IMAF 2026 · Discipline
USA Sport Karate International Championship
Open sport karate at its highest level — forms, weapons, and lightning-fast point fighting.
Overview
The USA Sport Karate International Championship is IMAF's flagship open karate event, drawing competitors from every style for traditional and creative forms, weapons, and point sparring.
Rings run continuously across the weekend, with overall grand championships and the coveted night-of-champions finals under the arena lights.
Divisions & Format
Preliminary rings by age, rank, and style feed into division finals, then into overall grand championship runoffs.
Traditional Forms
Japanese, Okinawan, Korean, and Chinese style kata judged by style-matched panels.
Creative & Extreme Forms
Modern open forms with gymnastic and athletic elements.
Traditional Weapons
Bo, sai, kama, nunchaku, and sword kata.
Creative & Extreme Weapons
Open weapons routines judged on difficulty and execution.
Point Sparring
Ages 5 to adult, split by rank, gender, and weight class.
Grand Championships
Division winners compete for overall titles and cash prizes where offered.
Additional Divisions You’re Eligible For:
Rules & Judging
- Forms are scored 0–10 by a panel; technique, power, balance, focus, difficulty, and presentation all count.
- Point sparring is fought to a set point total or time limit, with center referee plus corner judges calling points.
- Light-to-moderate controlled contact only; excessive contact draws warnings, point deductions, then disqualification.
- Required gear: hand, foot, and head protection, mouthguard, and groin protection where applicable.
- Competitors must wear a clean uniform appropriate to their division and report at the posted ring call time.
- Judges' decisions are final; protests must be filed with the ring's head judge immediately after the call.
Compete at IMAF 2026
October 16-18, 2026 · Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL