NORTHLAND OPEN  - 2022

We have the honor of inviting you to the NORTHLAND OPEN 2022. Participation in this event is open to the  Karate New Zealand Registered Karate Clubs.
The competition is for Premier, Intermediate, and Development competitors aged 5 years and older for Kata, and 6 years and older for Kumite.

Please read this carefully as there are several changes to take note of.

1. Participation in this event is open to the  Karate New Zealand Registered Karate Clubs.
2. WKF & KNZ  Rules will be applied in the Tournament.      
3. All entries are final. Please copy one appropriate form per competitor. Ensure all entry forms are completed correctly as incorrect age information may result in disqualification from the tournament.
4. Coaches, please ensure your player information is up to date in the Sportsdata system, athletes get older and heavier / lighter and change grades. (The Sportsdata system will only adjust age...not weight or grade).
5. All Coaches, Referees & Match Officials (table staff & mat marshalls) need to be entered into Sportdata, please.
6. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED with FEE by the 10th of NOVEMBER and they will stay on the Waiting list.

We look forward to seeing you there!

NB: Since these competitions are voluntary programs if the same group of people volunteers each time it will not increase motivation among us. Therefore, according to the number of entries, we need to be supported by the affiliated clubs in Auckland and Northland.
When entering data on the sports data system, Clubs need to enter the details of one official (Referee, or Marshall, or Table Staff ) for every 10 students.

DIVISIONS EXPLAINED

Coaches are responsible for the registration of students in the correct division. You cannot cross-participate the students between the divisions. ( Development in intermediate or premier) 
One club can only present TWO teams (exclusively MALE & FEMALE ) in one category. Weight categories will vary depending on the number of applications.

DEVELOPMENT EVENT

Suitable for 10th Kyu to 7th Kyu -
Beginner level  “No experience in tournaments” 
We suggest that once they win Gold twice in a category they have to move up to the Intermediate division.

INTERMEDIATE EVENT

Suitable for 6th Kyu to 4th Kyu
Suitable for “More experienced in tournaments but not at the premiere level yet” 

Once you become an Intermediate competitor you can not move back down to Development when you change age groups.
We suggest that once they win Gold twice in a category they have to move up to the Premier division.

PREMIER EVENTS

Open event
Suitable for those with “many years experience of competing in tournaments”
Available for NZ team selection
Once you become a Premier competitor you can not move back down to Development or Intermediate when you change age groups.

AGES FOR CATEGORIES FOR THIS TOURNAMENT

Premier, Intermediate, and Development – age on 20th NOVEMBER 2022.

CLUB PAYMENT FOR ENTRY FEES BY INTERNET BANKING

A delegate from each club must complete all entries and payments. When paying entry fees by internet banking, please ensure that you note that the payment is for Northland Open.  Individual competitors do not permit payment; clubs pay as a single combined payment. Refunds, if required, will be paid back to Clubs.

TOURNAMENT FEES

Individual Entry - fees for the KATA & KUMITE

Kata - 16 Years Old and older

Kumite - 18 Years Old and older

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE ENTERED ONLINE IN SPORTDATA VIA YOUR CLUB INSTRUCTOR OR DESIGNATED PERSON. Whoever registers the athletes for their club in Sportdata is responsible for informing players, coaches, instructors, parents, and supporters of the Terms and Conditions | Health and Safety | Code of Conduct as written in the disclaimer - seen later in this bulletin.
All entries, players, and coaches must be entered on Sportdata before 6:00 pm THURSDAY 10th NOVEMBER  2022.  NO LATE ENTRIES OR CHANGES TO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED by the Tournament Organising Committee.  This will enable the tournament organisers to plan more effectively and publish the final timetable earlier. If there are insufficient entries in a particular division, then divisions may be combined or not held. 
All entry fees are paid as one club payment by 6:00 pm TUESDAY 15th NOVEMBER 2022.
PAYMENT OF ENTRY FEES BY INTERNET BANKING TO KARATE AUCKLAND [Internet Banking Westpac Account:  03 0123 0328727 00 - add your club name with 'NLD OPEN-22' in the bank reference.

TOURNAMENT PROGRAMME

Please consult the draw and timetable on the Sportdata website for final times closer to the tournament time when competitor numbers are confirmed.
Provisional:

Sunday, 20TH NOVEMBER 2022
Subject to change based on entrees.       
Beginning at 8:30 am – Premier & Intermediate Grades  (KATA, KUMITE, TEAM)                         
Beginning at noon – Development Grades (KATA, KUMITE, TEAM)

TOURNAMENT RULES

• During the bow at the beginning of the tournament, all players must be in Gi or Club tracksuits and must present themselves correctly.
• Coaches must wear their club tracksuits.
• A maximum of six coaches can be registered per club. WKF Rules will be applied for Premier Grades in this Tournament.
• All entries are final. Ensure all entries are completed correctly as incorrect age or weight information may result in disqualification from the tournament.
• Coaches/Clubs, please ensure your player information is up to date in the Sportdata system; athletes get older and heavier/lighter and change grades. (The Sportdata system will only adjust age – not weight or grade).
• Only registered coaches will be allowed on the tatami at any time.
• Registered coaches should be able to practice First Aid, and be aware of the signs of concussion  https://www.accsportsmart.co.nz/concussion/.
• The Organising Committee reserves the right to withdraw, combine or change Event Categories if and when required up to 48 hours before the Competition Opening.
• All players must present themselves to the Registration Table and register before their competitions. (Kumite players will be weighed) - Registration times will be posted once the timetable is finalised.

TOURNAMENT REQUIREMENTS

KATA

• WKF 2020 rules will apply with the following modifications:

Individual Kata

• Premier competitors - any approved WKF Kata. No Repeats as per WKF rules. Electronically scored Kata events, as per the WKF rules and table below. Please see the 2020 WKF rules for more detail.
• Intermediate competitors – any Kata from the Intermediate and Development KNZ list. Competitors can not repeat consecutively, i.e. A, B, A, B, ... The WKF flag system will be used.
• Development competitors – any Kata from the Development KNZ list. Competitors can repeat consecutively, i.e. A, A, A ...  The WKF flag system will be used.

Team Kata

• 5 – 9 Years Old: WKF and the KNZ Kata can be repeated; Bunkai is not required for medal rounds; Ages: 5 - 9 Years Old, inclusive. can be mixed ( Male / Female )
• 10 – 13 Years Old: WKF Kata can be repeated, but not consecutively; Bunkai required for medal rounds; Ages: 10 - 13 Years Old, inclusive. NB: age band differs from previous NZ tournaments.
• 14 – 17 Years Old: (Junior and Cadet) WKF Kata can be repeated, but not consecutively; Bunkai required for medal rounds; Ages: 14 - 17 Years Old, inclusive. NB: age band differs from previous NZ tournaments.
• 16 Years plus: WKF Kata in all rounds, no repetition permitted, Bunkai required for medal rounds; Ages 16 - 99 Years Old, inclusive.
• Must be completed within 5 minutes, including Bunkai.
• There will be a limit of ONE team per club that can be entered in each male and female category - players entered in the team/s must be registered and financial members of the club entering.

NB: Competitors must announce the name of the Kata they will be performing before they start performing the Kata. They must also bow inside the competition area before starting and bow after completing the Kata. The competitor will be disqualified for failing to do so.

KUMITE

• All Kumite divisions, depending on numbers, could be split into weight divisions, so please ensure your player's weight is correctly entered on Sportdata; otherwise, you may be disqualified from competing (non-WKF weight grades may differentiate weight grades).
• For ages 13 and under, techniques toward the JODAN area ( Head, Face, Neck) can score, but NO contact, Any contact (unless by self-endangerment—Mubobi), including skin touch, will be penalised.
• WKF points, warning, and penalty systems will be used for all Kumite Events.
• For ages 14 and over, the WKF rules will apply.

Kumite Bout Duration

Running clock for Round robin unless stopped for an injury.

• 6 – 13 years old - 2.0 minutes                
• 14 – 17 years old - 2.0 minutes                
• 18 years and older (U’21 and Senior) - 3.0 minutes    
• Veteran (35 years and older) - 2.0 minutes        

NB: According to the event numbers, the Organising Committee can decide the duration.

Kumite Teams

Clubs have first call on competitors however to maximise participation, All teams are to be named in the entry with two or three players. There is a limit of TWO teams per club.

Age is on Sunday 20th November 2022.

• 6-9 Years: one player aged 6-7, another aged 7-8 years, and another 8-9 years; a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 players in each team.
• 10-13 Years: one player aged 10-11, another aged 11-12 years, and another 12-13 years; a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 players in each team.
• 14-17 Years: one player aged 14-15, another aged 15-16 years, and another 16-17 years; a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 players in each team.
• Female 18 years and older: a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 players in each team.
• Male 18 years and older: a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 players in each team.
• All Kumite teams are to be confirmed by name, in writing, before 8:00 a.m. Sunday 20th NOVEMBER, and given to the Tournament Organising Committee - a form will be made available on the day.

KATA & KUMITE EVENT MANAGEMENT

Kumite and Flagged Kata events: 

• The final decision for events will be made after the numbers competing are confirmed.
• The weight has to enter correctly to avoid injuries.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

As part of Health and Safety, we need to be sure that player weights for Kumite are correct. Therefore, check that player weights for Kumite are accurate on Club information in Sportdata. Incorrect weight category entered could result in disqualification from that particular event - no refund!

REFUND POLICY

A full refund of the Entry Fee paid can only be given if a competitor withdraws for good reason. If your event has been cancelled due to a lack of numbers and you have not been reallocated to another event, you will then be eligible for a refund for that portion of your entry fee.
PLEASE NOTE: It is the player’s responsibility to listen for events being called and to report to the Mat Marshall on time. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

TOURNAMENT ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Information may be updated in preparation. However, this document will be dated to show current information. Any queries, don’t hesitate to contact the secretary of Karate Auckland.

DISPUTES

A Tournament Disputes sub-committee will be organised to cater for any disputes during and after the tournament, This sub-committee will consist of one member from each of the three KNZ Councils; i.e. Referee, Coaching, and Policy Councils. Any dispute after the event must submit the dispute/ concern in an email to KARATENZ.AUCKLAND@GMAIL.COM and this will be dealt with in a timely manner.