*    WKF Referee List (UPDATED 2006-11-14)

*    Application to Referee Course (Updated DEC 2006)

*    Questions for the WKF Referee Examinations
     ENGLISH  [View] - [Download Kata questions] - [Download Kumite questions]
     FRENCH   [View] - [Download Kata questions] - [Download Kumite questions]
     SPANISH  [View] - [Download Kata questions] - [Download Kumite questions]

Referees, Judges and candidates please remember:


Kata and Kumite Candidates must be at least 30 years old and be a minimum 3rd WKF Dan Grade.

The National Federations may nominate their country’s citizens as candidates to the WKF Referee course. Candidates must be qualified National Kumite Referee A or National Kata Judge A. Candidates must be registered with the RC Secretary at least 15 days before the start or face a fine or other penalties as decided by the EC.

Licensed WKF officials may be qualified as: Match Area Controllers, Karate Referees, Kumite Referee B, Kumite Judge A or B and Kata Judge B.

A candidate’s first qualification(s) will be as Kumite Judge B and/or Kata Judge B. Candidates will be required to progress through each level. The order of progression is as follows:

1) Kumite Judge B and/or Kata Judge B
2) Kumite Judge A and/or Kata Judge A or B
3) Kumite Referee B and/or Kata Judge A or B
4) Karate Referee (Qualified in both Kata and Kumite to A level)
5) Match Area Controller (Must serve a minimum of five years as a Referee)

It is compulsory to have dual Kata and Kumite “A” level qualifications in order to be qualified as a Karate Referee. However, Officials may hold single qualifications up to Kumite Referee B or Kata Judge A. Those who currently hold Kumite Referee A qualifications are required to obtain Kata Judge A qualifications by 31st December 2008.

Provided that an official keeps their licence up to date, attends a WKF Championship at least once in every two years, attends the pre-championship briefing and officiates satisfactorily then they will not be expected to undergo another practical examination, although they must sit and pass the theory paper which will be presented at the
end of the pre-Championships briefing, once in every two years.

Referees must renew their licences every four years. All current officials are required to be paid up to date with the WKF Treasury. Officials of countries in debt to WKF may not participate in WKF Championships or courses.

All refereeing officials who have not attended the course and wishing to officiate at the Championships must attend the briefing the day before the Championships. All Referees and Judges must be present at the competition venue for final briefing and area allocation, 30 minutes before the scheduled start.

Referees & Judges officiating in a WKF event cannot perform another function in that event.

The Referee and Judges of a kumite or kata bout must not have the nationality of either of the participants.

The Refereeing panel are strictly warned against discussing the outcome or decision of a match or bout with other than the members of the Referee panel, Match Area Controller or the Referee Commission. Infringement of this rule may incur penalties being taken against the offender.

Referees and Judges officiating in a WKF event must in principle have residence in the country they represent and be exclusively affiliated through the NF of their country of residence. Exceptions to this must be approved by the National Federation in which the individual has citizenship and will be subject to the final approval of WKF EC.

Only WKF qualified and licensed Referees and Judges may officiate at official WKF international contests. Use of other than qualified and licensed officials may result in that event being declared invalid.