Calling All BWK Parents!
Ever thought of Kata Judging? British Wadokai are training and teaching parents to ‘Judge Kata’ at British Wadokai Competitions. If you feel you would like to get onboard and enjoy the benefits of sustaining unbiased decisions, and are interested, please contact our Administration Officer now!
Association Administration and Judges Qualifications.
British Wadokai Karate-do Federation recognises that parents have a valuable and active role to play in Karate. If it were not for parents supporting the various Karate groups across the land and bringing their children along to train in the first place then there would cease to be a next generation of Karate-ka.
Parents often help out voluntarily at most Karate clubs around the country. They give up their free time and are essential for the smooth running of competitions but they are often thrown in at the deep end with little support or appreciation for their efforts. Parents commit thousands of pounds every year to Karate via training, fuel, equipment etc. and British Wadokai Karate-do Federation has decided to officially recognise their help by offering them the chance of an Association Qualification in Kata Judge Administration.
Many parents of other clubs and associations already officiate at competitions or become administration officers or table monitors so this is not unusual in itself. The difference with BWK is that we are offering parents the chance to be assessed and awarded an Association Qualification for it. This means that parents who have an interest in Karate can help out should they wish to do so but that they receive training, support, guidance and recognition in order to maintain the highest standards possible within the Association.
Karate-ka of aged 16 and over and 3rd Kyu and above who have passed level 1,2 & 3 Association Kata Judge Administration will also be assessed on their ability to Judge Kata and given the opportunity of attaining a Level 4 & 5 British Wadokai Karate-do Federation Association Kata Judging Qualification. In exceptional cases there may be alterations to this ruling if it can be demonstrated that the person seeking the qualification reaches the standard needed during assessment.
Kata Judges Level 4, 5, 6 & 7 will be continually monitored and assessed in order to maintain the highest standards of Kata Judging within the organisation.
Level 1
Kata Judge Co-ordinator
Duties & Responsibilities: Check off the competitors on the category registration forms and inform the competitors if they are Aka (red) or Ao (blue) in the opening round. Check that the competitors are eligible for the category and if not refer them to the Senior Administrator. Inform all competitors of the rules and requirements concerning their event. All documentation will always have been prepared prior to the event so no paperwork would need to be undertaken other than to perform the register. Level 1 will always work alongside a Level 2 or Level 3 and would not be expected to undertake anything other than the most basic of administration.
Level 2
Kata Judge Area Administrator
An area administrator will have passed Level 1
Duties & Responsibilities: To be competent in all duties and responsibilities needed for Level 1. To have an understanding of the paperwork, to note the names of the successful competitors and to be able to pass them through to the next round on the paperwork. To call out the names of the competitors and those that need to be getting ready before the start of each round. To make sure that there are 1 Chief Kata Judge and 2/4 Kata Judges on the area at all times. Level 2 will always work under supervision from a Level 3 and would not be expected to undertake anything outside of their capabilities and understanding.
Level 3
Kata Judge Senior Administrator
A Senior Administrator will have passed Levels 1 and 2
Duties and Responsibilities: To be competent in all duties and responsibilities needed for Levels 1 and 2. To have a good working knowledge of the repechage system and be able to work this through to determine the joint 3rd place positions. To be able to place competitors and late entrants into the correct categories. Will ensure the smooth running of table and area co ordination. Will always have support from the Event Organiser.
Level 4
Kata Judge
A Kata Judge will be proficient in Levels 1, 2 & 3
Duties and Responsibilities: To have a deep knowledge of all Pinan Kata. To understand all the requirements needed to judge a Kata event. To know and recognise all stances and positions within all Pinan Kata. To be technically accurate in all Pinan Kata. To understand and recognise the six principles of Kata. To have a knowledge of Wado stances and recognise the differences between Shotokan, Shito ryu and Wado ways of performing Kata. To have an understanding or knowledge of competing at Regional Events. Will be supported by a Level 5 Judge and/or a BWK Assessor.
Level 5
Kata Judge
A Level 5 Kata Judge will be proficient in Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4
Duties and Responsibilities: To have a deep knowledge of all Kata up to and including Chinto. To be technically accurate on all stances etc. to a very high standard. To have an understanding of competing at National Level. To be able to recognise the differences between Kata of different schools of Wado in order to be able to Judge Open Wado Kata Events. Will be supported by a Level 6 Judge and/or a BWK Kata Judge Assessor.
Level 6
Kata Judge
A Level 6 Kata Judge will be proficient in Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Duties and Responsibilities: As Level 5 but would cover all Kata up to and including Suparimpei. Will be supported by a Level 7 Judge and/or a BWK Kata Judge Assessor.
Level 7
Kata Judge
A Level 7 Kata Judge will be proficient in Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
Duties and Responsibilities: As level 6 but to include a knowledge and understanding of Kata from different styles of Karate e.g. Shotokan, Shito Ryu and Gojo Ryu. A high standard of technical acuracy would be needed for a minimum of two Shitei Gata and must be able to recognise and differentiate between the Katas of the different styles and judge them accordingly to be able to judge in an open competition. For example, Unshu would be recognised as a Shito Ryu Kata and although it may not be possible to be technically accurate on all of the stances an understanding would be needed of how to judge it according the style of origin. Unsu is the Shotokan varient and whilst very similar would be judged according to different criteria. Will be supported by a BWK Kata Judge Assessor.
For further details please contact: Liz Legg. admin@wadokai.co.uk