief Judge will cross and uncross the flags and then raise the flag indicating the winner
4. After completion of both Kata, the contestants will stand side by side on the perimeter. The Chief Judge will call for a decision (HANTEI) and blow a two-tone blast on the whistle whereupon the
Judges will cast their votes. In instances where both AKA and AO are disqualified in the same bout, 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.
5. The decision will be for AKA or AO. No ties are permitted. The competitor, who receives the majority of votes, will be declared the winner.
6. Individual contestants or teams that do not present themselves when called will be disqualified (KIKEN) from that category. Disqualification by KIKEN means that the contestants are
disqualified from that category although it does not affect participation in another category.
7. When announcing disqualification by KIKEN the Chief Judge will be required to signal by pointing, with the flag, towards the starting position of the contestant in question, and then signal Kachi (win) for the opponent.
8. The competitors will bow to each other, then to the Judging Panel, and leave the area.
EXPLANATION:
I. The starting point for Kata performance is within the perimeter of the competition area.
II. The Chief Judge will call for a decision (HANTEI) and blow a two-tone blast on the whistle. The Judges will raise the flags simultaneously. After giving sufficient time for the votes to be counted (approximately 5 seconds) the flags will be lowered after a further short blast on the whistle.
Should a competitor or team fail to turn up when called or withdraws (Kiken) the decision will be awarded automatically to the opponent without the need to perform the previously notified Kata. In this case the winning competitor or team may use the Kata intended for that round for a subsequent round.