Competitors in the Traditional Bunkai event will demonstrate rank-appropriate traditional kata with full self-defense application, showcasing traditional martial arts techniques. See acceptable traditional katas here.
Age and rank requirements
None
Uniform requirements
Competitors in the Traditional Bunkai event are to be dressed in full traditional gi. See acceptable uniforms here.
Time requirements
Competitors in the Traditional Bunkai event will have 5 minutes, from the time the judge grants permission to start, to complete their kata.
A complete performance includes the following tasks:
Presentation
The competitor and his/her assistant(s) bow to the judges at the same time before entering the ring. The competitor walks to the center of the ring with his/her assistant(s) following. Once at the center of the ring, the assistant(s) line up to the left of the competitor, all standing and facing the judges. The competitor and assistant(s) bow together before the judges. The assistant(s) remain at-ease while the competitor speaks to the judges. The competitor will verbally present his/her name, style, and the name of the kata being performed and declare if their kata calls for the competitor or assistants to step out of the ring. Once presented the competitor requests and awaits the judge’s permission to begin performance.
Gratitude
Once permission is given, the competitor extends a thank you to the judges for the honor of being able to perform.
Performance
The competitor performing the Traditional Bunkai event will follow a two part sequence, remaining within the ring boundaries, unless declaration has been made that he or she will be stepping out of the ring:
Part 1
Without assistants – Competitor performs the kata without any assistant(s) to demonstrate the intricate motions of the kata. The competitor’s assistant(s) stand in the background facing the judges in an at-ease position.
Part 2
With assistants – Competitor demonstrates the kata with the assistant(s) performing the bunkai.
Close
The assistant(s) will line up to the left of the competitor, all in at-ease position. The competitor indicates completion of the demonstration by facing the judges in an at-ease position and addressing them as “judges.” Competitor and assistant(s) are not to leave the ring until dismissed by the judges. When given permission to leave, the competitor and assistant(s) bow together before the judges after which, the competitor and the assistant(s) leave without turning their back to the judges.
Scoring
Competitors will be scored by three judges in five different areas. Each area represents one of the six pillars of the making of a champion. Each judge will grade the competitor’s performance with a number between 0 and 5 in each area, where 0 represents poor or no demonstration and 5 represents excellent demonstration. The sixth pillar, excellence, is reserved as an overall score and is used to determine a winner in the event of a tie. Excellence uses a 0-9 point scale. Points will be given based on the following criteria.
| SPEED | POWER | FOCUS | INTENSITY | ACCURACY | EXCELLENCE | |
| 0 | no contrast between fast and slow techniques; lack of teamwork and synchronization; audible corrections being made during performance | no kias; weak, sloppy execution of technique; no definitive stances; poor uke response | steps out of ring without prior declaration; turns back on judges during open or closing salutation; restarts kata; demonstrates obvious loss of orientation; obvious demonstration that they forgot the kata; poor teamwork | poor performance quality; no kias; lack of energy; non rank appropriate kata selection; disrespect toward other competitors or judges; poor teamwork | quitting during performance; disrespect toward other competitors, teammates, or judges | credence scale grading from 0 – 9 of competitor’s overall presentation and performance |
| 1 | little contrast between slow and fast techniques; small timing corrections between partners; low synchronization of movements | little or no kias; quiet kias; weak stances; weak technique | may step outside of ring during performance; demonstrates lack of attention to performance details such as chambers; restarting kata; demonstrates obvious loss of place in kata | complete performance; low to no kias; weak technique execution; non-conveyance of practicality of technique | perform all or part of kata; specific weapon may not reach specific targets; failure to demonstrate basic principles of self defense | |
| 2 | little contrast between slow and fast techniques; overly long pauses or excessively fast (rushing) | audible kias; recognizable stances but lacking strong definition; no power behind techniques | completes kata from beginning to finish; demonstrates low attention to performance detail such as chambers; rushes/ mumbles salutation | complete performance; some kias; impractical technique execution | perform entire kata; techniques are in general arena of specific targets; consistent level of demonstration of basic principles of self defense | |
| 3 | good contrast between slow and fast; appropriate pauses; teamwork is evident | defined stances; clear, precise kias; good power in technique execution | presents complete salutation and completes kata from beginning to finish | complete performance; loud kias; solid stances; intense facial expressions | entire kata performed; accurate striking points; solid demonstration of basic principles of self defense | |
| 4 | very clean demonstration of contrast; good rhythmic breaks; control/ not appearing rushed; good teamwork | well defined stances; clear, precise kias; solid demonstration of technique execution | solid presentation of salutation; performs kata from beginning to end with good attention to performance details; solid chambers | performs as if in real combat; loud kias; solid stances; intense facial expressions; rank appropriate kata selection | full kata performance; clear demonstration of specific weapon to specific target; clear demonstration of basic principles of self defense | |
| 5 | splendid demonstration of contrast between slow and fast techniques; excellent demonstration of rhythmic breaks; control of self: absolutely not rushed or delayed; great teamwork; well performed choreography | explosive kias; solid stances; extreme and controlled power in technique execution | excellent salutation performance; solid performance of kata from beginning to end with great attention to performance details such as solid chambers | rank appropriate or advanced kata selection; loud kias; solid stances; confident salutation and presentation of kata | full kata performance; confident demonstration of specific weapon to specific target; confident demonstration of basic principles of self defense |