CATEGORY
Kumite Rules Overview
The Kyokushin-kan America Open follows full contact principles while maintaining safety in line with international and United States standards. Each division is designed to preserve the Kyokushin spirit through strong, controlled technique, respect, and discipline. Protective equipment and contact levels are adjusted by age and rank to ensure that all competitors can demonstrate their skill and spirit in a safe and fair environment.
Gear Requirements
| Age/ Division | Headgear | Mouthguard | Groin Guard (Boys) | Shin Guards | Foot Guards | Hand/ Fist Guards | Chest/ Breast Guard | Knee Guards | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 to 11 Years Old | Mandatory with cage | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory, must be approved equipment | Mandatory | Uniform soft foam chest guard issued by organizer |
| 12 to 15 Years Old | Mandatory with cage | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Boys: Optional soft chest protector worn under the gi. Girls: Required soft chest protector worn under the gi, or an approved breast protector. (Approved equipment may be purchased from the vendor at the venue.) |
Mandatory | All soft type gear only |
| 16 to 17 Years Old | Mandatory no cage | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Boys: Optional soft chest protector worn under the gi. Girls: Required soft chest protector worn under the gi, or an approved breast protector. (Approved equipment may be purchased from the vendor at the venue.) |
Mandatory | All soft type gear only |
| Men Beginner Division 18 and above White to Yellow | Mandatory no cage | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | No | No | No hard shell pads or gloves |
| Women Beginner Division 18 and above White to Yellow | Mandatory no cage | Mandatory | Optional | Mandatory | Mandatory | Optional | Mandatory chest under guard | No | No hard shell body or knee pads |
| Men Advanced 18 to 40 | No | Optional | Mandatory | No | No | No | No | No | Standard full contact rules |
| Women Advanced 18+ Years | No | Optional | Optional | No | No | No | Mandatory breast or chest guard | No | Standard full contact rules |
| Veterans 40 and above | Mandatory no cage | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory for women | Mandatory | Safety emphasis division |
Additional Notes:
- All protective gear must be soft type foam or cloth.
- Hard shell pads, metal inserts, or MMA and boxing gloves are not permitted.
- Chest guards for 4 to 11 years must be approved equipment worn over the gi.
- Headgear without cage applies only to teen, beginner, and veteran divisions.
- Knee guards are optional for men in the Veterans division.
- No gloves or guards are used in advanced divisions unless pre approved by officials.
Kumite Division Structure
| Division | Age | Kyu Level | Division Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| U6 (Mixed Gender) | Under 6 | White to Black and above | Mixed level (all ranks) |
| U8 Boys and Girls Beginner | Under 8 | White to Blue (10th to 7th Kyu) | Beginner |
| U8 Boys and Girls Advanced | Under 8 | Yellow to Black and above (6th Kyu and above) | Advanced |
| U10 Boys and Girls Beginner | Under 10 | White to Blue (10th to 7th Kyu) | Beginner |
| U10 Boys and Girls Advanced | Under 10 | Yellow to Black and above (6th Kyu and above) | Advanced |
| U12 Boys and Girls Beginner | Under 12 | White to Blue (10th to 7th Kyu) | Beginner |
| U12 Boys and Girls Advanced | Under 12 | Yellow to Black and above (6th Kyu and above) | Advanced |
| U14 Boys and Girls Beginner | Under 14 | White to Blue (10th to 7th Kyu) | Beginner |
| U14 Boys and Girls Advanced | Under 14 | Yellow to Black and above (6th Kyu and above) | Advanced |
| U16 Boys and Girls Beginner | Under 16 | White to Blue (10th to 7th Kyu) | Beginner |
| U16 Boys and Girls Advanced | Under 16 | Yellow to Black and above (6th Kyu and above) | Advanced |
| U18 Boys and Girls Beginner | Under 18 | White to Blue (10th to 7th Kyu) | Beginner |
| U18 Boys and Girls Advanced | Under 18 | Yellow to Black and above (6th Kyu and above) | Advanced |
| Adult Men and Women Beginner | 18 and above | White to Yellow (10th Kyu to 5th Kyu) | Beginner |
| Adult Men and Women Advanced | 18 and above | Green to Black and above (4th Kyu and above) | Advanced |
| Veterans | 40 and Above | All Ranks | Safety Emphasis |
Head Contact Policy
| Division | Age Range | Head Contact Rule | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Division | 4 to 11 | Circular Head Kicks Only. | Only circular kicks such as mawashi geri or ushiro mawashi geri permitted. No front of face contact. |
| Youth and Teen Division | 12 to 17 | All head kicks are allowed. | All head kicks are allowed. |
| Adults Beginner | 18 and above | All head kicks are allowed. | All head kicks are allowed. |
| Adults Advanced | 18 and above | All head kicks are allowed. | All head kicks are allowed. |
| Veterans Division | 40 and above | All head kicks are allowed. | All head kicks are allowed. |
Safety Summary:
- No face punches are allowed in any division.
- No frontal face kicks such as mae geri or kakato geri are allowed for competitors under 12 years of age.
- All matches emphasize proper technique, discipline, and Kyokushin spirit.
- Kicks to front of the knee are not permitted.
U6
- Age:4 & 5 Years Old
- Gender:Mixed
- Weight Divisions:Mixed
- Level:Mixed
U8
- Age:6 & 7 Years Old
- Gender:Girls
- Level:Beginner and Advanced
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 25KG (55LB)
- Under 30KG (66LB)
- Under 35KG (77LB)
- Over 35KG (Over 77LB)
U8
- Age:6 & 7 Years Old
- Gender:Boys
- Level:Beginner and Advanced
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 25KG (55LB)
- Under 30KG (66LB)
- Under 35KG (77LB)
- Over 35KG (Over 77LB)
U10
- Age:8 & 9 Years Old
- Gender:Girls
- Level:Beginner and Advanced
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 30KG (66LB)
- Under 35KG (77LB)
- Under 40KG (88LB)
- Over 40KG (+88LB)
U10
- Age:8 & 9 Years Old
- Gender:Boys
- Level:Beginner and Advanced
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 30KG (66LB)
- Under 35KG (77LB)
- Under 40KG (88LB)
- Over 40KG (+88LB)
U12
- Age:10 & 11 Years Old
- Gender:Girls
- Level:Beginner and Advanced
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 35KG (77LB)
- Under 40KG (88LB)
- Under 45KG (99LB)
- Over 45KG (+99LB)
U12
- Age:10 & 11 Years Old
- Gender:Boys
- Level:Beginner and Advanced
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 35KG (77LB)
- Under 40KG (88LB)
- Under 45KG (99LB)
- Under 50KG (110LB)
- Over 50KG (+110LB)
U14
- Age:12 & 13 Years Old
- Gender:Girls
- Level:Beginner and Advanced
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 40KG (88LB)
- Under 45KG (99LB)
- Under 50KG (110LB)
- Over 50KG (+110LB)
U14
- Age:12 & 13 Years Old
- Gender:Boys
- Level:Beginner & Advanced
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 45KG (99LB)
- Under 50KG (110LB)
- Under 55KG (121LB)
- Under 60KG (132LB)
- Over 60KG (+132LB)
U16
- Age:14 & 15 Years Old
- Gender:Girls
- Level:Beginner and Advanced
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 45KG (99LB)
- Under 50KG (110LB)
- Under 55KG (121LB)
- Over 55KG (+121LB)
U16
- Age:14 & 15 Years Old
- Gender:Boys
- Level:Beginner & Advanced
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 50KG (110LB)
- Under 55KG (121LB)
- Under 60KG (132LB)
- Under 65KG (143LB)
- Over 65KG (+143LB)
U18
- Age:16 & 17 Years Old
- Gender:Girls
- Level:Beginner and Advanced
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 50KG (110LB)
- Under 55KG (121LB)
- Under 60KG (132LB)
- Over 60KG (+132LB)
U18
- Age:16 & 17 Years Old
- Gender:Boys
- Level:Beginner & Advanced
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 55KG (121LB)
- Under 60KG (132LB)
- Under 65KG (143LB)
- Under 70KG (154LB)
- Over 70KG (+154LB)
ADULTS-WOMEN
- Age:18 Years & Above
- Gender:Women
- Level:→ Beginner and Intermediate with safety gear
→ Advanced with no safety gear - Weight Divisions:
- Under 55KG (121LB)
- Under 60KG (132LB)
- Under 65KG (143LB)
- Over 65KG (Over 143LB)
ADULTS-MEN
- Age:18 Years to 40 years
- Gender:Men
- Level:→ Beginner and Intermediate with safety gear
→ Advanced with no safety gear - Weight Divisions:
- Under 60KG (132LB)
- Under 70KG (154LB)
- Under 80KG (176LB)
- Under 90KG (198LB)
- Over 90KG (Over 198LB)
MASTERS-MEN
- Age:40 Years to 50 Years
- Gender:Men
- Level:Mixed
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 75KG (165LB)
- Under 85KG (187LB)
- Over 85KG (+187LB)
MASTERS-MEN
- Age:50 Years & Above
- Gender:Men
- Level:Mixed
- Weight Divisions:
- Under 75KG (165LB)
- Under 85KG (187LB)
- Over 85KG (+187LB)
CATEGORY
KATA
- Level Beginner: 10th KYU to 5th KYU
- Advanced: 4th KYU to Black Belt
U8
- Age: 6 & 7 Years Old
- Gender: Boys & Girls (Mixed)
- Level: N/A
U10
- Age: 8 & 9 Years Old
- Gender: Boys & Girls (Mixed)
- Level: N/A
U12
- Age: 10 & 11 Years Old
- Gender: Boys & Girls (Mixed)
- Level: Beginner and Advanced
U14
- Age: 12 & 13 Years Old
- Gender: Boys & Girls (Mixed)
- Level: Beginner and Advanced
U16
- Age: 14 & 15 Years Old
- Gender: Boys
- Level: Beginner and Advanced
U16
- Age: 14 & 15 Years Old
- Gender: Girls
- Level: Beginner and Advanced
U18
- Age: 16 & 17 Years Old
- Gender: Boys
- Level: Beginner and Advanced
U18
- Age: 16 & 17 Years Old
- Gender: Girls
- Level: Beginner and Advanced
Adults - Men
- Age: 18 Years and Older
- Gender: Men
- Level: Beginner and Advanced
Adults - Women
- Age: 18 Years and Older
- Gender: Women
- Level: Beginner and Advanced
- The tournament organizer reserves the right to merge or split the categories, weight divisions, and merge the ranks (merging and/or splitting beginner and advanced rank levels).
- The minimum number of competitors to open a category is six.
- ALL competitors must fill out the waiver/sign-up form during the official weigh-in and Accreditation time, which will be held on one day before the tournament, in the official tournament hotel.
- All Competitors must wear their belt rank, which they have identified in the online registration platform. The belt rank must match the waiver/sign-up form.
- The competitor's weight must be in the weight category they have signed up for. When at the weigh-in procedure it is discovered that the weight of a competitor exceeds the upper limit of the weight category he applied for, the competitor will be moved to next weight category. If the weight of a competitor is less than the lower limit for his weight category, he can participate in the competition.
- KATA Categories for Kids and Adults (Men and Women) may be merged or split depending on the number of competitors.
- The tournament’s main bouts are designated as Semi- Final and Final.
- In an individual bout one of the competitors is called “AKA” (“Red”) and is differentiated by the red ribbon fastened to his belt on the back, and the other is called “SHIRO” (“White”) and is differentiated by the white ribbon fastened to his belt on the back. The SHIRO competitor is called to the competition area first, and the AKA competitor second.
- The use of competitors' names causes problems with pronunciation and identification. Tournament numbers should be allotted and used on identifications (ZEKKEN) in addition to the names.
- The competitors that do not present themselves when called within 1 minute will be disqualified (KIKEN).
- No competitor may be replaced by another.
- All competitors must always obey the Referee’s orders.
- Coaches must present their accreditation together with that of their competitor to the designated area. The coach must sit in the chair provided and must not interfere with the smooth running of the match. Only one coach is allowed to accompany a competitor to the competition area as his second.
- If, through an error in charting, the wrong competitors compete, then regardless of the outcome, that bout is declared null and void.
- Fights for the 3rd place will be held.
- To participate in the competitions, the athlete must reach the established age in the calendar year of the competition.