All Change at Hitchin

On Sunday 30^th November 2014, I journeyed to Hitchin in Hertfordshire to attend an EKF Referees Kata Course covering all the new WKF version 9 Rule changes.

The course itself was good consisting of a read-through and explanation of all the new WKF Kata & Kumite v9 rule changes coming into force Jan 1^st 2015.  The drive there was a pain – further than I thought and heading in to a low level autumn sun. 

The course was well attended and presented by Dale Gamble EKF Chief Referee (World Kumite Ref A, Euro Kata Judge A) with the assistance of Peter Bibby EKF Referee Commission Secretary (Euro Kumite Ref B, Kata Judge A).

World/Euro refs present included Steve Coupland (Euro Kumite Ref A, Kata Judge A) Ivor Thomas (Kumite Ref B), Tony Dent (Kumite Judge A, Kata Judge A), Brian Jarvis (Kumite Judge A, Kata Judge A), Nigel Blood (Kumite Judge A) & myself (Kumite Judge A, Kata Judge A).  Billy Brennan (World (Kumite Ref A, Kata Judge A) & Brian Noble (World Kumite Ref A, Euro Kata Judge A) joined us for the Kumite bit.

We started on the kata rule changes which are quite profound – a big turn-around in terms of bowing before and after the kata and the reversion back to styles and the new kata list - all of which are welcome initiatives certainly from my perspective.  If a competitor fails to bow now at the start and end of the kata then they will be disqualified!

One point clarified was that of bowing at the completion of the kata in Team Kata finals.  This is not needed – only the bow at the end of the Bunkai to stop the clock.

We all should know that a kata begins and ends with a bow so I and many others found it really difficult not to bow before the kata and at the end under v8 WKF rules - it is almost second nature to bow.

Uechi Sanseiryu now permitted (totally different to Goju & Shito Sanseiru)- This is an excellent version performed in the final of the Okinawa World Karatedo Tournament 2009, Budokan, Okinawa - From Karate by Jesse on Youtube

The kata list containing some 90+ kata is also a great idea. However, I am very surprised that no Asai ryu kata feature or even kata from Gensei ryu to which I was recently exposed to in Denmark (See Kaizen report).  Uechi ryu (Kanchin, Kanshu, Seichin, Seirui, Sanseiryu) and Kyokushinkai (Garyu) kata feature.  Also Ryuei ryu kata Ohan & Anan Dai the latter of which none of my fellow Euro Kata Officials nor I were aware of.  I have also not be able to find out much, if any actual detail on Ohan other than the mention of the name in discussions on the web.  If anyone knows and books and/or videos featuring this kata please let me know.

The reversion back to styles (Ryu-Ha) is also a good initiative and together with the kata list will mean that some of the more flamboyant moves in kata will be eliminated since kata judges will be once again focussing on the style detail as taught by bona fide ryu-ha instructors. 

One more terrific initiative is the making slapping the gi with the Hikite (returning hand or fist) a foul resulting in the score for technical performance being reduced to zero.  Now the English competitors have done this for a long-long time, presumably in the mistaken belief that it increases the perception of power.  Now us kata judges have been around the block a few times so for someone in the twenties to hit themselves repeatedly does not go unnoticed.  The only problem has been that many of the competitors in England do it – along with the heavy apple-eating, dog-barking breathing style and we judges were effectively powerless to do anything about it.  Quite often the person doing the slapping and heavy breathing was the much better performer so they went through – result; all the other competitors copy it.  Now though they will lose 33% of their marks for slapping! It is only then when they get to Europe that they come a cropper.  Perhaps now we will see a transformation in England to silent kata as exemplified by the Japanese – Marvellous!!!!

At the course we were due to do kata practical so all officials had their gi’s with them. However, the room was unfortunately considered to be too small to accommodate all of us so we elected to review the Kumite rules – I was disappointed since even the old fat blokes (& gals) in the corner like to dust down their gi’s every now and again - Strange but True!

So in Kumite, changes include the elimination of the two handed grab – this is now only allowed if the competitor catches a kicking leg and immediately attempts a takedown.  Even the person being thrown or swept can no longer hold on without being warned or penalised with a Cat2.  It will be interesting to see how this rule is to be applied at the Euro Refs briefings since previously it was ok to hang on as the throw is being actioned – an instinctive self-defence mechanism, but then the hanger-on had to release grip immediately on hitting the floor or a Cat 2 would be given to the hanger-on.

Two handed grabs and throws no longer accepted & to be warned or penalised - as shown here by Rafael Aghayev of Azerbaijan. Photo from Rafael Aghayev FacebookFanPage.

The other big change is that only the referee will indicate Cat 1 & Cat 2 offences (except Jogai which is the judges responsibility).  This system was operated at the Dutch Open in 2014 and I did like it.  The referee has now moved back from being a mere conductor to having much more responsibility so has to be on the ball for offences, leaving the points to the judges.

My next big tournament is the Karate1 Premier League in Paris, France over the weekend of the 24/25^th Jan 2015.  I am really looking forward to this to see how the new rules will be implemented.  I, along with Dale, Billie, Brian and Paul Gunn (Euro Kumite Judge B) will be in attendance on the Friday and most of the Saturday.  We then dash back to Blighty for the EKF Kyu Grades on the Sunday – a hectic weekend.  This is closely followed by the European Juniors/Cadets & u21’s in Zurich, Switzerland Feb 6/8 and then the Karate1 Premier League in Almere, Holland Feb 14/15.  A very busy three weeks.