2023 National Championships

The 60th AAKF Traditional Karate Championships will take place on Friday, June 23rd, and Saturday, June 24th, at the at the St. Joseph Catholic School, 750 Peachtree Street, Herndon, VA 20170.

The registration packet is now available! You can download it from here.

Requirements

  • Each participant must be a registered 2023 AAKF individual member and belong to a club that is a 2023 AAKF registered club.
  • Each participant must have a Black Belt ranking.
  • Each adult black belt participant must have their rank registered with the AAKF and the WTKF.
  • Each adult participant must be 18 years of age or older as of June 23, 2023.
  • Each adult participating in Kumite, Kogo, or Fuku-go must be between 18 and 54 years of age.
  • WTKF/AAKF Competition Rules will be followed.
  • Complete and submit the registration forms to your Regional Director by May 14.

Competition Events

Fees: $75 for 1 event, $95 for two events, $135 for three or more events, $105 per team Kata or Kumite, $100 per Team Enbu

Competition Event Description
Men's Individual Kumite A match between two men employing free sparring without contact.
Men's Kogo (Note: will not be in this Championship) A specific format of Kumite competition which designates competitors as Offense or Defense at the start of each match.
Men's Fuku-go A synthesis of Kumite and Ki-tei compulsory form - matches alternate between Kumite and Ki-tei.
Men's Team Kumite Kumite between two, 3-man teams. The winning team is that with the highest total score.
Men's Individual Kata Demonstration of Traditional Karate Kata.
Men's Synchronized Kata Three men perform a Kata together. In the final round, the athletes demonstrate the application (Bunkai) of the techniques in the Kata.
Women's Individual Kumite A match between two women employing free sparring without contact.
Women's Kogo (Note: will not be in this Championship) A specific format of Kumite competition which designates competitors as Offense or Defense at the start of each match.
Women's Fuku-go A synthesis of Kumite and Ki-tei compulsory form - matches alternate between Kumite and Ki-tei.
Women's Individual Kata Demonstration of Traditional Karate Kata.
Women's Synchronized Kata Three women perform a Kata together. In the final round, the athletes demonstrate the application (Bunkai) of the techniques in the Kata.
Man/Man Enbu A man/man pair of athletes perform choreographed offense/defense techniques.
Man/Woman Enbu A man/woman pair of athletes perform choreographed offense/defense techniques.

Requirements

  • Each participant must be a registered 2023 AAKF individual member and belong to a club that is a 2023 AAKF registered club.
  • Each participant must have their rank registered with the AAKF.
  • Each youth black belt participant must have their rank registered with the WTKF as well.
  • Each participant must be between 6 and 17 years of age as of June 23, 2023.
  • Each participant must hold a rank of 8 kyu and above.
  • AAKF Youth Nationals Rules will be followed.
  • Complete and submit the registration forms to your Regional Director by May 14.

Competition Events

Fees: $50 for individual participation, $40 per Enbu team, $45 per Kata team

Individual Events

There is a single individual event for each rank class, where the competitors perform both Kata, and Kumite.

In addition to the skill levels described below, competitors may be separated by age as well. The exact categories will be available at a later time.

Classes may be combined with lower classes depending on number of participants and at the Tournament Organizer's (TO) sole discretion. In case of combining, kata & kumite requirements will be adjusted to lower level class per TO's sole discretion.

Competition Event Description
Class Elite Black Belt; Ages 8 to 17
Kata: Bassai Dai | Kanku Dai | Jion | Empi (pick one)
Kumite: Ko-Go
Class A 2nd Kyu and 1st Kyu; Ages 8 to 17
Kata: Bassai Dai | Kanku Dai | Jion | Empi (pick one)
Kumite: Stage-3
Class B 4th Kyu and 3rd Kyu; Ages 8 to 17
Kata: Tekki Shodan
Kumite: Stage-2
Class C 6th Kyu and 5th Kyu; Ages 6 to 17
Kata: Heian Yondan
Kumite: Stage-1
Class D 8th Kyu and 7th Kyu; Ages 6 to 17
Kata: Heian Nidan
Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite Jodan & Chudan Oi-Zuki attack/defend
 
Team Events

There is no specific age or rank requirement for Synchronized Kata or Enbu team members. The teams may include members of various ages (between 6 and 17), ranks and genders. If there is enough participation, the tournament organizers may introduce rank or age categories.

Competition Event Description
Synchronized Kata Three athletes (same or mixed gender) perform a Kata together. There is no Bunkai requirement.
Enbu A pair of athletes (same or different genders) perform choreographed offense/defense techniques.

Requirements

  • Each participant must be a registered 2023 AAKF individual member and belong to a club that is a 2023 AAKF registered club.
  • Each participant must have their rank registered with the AAKF.
  • Each participant must be 18 years of age or older as of June 23, 2023.
  • Each participant must hold a rank between 8th kyu and 1st kyu.
  • AAKF Adult Kyu Event Rules will be followed.
  • Complete and submit the registration forms to your Regional Director by May 14.

Competition Events

Fees: $50 for individual participation, $40 per Enbu team, $45 per Kata team

Individual Events

There is a single individual event for each rank class, where the competitors perform both Kata, and Kumite.

Classes may be combined with lower classes depending on number of participants and at the Tournament Organizer's (TO) sole discretion. In case of combining, kata & kumite requirements will be adjusted to lower level class per TO's sole discretion.

Competition Event Description
Class A 2nd Kyu and 1st Kyu
Kata: Bassai Dai | Kanku Dai | Jion | Empi (pick one)
Kumite: Stage-3
Class B 4th Kyu and 3rd Kyu
Kata: Tekki Shodan
Kumite: Stage-2
Class C 6th Kyu and 5th Kyu
Kata: Heian Yondan
Kumite: Stage-1
Class D 8th Kyu and 7th Kyu
Kata: Heian Nidan
Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite Jodan & Chudan Oi-Zuki attack/defend
Team Events

There is no specific rank requirement for Synchronized Kata or Enbu team members. The teams may include members of various ranks and genders. If there is enough participation, the tournament organizers may introduce rank categories.

Competition Event Description
Synchronized Kata Three athletes (same or mixed gender) perform a Kata together. There is no Bunkai requirement.
Enbu A pair of athletes (same or different genders) perform choreographed offense/defense techniques.