ARTICLE 9: WARNINGS & PENALTIES
CHUKOKU:
CHUKOKU is imposed for the first instance of a minor infraction for the applicable category.
KEIKOKU:
KEIKOKU is imposed for the second instance of a minor infraction for that category, or for infractions not sufficiently serious to merit HANSOKU-CHUI.
HANSOKU-CHUI:
This is a warning of disqualification usually imposed for infractions for which a KEIKOKU has previously been given in that bout although it may be imposed directly for serious infringements, which do not merit HANSOKU.
HANSOKU:
This is the penalty of disqualification following a very serious infraction or when a HANSOKU CHUI has already been given. In team matches the fouled Competitor’s score will be set at eight points and the offender’s score will be zeroed.
SHIKKAKU:
This is a disqualification from the entire tournament including any subsequent category the offender may have been registered for. SHIKKAKU may be invoked when a Competitor fails to obey the orders of the Referee, acts maliciously, or commits an act which harms the prestige and honour of Karate, or when other actions are considered to violate the rules and spirit of the tournament. In team matches the fouled Competitor’s score will be set at eight points and the offender’s score will be zeroed.
EXPLANATION:
I. There are three degrees of warning; CHUKOKU, KEIKOKU and HANSOKU CHUI. A warning is a correction given to the Competitor making it clear that the Competitor is in violation of the competition rules, but without imposing an immediate penalty.
II. There are two degrees of penalties: HANSOKU and SHIKKAKU, both causing the Competitor violating the rules to be disqualified from i) the bout (HANSOKU) — or ii) from the bout and the entire tournament (SHIKKAKU). In the case of SHIKKAKU further sanctions may still be imposed by the Legal and Disciplinary Commission based on the outcome of complaints.
III. Category 1 and Category 2 warnings do not cross-accumulate.
IV. A warning can be directly imposed for a rules infraction, but once given; repeats of that category of infraction must be accompanied by an increase in severity of warning or disqualification as may be appropriate. It is not, for example, possible to give a warning for excessive contact, then give another warning of the same degree for a second instance of excessive contact.
V. CHUKOKU is normally imposed for the first instance of an offence that has not reduced a Competitor’s chances of winning by the opponent’s foul.
VI. KEIKOKU is normally imposed where the Competitor's potential for winning is slightly diminished (in the opinion of the Judges) by the opponent's foul.
VII. A HANSOKU CHUI may be imposed directly or following a KEIKOKU — and is used where the Competitor's potential for winning has been seriously reduced (in the opinion of the Judges) by the opponent's foul.
VIII. A HANSOKU is imposed for cumulative warnings but can also be imposed directly for serious rules infractions. It is used when the Competitor's potential for winning has been reduced virtually to zero (in the opinion of the Judges) by the opponent's foul.
IX. Any Competitor who receives HANSOKU for causing injury, and who has in the opinion of the Judges and Tatami Manager, acted recklessly or dangerously or who is considered not to have the requisite control skills necessary for WKF competition, will be reported to the Referee Commission. The Referee Commission will decide if that Competitor shall be suspended from the rest of that competition and/or subsequent competitions.
X. A SHIKKAKU can be directly imposed, without warnings of any kind. If the Referee believes that a Competitor has acted maliciously, regardless of whether or not actual physical injury has been caused, SHIKKAKU and not HANSOKU, is the correct penalty.
XI. When the Referee considers that a Coach is interfering with the bout in progress, he/she will stop the bout (YAME), approach the Coach and show the signal for discourteous behaviour. After that the Referee will re-start the bout (TSUZUKETE HAJIME). If the Coach continues to interfere, the Referee will stop the bout, approach the Coach again and ask him/her to leave the tatami. The Referee will not re-start the bout until the Coach has left the Tatami area. This is not considered as a SHIKKAKU situation and the expulsion of the Coach is only for that particular bout or match.
XII. A public announcement of SHIKKAKU must be made.