NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022 AND NZ CUP 2022

We have the honour of inviting you to the NZ National Karate Championships for 2022 and the NZ Cup for intermediate and development grades. This former competition is New Zealand’s Premier Karate Event held in Auckland. Participation in the National Championships is open to all KNZ registered players who belong to clubs registered and financial members of Karate New Zealand (KNZ). We look forward to seeing you there!

The 2022 New Zealand National Championships is for premier competitors aged 10 years and older. The NZ CUP is for development and intermediate-grade players from 5 years of age for Kata and from 6 Years of age for Kumite. Entry for athletes into the NZ Cup must be by their club official.

Dates:        NZ National Karate Championships - Saturday 27th August 2022

                   NZ Cup - Sunday 28th August 2022

Venue:       Barfoot and Thompson Stadium

                   203 Kohimarama Road, Kohimarama, Auckland 1071

 Please Note: This event will only go ahead if New Zealand is at a safe Covid-19 Alert Level.

TOURNAMENT FEES: (one individual event plus $5 for each additional individual event)

Children                   (13 years old and under)                 $50.00

Cadets                     (14 – 15 years old)                            $60.00

Juniors                     (16 – 17 years old)                           $60.00

Under 21                  (18 – 20 years old)                            $60.00

Seniors                     (18 years old and over)                   $60.00

Veterans                  (35 – 44 years old)                            $60.00

Super Veterans        (45 years old and over)                   $60.00

Team Events           Kata – club based                             $30.00

                                 Kumite – regional teams  (10+)       $30.00

                                 Kumite for 6-9 YO - club based          $30.00

REGIONAL TEAMS FOR KUMITE: 10 YO and Older i.e. Auckland Northland, Central North Island, Lower North Island, Canterbury Westland, and Otago Southland

Senior Teams: (18 years and older) - 1 male team & 1 female team

Cadet/ Junior Teams: (1 x 14-15 years old, 1 x 15-16 years old and 1 x 16-17 years old) - 1 male team & 1 female team

10-13 Teams: (1 x 10-11 years old, 1 x 11-12 years old and 1 x 12-13 years old) - 2 male teams & 2 female teams

TEAM KUMITE FOR 6-9-YEAR-OLDS IS CLUB BASED: {one player aged 6-7, another aged 7-8 years, and another 8-9 years] - 1 male and 1 female team per club.

ENTRIES AND PAYMENT OF ENTRIES:

A delegate from each club must complete all entries and payments. When paying entry fees by internet banking, please note that the payment for both these competitions is paid as one club payment.

• All entries must be received by 6:00 pm SATURDAY 13th AUGUST 2022 – two weeks prior to the competitions

• All entry fees must be received by 6:00 pm SATURDAY 20th AUGUST 2022 – one week prior to the competitions.

Please note:

• Competitors must be current KNZ registered players to compete in the National Championships (Premier and Open events). 

• KNZ player registration payments can be paid directly to KNZ's bank account [Internet Banking Westpac Account:  03 0180 0177734 00] - include the "Player's Name' & 'Rego22' in the payment details.

For inquiries, please email kiwicapers2000@gmail.com

PLEASE NOTE:  Athletes and spectators may be filmed for SKY TV live web streaming and may be used on a highlights package (with options for international viewing as well). So anyone attending the venue on Saturday may be filmed. By attending, you give consent to potentially being filmed or interviewed.

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE ENTERED ONLINE IN SPORTDATA VIA YOUR CLUB INSTRUCTOR OR DESIGNATED PERSON. Whoever registers the club/ association for these events in Sportdata is responsible for informing players, coaches, instructors, parents, and supporters of the Terms and Conditions | Health and Safety | Code of Conduct as written in the disclaimer.

All entries, players and coaches, must be entered on Sportdata by 6:00 pm SATURDAY 13th AUGUST 2022 – two weeks before the competitions. Photos (passport-like, with the photo of the face/ head, not the body, nor a logo) of the players, coaches, and referees are required in Sportdata for entry. Photos must easily identify those entered, which may mean updating if outdated.

• All entry fees must be paid as one club/ association payment by 6:00 pm SATURDAY 20th AUGUST – 12 days before the competition. PAYMENT OF ENTRY FEES BY INTERNET BANKING TO KARATE NEW ZEALAND [Internet Banking Westpac Account:  03 0180 0177734 00] - add your club/ association name with 'NATS-22' in the bank reference.

• NO LATE ENTRIES OR CHANGES TO ENTRIES SHOULD BE ACCEPTED by the Organising Committee - If the Organising Committee was to open Sportdata for any reason, then a club koha will be expected.  This early deadline for entries will enable the tournament organisers to plan more effectively and publish the final timetable earlier. If there are insufficient entries in a particular division, then divisions may be combined or not held.

Please note:

• Competitors must be current KNZ registered player (i.e. paid a registration fee of $35 for 2022) to compete and belong to a 2022 registered and financial member club of Karate New Zealand to compete in the NZ National Karate Championships (premier and open grades).
• To promote sports Karate, for the NZ Cup, we will allow the Development and Intermediate competitors who may not yet be registered with KNZ to be entered by their club. No individual player can enter themself.
• Competitors can only compete for the club they belong to as a financial member and for the club's region.
• KNZ player registration payments can be paid directly to KNZ's bank account [Internet Banking Westpac Account:  03 0180 0177734 00] - include the "Player's Name' & 'Rego22' in the payment details.
• Athletes and spectators may be filmed for SKY TV live web streaming and may be used on a highlights package (with international viewing options). So anyone attending the venue on Saturday may be filmed. By attending, you give consent to potentially being filmed or interviewed.
• The 2022 New Zealand National Karate Championships is for Premier players. Competitors competing in individual Kata or individual Kumite categories in this event cannot compete as a Development or Intermediate in that discipline (Kata and/or Kumite) in future competitions; i.e. after competing at this event, they are now referred to as Premier competitors in either one or both of Kata and Kumite.
• Regional Kumite teams must be entered by the region, not a club. 
• As the last NZ National Championships was held in 2020, there will be no seedings in the draws for this tournament, and athletes will be separated by their club.

TOURNAMENT PROGRAMME AND RULES:

to be updated soon!

NB:            NZ National Karate Championships - Saturday 27th August 2022

                   NZ Cup - Sunday 28th August 2022

                   Tentatively: Registration at 8:00 am and Start at 9:00 am; on both days (to be confirmed once draws are completed).

                                        There may be a later time for registration for competitors who compete later in the day.

COMPETITION RULES: 

• During the bow at the beginning of the tournament, all players must be in Gi or Club tracksuits and must present themselves correctly.
• Coaches wear their club tracksuits. A maximum of six coaches can be registered per club. At all times, the coach shall display the official KNZ ID lanyard (with photo ID displayed).
• WKF Rules will be applied in the Tournament.
• All entries are final. Ensure all entries are completed correctly, as incorrect age or weight information may result in disqualification from the tournament.
• Coaches/Clubs, please ensure your player information is updated in the Sportdata system; athletes get older and heavier/lighter and change grades. (The Sportdata system will only adjust age – not weight or grade).
• Coaches must complete an online Coaches' Examination with a pass mark of 75%, or better, before Saturday 13th August. NOTE THE NEW DEADLINE.  For those who have passed earlier in 2021 and 2022 - you do not need to resit the examination.  Click here for the link to this examination. 
• All Coaches MUST be registered on Sportdata; a maximum of six coaches per club can be registered. No unauthorised persons will be allowed on the tatami at any time. The coach's photo must be of the shoulders and above, without hoodies covering their head.
• Registered coaches should be able to practice First Aid, and be aware of the signs of concussion  https://www.accsportsmart.co.nz/concussion/.
• The Organising Committee reserves the right to withdraw, combine or change Event Categories if and when required up to 48 hours before the Competition Opening.
• All players must present themselves to the Registration Table and register before their competition (Kumite players will be weighed) - Registration times will be posted once the timetable is finalised. For this competition, an ATHLETE REGISTRATION FORM (found in the downloads) must be downloaded by each participant and signed off. Athletes under 16 must have their registration form signed by their parent/ caregiver. No form, no competition.

REQUIREMENTS:

KATA:

WKF 2020 rules will apply with the following modifications: 

Individual Kata:

• 2021 National Championships - any approved WKF Kata. No Repeats as per WKF rules.
• 2021 National Secondary Schools' Championships- any approved WKF Kata. as an Open event. Competitors can not repeat consecutively, i.e. A,B,A,B, ...
• For Electronically scored Kata events at the National Championships, there will be elimination rounds where only the top two or four or eight competitors (depending on the competitor numbers) go into the next round. This is until the final round, where the top 3 from the previous two groups go into the final to give one first, one second, and 2-third places. Please see the 2020 WKF rules for more detail.
• The judging of the Kata competition in the National Championship for competitors 13 years and under, and the National Secondary Schools' Championships, may follow the old WKF flag system. The electronic WKF Kata judging system will be used in the National Championships competition for cadet age and older.


WKF Kata System (as of 1.1.2020) - the Number of Groups Kata Required

Team Kata:

• 10 – 13 years WKF Kata can be repeated, but not consecutively; Bunkai required for medal rounds; Ages: 10 - 14 Years Old, inclusive.
• 14 – 17 years WKF Kata can be repeated, but not consecutively; Bunkai required for medal rounds; Ages: 13 - 18 Years Old, inclusive.
• 16 years + WKF Kata in all rounds, no repetition permitted, Bunkai required for medal rounds; Ages 15 - 99 Years Old, inclusive.
• Must be completed within 5 minutes, including Bunkai
• A maximum of one team per club can be entered in each male and female category - players entered in the team/s must be registered and financial members of the club entering.
• Club Kata teams are to be named, in writing, before 9:00 am Saturday 27th August, and given to the Tournament Organising Committee - a form will be made available on the day.

NB: Competitors must announce the name of the Kata they will be performing before they start performing the Kata. They must also bow inside the competition area before starting and bow after completing the Kata. The competitor will be disqualified for failing to do so.

KUMITE:

• All Kumite divisions, depending on numbers, could be split into weight divisions, so please ensure your player's weight is correctly entered on Sportdata; otherwise, you may be disqualified from competing (non-WKF weight grades may differentiate weight grades).
• For ages 13 and under, techniques toward the head can score, but NO contact to the head will be allowed. Any contact (unless by self-endangerment—Mubobi), including skin touch, will be penalised (i.e. Head, Face, Neck - Jodan area). 
• WKF points, warning, and penalty systems will be used for all Kumite Events.

• For ages 14 and over, the WKF rules will apply.

KUMITE BOUT DURATION for Male and Female:

• 10 – 13 years old - 1.5 minutes
• 14 – 17 years old - 2.0 minutes (as per WKF rules)
• 18 years and older (U’21 and Senior) - 3.0 minutes (as per WKF Rules)
• Veteran (35 years and older) divisions - 2.0 minutes

REGIONAL KUMITE TEAMS: i.e. The regions are Auckland Northland, Central North Island, Lower North Island, Canterbury Westland, and Otago Southland; the number of competitors in each team is for our KNZ competition (not necessarily WKF numbers).

• 10-13 Years {one player aged 10-11, another aged 11-12 years, and another 12-13 years] - 2 male and 2 female teams per region; 2 or 3 players in each team
• 14-17 Years {one player aged 14-15, another aged 15-16 years, and another 16-17 years] - 1 male and 1 female team per region; 2 or 3 players in each team
• Female 18 years and older - 1 team per region; 2 or 3 players in each team.
• Male 18 years and older - 1 team per region; 2 or 4 players in each team.
• Only players registered and financial members of a club in a region can participate in that regional team.
• Regional Kumite teams are to be named, in writing, before midday Saturday 27th August, and given to the Tournament Organising Committee - a form will be made available on the day.

TEAM KUMITE FOR 6-9-YEAR-OLDS IS CLUB BASED: {one player aged 6-7, another aged 7-8 years, and another 8-9 years] - 1 male and 1 female team per club.

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS:

• All competitors (Kumite and Kata) must wear a clean white Gi in good condition. 
• As Premier competitors, players must follow the WKF rules, i.e. white karate gi without stripes, piping, or personal embroidery.
• ALL KUMITE COMPETITORS MUST WEAR Mouthguards, Body protectors (protection), Red and Blue belts, and Red and blue hand mitts (matching the belt they are competing in). Foot protectors must match the belt colour. 
• All Equipment must be KNZ, Oceania, or WKF approved.
• Kumite competitors may wear their own groin protectors (WKF type)

• Female Kumite 11-year-olds & above – advised to wear an approved chest protector (breast protector) underneath the body protector.
• Head protection is suggested (not compulsory); a WKF face mask or other padded protection is deemed acceptable by the tournament director.

EVENT MANAGEMENT:

Kumite and Flagged Kata events: 

• With categories with only 3 competitors, if time allows, a ROUND ROBIN DRAW will be made.
• With categories with 4-8 competitors, there will be a repechage for a single third place.
• With categories with 9 or more competitors, there will be a repechage for two third-places.

HEALTH AND SAFETY:

Please be aware we will need to follow the guidelines set by SPORT NEW ZEALAND depending on the colour status this weekend. Bring face masks in case.

A reminder to the players, coaches, supporters, the public, and event workers, if you are unwell, DO NOT ATTEND.

As part of Health and Safety, we need to be sure that player weights for Kumite are correct. Therefore, check that player weights for Kumite are accurate on Club/ Association information in Sportdata. If an athlete is entered in an incorrect weight category, this could result in disqualification from that particular event - no refund!

REFUND POLICY:

A full refund of the Entry Fee paid can only be given if a competitor withdraws before Monday 13th September 2021, as the draws will be finalised in the following days. Refunds after this date will only be provided if a Medical Certificate is sent to the Organising Committee. If your event has been canceled due to a lack of numbers and you have not been reallocated to another event, you will be entitled to a refund for that portion of your entry fee.

PLEASE NOTE: It is the player’s responsibility to listen for events being called and to report to the Marshall on time. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. 

ORGANISING COMMITTEE:

C/- secretary.coachingcouncil@karatenz.org.nz