ARTICLE 1: KATA COMPETITION AREA
1. 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.
2. The mats are to be of uniform colour with the exception that outer meter of the 8 x 8 metres mats that must be of a different colour.
3. Judges and the Software Technician are placed side by side at a table at the end of the mat facing the Competitors with the Chief Judge (Judge no.1) closest to the Software Technician whom sits at the far end of the table.
EXPLANATION:
I. There must be no advertisement hoardings, walls, pillars etc. within one metre of the safety area's outer perimeter.
II. The mats used should be non-slip where they contact the floor proper but have a low co-efficient of friction on the upper surface. The Tatami Manger must ensure that mat modules do not move apart during the competition, since gaps cause injuries and constitute a hazard. The mats must be WKF approved.