2025 Red Torii Open Rules

RED TORII OPEN Karate Tournament

Official Rules

Tournament Director

Tournament Arbitrator

Master Al Panazzola

Master Carl Martin

  1. GENERAL RULES

Competitor Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the competitor to know the rules and be ready for competition when called to do so. He/she must wear full, clean karate gi, kung fu uniform, etc. Kumite (sparring) competitors can wear non-traditional style gi; however, it must include top/pants/belt of respective rank.

If the competitor is not at his/her ring ready to compete when competition begins, he/she will not be able to compete. If a competitor leaves the ring after the competition begins and is not present when they are up next to compete, he/she will be disqualified.

 

Age Rule

All competitors will compete in the age group for their age at the time of competition. Competitors may not compete in age groups ‘up or down’ at any time. For example, a 52 year-old may not go ‘down’ in division to the 35-49 year old division.

 

Proof of Age Rule

We STRONGLY encourage bringing along to the tournament proof of age, if needed. This applies for ALL COMPETITORS. Parents, please prepare accordingly for your child.

We will not check age of competitors; however, if a question in age arises to the Arbitrator then we will request proof of age before the competitor is allowed to compete. For example, a youth competitor may be quite tall for their age group. Parents, please be prepared to show some evidence of age for your child if the need arises.

Ranks

For purposes of this tournament, the following is denoted for competition:

Novice = white / yellow / orange

Intermediate = blue / green / purple

Advanced = brown

Regardless of age, all black belts must compete in their respective black belt divisions.

Ring Requirements

All rings will be 20 feet X 20 feet. Start lines for kumite will be 6 feet apart in the middle of the ring. Each ring is posted with a ring number clearly visible to competitors, judges, spectators, and medical personnel.

 

Arbitrator

The arbitrator is tasked with ensuring fair competition for all competitors. He will be available on the competition floor should any clarification be needed or consult with any judging panel (weapons, kata, or kumite) that is unsure of any application of the tournament rules. If a question arises that is not completely covered by this rules document, the arbitrator may, at his discretion, overrule, modify, or change a delineated rule if he believes that enforcing such a rule would result in an inherent unfair outcome to a competitor. However, this should only be done in the most unusual of situations.

 

Combining Divisions

We will make every attempt to keep all ages and ranks within their respective divisions. However, any possibility to combine divisions, for whatever reason, must obtain the consultation of the tournament director for final approval. NOTE: combining divisions will not occur for all youth divisions (under 18).

All adult divisions (18+ years old) MUST have a minimum of three (3) competitors for the division to run off. For any adult division that is combined, competitors may compete ‘up’ in rank but not ‘down’ in rank. For example, if an adult Intermediate division has less than 3 competitors they would be placed into the Advanced division, but Advanced may not be combined into the Intermediate divisions.

 

  1. EQUIPMENT & UNIFORMS

 

Uniform (competitors & judges)

All participants for this tournament must wear a complete traditional karate or tae kwon do gi, kung fu uniform, etc. along with a belt of their respective rank within their respected style or system.

For kumite (sparring) divisions, competitors may wear a sport style uniform which includes top/pants/belt of their respective rank.

 

 

Required Safety Equipment

For kumite (sparring) divisions, all competitors must utilize headgear, hand and foot pads, mouthpieces, and groin cups (male competitors). Females require groin protection (jo) Foot pads MUST entirely cover the toes.

Equipment will be checked and if deemed unsafe or does not meet standards, he/she will be asked to change the equipment before he/she can compete. Equipment must be free from heavy taping, tears or any other repairs that may cause injury.

The tournament arbitrator will be the final ruling authority for issues of improper kumite (sparring) equipment.

Hand pads: soft padded surface must cover the fingers, wrist, and any striking surface of the hand. No MMA style gloves permitted.

Foot pads: soft padded surface must cover the instep, sides, toes, ankle and back of the heel of the foot. The bottom of the foot does not need to be padded.

Head gear: the front, sides, and back of the head must be covered by a soft padded surface.

Mouthpiece: a properly fitted mouthpiece is required.

Soft shin guards, soft elbow pads, and chest guards are not required, but could be worn for additional protection and safety if the competitor wishes.

Note: hard plastic shin/forearm/elbow/chest guards are not permitted for kumite (sparring) divisions.

 

  1. COMPETITION

 

Judges

All judges MUST wear full, clean and neat martial arts uniform in order to perform their judging responsibilities.

Each division will utilize five (5) judges, if possible, for all weapons, kata and kumite (sparring) divisions. Center referees will be appointed by the tournament director. In addition, each ring will have a timekeeper (for kumite divisions) and a scorekeeper. Assistance scorekeepers may be used to assist with calculations while the main scorekeeper tracks scores as given by the judging panel.

The center judge must maintain control over their ring and will make all final decisions within their respective rings including, but not limited to: points awarded, penalty warnings and points. The center judge will consult with the other judges before final decisions, as needed.

For kumite (sparring), a majority of votes will yield points.

 

 

Weapons or Kata Divisions

We will utilize a two decimal place point system (e.g. 7.75) for scoring. The following process will be followed:

  1. The high and low score are removed and the three remaining scores will be tallied for the competitor’s final score.

  2. In the event of a tie, the low score will be added back for the final score.

  3. If a tie still remains, then the high score will be added back for the final score.

  4. If a tie still exists, then those competitors will perform another kata. Then each competitor will be lined up and the judges will vote by hand (point to competitor the judge feels had a better performance). NOTE: under black belt competitors can perform the same kata at this point. Black belt competitors MUST perform a different kata.

The first three competitors will complete their kata. After the third competitor, the first competitor will be called up for their score. And the 2nd and 3rd competitor called up for their respective scores. Each subsequent competitor (after the 3rd) will be scored immediately after their kata performance.

Only traditional Kobudo weapons relative to your style or system are permitted for those respective divisions (bo / sai / tuifa / nunchanku). Judges have the ability to inspect any weapon prior to the start of the respective weapons division. Any competitor with a weapon that considered non-traditional (e.g. extremely light weight) will not be asked to use a different weapon; however, the judge may adjust scoring accordingly as they deem appropriate. NOTE: any judge who feels the competitor’s weapon does not meet traditional standards MAY NOT share such thoughts with any other judge on the panel. If this rule is violated, any judge may request the tournament arbitrator to discuss the handling of this violation to possibly include an entirely new set of judges.

 

 

Kata Grand Championships

All black belt division winners will compete for the forms grand championships, as denoted:

  • Adult Black Belt Kata (combined weapons & kata division winners)

  • Junior (13-17) Black Belt Kata (combined weapons & kata division winners)

  • Youth (5-12) Black Belt Kata (combined weapons & kata division winners)

Each competitor will complete one kata for these finals.

 

 

 

 

Kumite

Judging and awarding of points is generally understood so in the interest of space and time the following key points are noted:

  • All matches: the first competitor to score 5 points is the winner.

  • Center judge should use START or BEGIN, and STOP as general commands. Corner referees can only call POINT, whereas the center judge would then call STOP.

  • For Grand Championships, matches will be two minutes with the most points indicating the winner. Time will be stopped when judges are determining awarding of points.

  • Grabbing is allowed for completion of a technique. The grab must not exceed one second (i.e. must be immediate release of the grab).

  • Sweeps of any kind are not permitted.

  • You must have at least one foot inside the designated ring to score a point. If a competitor is in process of going outside the ring boundaries or only has one foot legally inside the ring area, the competitor inside the ring still has the ability to score a point.

  • Any detection of blood will be the disqualification of the offending competitor.

  • Any concern or dispute of any kumite (sparring) rule or point will be settled by the tournament arbitrator.

  • Once the Center judge yells stop, the competitors must stop immediately. NO contact shall be made. Zero tolerance. In the event a competitor is struck after the Center judge yells stop, disqualification will be in effect.

Legal Target Areas: entire head and face, ribs, chest, abdomen, collarbone, and kidneys.

Illegal Target Areas: spine, back of neck, throat, sides of the neck, groin, legs, knees, and back.

Non-Target Areas: hips, shoulders, buttocks, arms, legs, and feet. Halo strikes will not be called

 

Kumite Grand Championships

All Adult black belt division winners will compete for the finals. We will have separate Men and Women Grand Champions awarded.