National Referees

Referee Qualifications

Any EKF member ages 16yrs or over and 1st Dan or above can train to become a National Official. National Referee Courses are held throughout the year in the North, Midlands and South under the tutelage of EKF Chief Referee & Head of Referee Education Peter Bibby.

Firstly, you must attend a Referee course to gain some basic knowledge of the practical and theory requirements to become an official. Valuable experience can also be gained assisting at local and regional tournaments.

To attempt a qualification, you would need to attend a second course. Each year there is a designated course where Theory Examinations and Practical Assessments are undertaken. If a candidate is successful at this course, they would then need to attend the EKF National Championships to ratify this new qualification. Once both of these stages have been completed, they will be presented with their Certificate and Badge.

Check out our Calendar & News Pages for details of future courses and events.

Below you will find a list of the National, Continental and International Qualifications in ascending order along with the requirements for passing a National Qualification.

National Referee & Judge Qualifications and Requirements

KATA

National Kata Judge 'C' (Min 16yrs / 1st Dan / 70% Theory Exam)
National Kata Judge 'B' (Min 18yrs / 2nd Dan / 80% Theory Exam)
National Kata Judge 'A' (Min 21yrs / 3rd Dan / 90% Theory Exam)

KUMITE

National Kumite Judge 'C' (Min 16yrs / 1st Dan / 70% Theory Exam)
National Kumite Judge 'B' (Min 18yrs / 1st Dan / 80% Theory Exam)
National Kumite Judge 'A' (Min 18yrs / 1st Dan / 80% Theory Exam)
National Kumite Referee 'B' (Min 18yrs / 2nd Dan / 85% Theory Exam)
National Kumite Referee 'A' (Min 21yrs / 3rd Dan / 90% Theory Exam)

Continental Referee & Judge Qualifications (European Karate Federation)

KATA

EKF Kata Judge 'B'
EKF Kata Judge 'A'

KUMITE

EKF Kumite Judge 'B'
EKF Kumite Judge 'A'
EKF Kumite Referee 'B'
EKF Kumite Referee 'A'

International Referee & Judge Qualifications (World Karate Federation)

KATA

WKF Kata Judge 'B'
WKF Kata Judge 'A'

KUMITE

WKF Kumite Judge 'B'
WKF Kumite Judge 'A'
WKF Kumite Referee 'B'
WKF Kumite Referee 'A'

Continental & International Qualification Requirements

Requirements

Recommendations for taking a Continental of International Qualification is made by the Chief Referee following reports from Tatami Managers at National Championships after a minimum of 2 years as a National Karate Referee 'A' (Kumite Referee 'A & Kata Judge 'A'). Candidates must also be a minimum of 25yrs old and 3rd Dan or above