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Paul Fenech Sensei teaches a class in the Randwick Dojo

Kemi Waza (Rules for Scoring)

These are the three prime criteria for scoring during Kumite.

  1. Criteria 1: Effectiveness enhancement by target areas
    • Head
    • Neck
    • Solar Plexus
    • Groin
    • Spine
    • Floating ribs and lung area
    • Kidneys
    • Side of torso
  2. Criteria 2: Difficulty of technique
    • Simultaneous defence and counter-attack
    • High kicks
    • Hisa geri
    • Empi uchi
    • Take down and strike
    • Tobi geri
    • Inducing De-ai and strike
    • Combination technique (Awase-waza)
  3. Criteria 3: Energy/effectiveness enhancement by circumstances
    • Obvious De-ai
    • Target is in a "no give" position on the ground
    • Extraordinary power (the truly rare kind)
    • Scoring ippon to more than one ippon target area

Footnotes:

Note 1
Difficult techniques must apply the principles of Waza, Ma, Ma-ai, Zanshin, Kime, Ki, Sundome
Note 2
At least one item from each criteria is mandatory for Kime-waza score
Note 3
If at least one item from any one criteria is not met, then Ippon is the highest score to be awarded if items from the other two criteria are met
Note 4
No Kime-waza score will be awarded unless all criteria are met
Note 5
The onus is on the competitor to demonstrate his superior technique in such a fashion that the panel of judges is not left to guess.