about PARA KARATE

Para karate focuses on “kata” – a series of choreographed moves (not combat) – demonstrating strength, power, and speed while maintaining elements such as grace, rhythm, and balance.

Classification for events is divided into three categories: K10 for visual impairments, K21 for athletes with intellectual impairments, and K30 for athletes with an eligible physical impairment affecting their lower limbs. The WKF Para karate classification panel evaluates the required level of impairment for eligibility based on the Para karate Classification Rules.

The performance is evaluated from the bow starting the kata until the bow ending the kata.

Scores are given using a scale from 5.0 to 10.0 in increments of 0.1 (5.0 being the lowest possible score for a Kata that is accepted as performed and 10.0 represents a perfect performance). Disqualification is indicated by a score of 0.0

Athletes are evaluated on 10 criteria: stance, technique, transitional movements, timing and synchronisation, correct breathing, focus (KIME), conformance (consistence in the performance of the KIHON), strength, speed, and balance.

The system of elimination varies depending on the number of competitors. Generally, athletes are placed into brackets of eight and the number is reduced by four in each round until only two groups remain. The athletes with the highest score in each group compete against each other for gold with the runner up taking silver. The second highest scorer compete against the opposing group’s third highest scorer for the two bronze medals.

Para karate history

Para karate was first introduced as a demonstration event at the 2012 World Championships in Paris. This paved the path for its official debut in 2014 at the Para Karate World Championships in Bremen, Germany.

Shortly after its official debut, the World Karate Federation (WKF) was officially recognised as a Para sport in 2015.

Since then, Para karate has held four World Championships hosted by Linz (2016), Madrid (2018), Dubai (2021), and Budapest (2023).
The 2023 World Championships in Budapest marked its biggest event yet bringing over 100 athletes from 30 countries, setting the stage for the 2025 World Individual Senior Championships in Cairo, Egypt.

Para karate is now a core feature in all five Continental Championships and today, over 50 countries host Para karate in their national championships.

DID YOU KNOW?

Egypt dominated the medals table at the 2023 Budapest World Championships winning nine medals – three of them gold.