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To provide courses for association and club officials in Kumite and Kata with the opportunity of attaining National Qualifications, courses to be open to coaches, students, parents and table officials, course fees will apply. Courses will be open to 16 years and above and structured to encourage equal opportunities.

• Table official - 1st qualification - min age 16 years Any Grade
• Kumite Judge B - min age 16years and min grade 2nd Kyu
• Kumite Judge A - min age 18 years and min grade 1st Dan
• Kumite Referee B - min age 18 years and min grade 1st Dan
• Kumite Referee A - min age 21 years and min grade 1st Dan
• Kata Judge B - min age 18 years and min grade 1st Dan
• Kata Judge A - min age 21 years and min grade 2nd Dan

Qualification Criteria

Table Official

Candidates must attend one referees course and pass the Table official qualification exam. A pass mark a minimum of 80% must be obtained in order to move to the next stage, which will be a practical examination at a championship and squad selections. A championship must be attended once a year and a course every 2 years.

National Kumite

• Judge 'B' - Candidates must attend one referees course and upon attendance of a second course within the same year the Judge qualification theory exam can be taken. To achieve a pass mark a minimum of 80% must be obtained in order to move to the next stage which will be a practical examination at a EKF or BKF championships.
• Judge 'A' - A minimum of two attendances at an EKF or BKF competition and course must have been attended before this qualification can be taken. Upon attendance at a second Referee course, a minimum of 80% pass mark must be obtained in theory in order to move to the next stage which will be a practical examination at an EKF or BKF championships.
• Referee 'B' - A minimum of two competitions at a EKF or BKF level and a referees course must have been attended before this qualification can be taken upon attendance at a second referees course a minimum of 85% pass mark must be obtained in theory in order to move to the next stage which will be a practical examination at an EKF or BKF championships.
• Referee 'A' - A minimum of two competitions at a EKF or BKF level and a referees course must have been attended before this qualification can be taken. Upon attendance at a second referees course a minimum of 90% pass mark must be obtained in theory in order to move to the next stage which will be a practical examination at an EKF or BKF championships. Once qualified the theory exam needs to be retaken every 2 years where the appropriate charge will be made and all referees must attend a minimum of two courses and two competitions per year.

In order to keep any qualifications Judge or Referee must attend a minimum of two referees courses and two competitions per year. In order to become a Tatami chief or Elite official.. dual qualification[kata / kumite] must be attended
Elite Referees, Assistant Tatami Chiefs, Tatami Chiefs, European and World Officials
A minimum of two courses must be attended and the theory exam taken every 2 Years. No course charges for European and World Officials.

National Kata

• Judge 'B' - Candidates must attend one referees course and upon attendance of a second course with the same year the Judge qualification theory exam can be taken. To achieve a pass mark a minimum of 80% must be obtained in order to move to the next stage which will be a practical examinations at an EKF or BKF championships over 2 years. To pass within 1 year you must perform two Shitei Katas one from your own style and one from the other three styles and answer questions regarding bunkai at a course.
• Judge 'A' - A minimum of two competitions at an EKF or BKF and a referees course must have been attended before this qualification can be taken upon attendance at a second referees course a minimum of 90% pass mark must be obtained in theory in order to move to the next stage which will be a practical examination at an EKF or BKF championships. Kata candidates must perform two Shitei Katas, one from their own style and one from the other three styles and answer questions regarding bunkai if they have not performed the Katas for Judge B.
• European / World - Assessment of practical kata examination must be performed before going on to International qualifications. Once qualified referees must attend a minimum of one course and two competitions per year and the theory exam retaken every two years where an appropriate charge will be made. European and World officials do not need to retake the theory exam. No course charges for European or world officials.

For all Kumite and Kata officials
To be a national Table official you must hold a valid EKF LICENCE.
To be a national judge or referee you must hold a valid EKF LICENCE, and must be practicing karate.
To be selected to attend a European or World event, referees will also be required to attend one of the BKF competitions. No referee will be permitted to attend any European, World or International event without prior authorization by the Chief Referee.

WKU referee at Paris Open 2012


WKU Referee Ivor thomas will be attending the Paris Open on the 13th-15th January 2012 with seven other members of the English Karate Refereeing Delegation.

This event, taking place at the at Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris, will be the first International Tournament using the new Kumite Rules which were passed in Malasia at the Cadet & Junior World Karate Championships in October last year – so this will be quite an experience for all of us.

Watch this space for Ivor’s report when he gets back.