The 19th Seiji Nishimura Matsuri Friendship Karate-Do Championship in Dazaifu

Guideline

Guideline (PDF File)

  1. Purpose

    This tournament is held with the aim of fostering the physical and mental training and mutual friendship among karate practitioners and young people through karate, as well as promoting exchange with neighboring cities and counties, and ultimately contributing to the healthy development of boys and girls who will lead the future.

  2. Organizer

    All Japan Karatedo KENSEIJUKU Headquarters, Wadokai

  3. Sponsors (Scheduled)

    All Japan Karate-do Federation Wado-kai Kyushu Regional Headquarters
    Dazaifu City Sports Association, Dazaifu City Board of Education, and others

  4. Schedule

    October 10, 2026 (Saturday)
    01:00 PM Preparation of competition floor mats by all seminar participants
    02:00 PM Kumite Technique Seminar (free of charge).
    It is scheduled to finish at 5:00 PM
    07:00 PM Welcome Party at Futsukaichi Hotspring, Daikanso Hotel
    October 11, 2026 (Sunday)
    08:00 AM Reception/Registration
    08:30 AM Opening Ceremony, Photo Session
    09:30 AM Starting Individual Kata, then Individual Kumite and Team Kumite
    12:00 PM Ceremony & Demonstration
    06:00 PM Scheduled closing time (Schedule)

  5. Venue

    Dazaifu Gymnasium "Tobiume Arena"
    Adresss:〒818-0135 Fukuoka Prefecture, Dazaifu, Mukaizano, 21-2
    Tel: +81 92-408-1354 (092-408-1354 if calling from Japan)
    https://ssk-dazaifu-gym.com/taiiku/

  6. Qualification

    Each participant must have a sport accident insurance or other equivalent Insurance system from their home country.

  7. Competition Categories

    Individual Kata/Individual Kumite
    Preschool 4 to 6 Years old Boys/Girls mix
    Elementary School 1st&2nd Grade (7 to 8 Years old Boys) / 1st&2nd Grade (7 to 8 Years old Girls)
    3rd&4th Grade (9 to 10 Years old Boys) / 3rd&4th Grade(9 to 10 Years old Girls)
    5th&6th Grade (11 to 12 Years old Boys) / 5th&6th Grade(11 to 12 Years old Girls)
    Junior High School 13 to 15 Years old Male / 13 to 15 Years old Female
    Senior High School 16 to 18 Years old Male / 16 to 18 Years old Female
    Adult Kyu rank Male/ Kyu rank Female / Open rank Male/ Open rank Female
    Team Kumite
    Consists of 3 members: Male / Female
    Preschool (4 to 6 Y/o) In preschool category, teams may be combined boys and girls.
    (1)Senpo - (4 to 6 y/o)  (2)Chuken - (4 to 6 y/o)  (3)Taisho - (4 to 6 y/o)
    Elementary School (7 to 12 Y/o) (1)Senpo (Lead member)- 7 to 8 Years old  (2)Chuken (Mid member)- 9 to 10 Years old (3)Taisho (3rd member)- 11 to 12 Years old
    Junior High School (13 to 15 Y/o) (1)Senpo - (13 to 15 y/o)  (2)Chuken - (13 to 15 y/o)  (3)Taisho - (13 to 15 y/o)
    Senior High School (16 to 18 Y/o) (1)Senpo - (16 to 18 y/o)  (2)Chuken - (16 to 18 y/o)  (3)Taisho - (16 to 18 y/o)
    Adult (Above 18 Y/o) (1)Senpo - (Above 18 Y/o)  (2)Chuken - (Above 18 Y/o)  (3)Taisho - (Above 18 Y/o)

  8. Competition Rules

    • The competition follows the rules of Japan Karate-do Federation, however, the organizer, KENSEIJUKU and the referee meeting can adjust the specific details as necessity rises. In addition, the schedule and competition categories may be modified from the original schedule depending on the number of participants. There will be no 10 counts' rule.
    • All competitors must be attended by their coach. All competitors and their coaches must have the name of the Dojo/Organization or country patch clearly stitched or embroidered on the left chest of the Uniform/Gi. Also, competitors must have a number cloth (Supplied by organizer) attached on the back of their Uniform/Gi with their Dojo/Organization name and competitor's name indicated on it. Each Dojo must prepare its own team placard or National Flag. Coaches are required to wear karate gi and coach armband.
    • In all Kumite matches, safety equipment is a must (Face protector, Body protector (must be worn inside the karate gi) Fist protectors, Shin and instep guards). All male competitors must wear a protective foul cup. WKF approved Protectors is not required as long as it abides by the red and blue color system. (We will lend Face protector to those who do not have one)
      • Individual Kumite is 1 minute full time, first to get 4 points wins. For 16 years old above 1minute 30 sec, first to get 6 points win. The third place deciding match will not be held. There will be two third place winners.
      • In the team competition preliminaries, matches will be played to a full 1-minute time limit, with the first two rounds going all the way to the final match. From the third round onwards, the winner will be determined by the first team to win two matches. High school students will play to a first-to-four-points match. If the number of wins and losses and points are tied, the team captains will play a tie-breaker match, with no time limit, and the first team to win one point will win. Teams without a captain will forfeit the match.
      • The final matches, both individual and team, will be conducted under the same rules as the preliminary rounds.
      • Regarding the challenge system in Kumite: for primary school category, female competitors may challenge in the male category. For junior high school students and elder: A competitor may challenge in the upper category and female competitors may challenge in the male category. In either case, it is not allowed to do the double entry in two different categories.
    • In kata competition, the elementary school preliminary rounds will consist of basic kata, Heian, Pinan, and Gekisai I & II, while the top 8 and beyond will consist of free kata. For middle school and above classes, the preliminary rounds will consist of the first and second designated kata, while the top 8 and beyond will consist of free kata. The competition format will be a five-judge flag system with simultaneous red and blue performances until the final. When a competitor's name is called, they will respond, proceed from the corner of the court (inside the assistant judges' area) to the performance start line in the center of the court without bowing, bow, and begin their performance after the red judge calls out the name of their kata. (No signal will be given by the head judge.) After the performance, bow, retreat straight out of the court, bow to each other after the judgment, bow to the front, and exit. Furthermore, regarding challenges in kata competitions, under the condition that duplicate registrations are not made, registration in the next higher class and for female competitors in the male competition will be allowed. (Applies to all classes)
    • Note: Points to remember for the team matches and for challenges
      • In the primary school team matches: Senpo is 1st or 2nd Grade, Chuken is 3rd or 4th Stundents, Taisho is 5th or 6th Grade. It is not allowed to entry in the category which differs from his/her own grade, otherwise the team will be disqualified.
      • Female competitors may challenge in the male category. (However, it is not allowed to do the double entry in two different categories.) For junior high school students and older competitors: it is allowed to challenge in the upper category, under the condition that he/she does not entry in the two different categories. Female competitors may entry in the male category.

  9. Awards

    Individual Kumite & Kata (Male, Female) and Team Kumite
    The 1st Place - Certificate of merit, Gold medal
    The 2nd Place - Certificate of merit, Silver medal
    The 3rd Place - Certificate of merit, Bronze medal

  10. Application

    1. • Please fill in the attached application form in excel sheet send your it to the following E-mail account. We accept the application only via E-mail.
    2. Deadline for submission of application will be on Monday, August 10, 2026.

    Application form for Competition & Seminar (.xls File)

    English: (Ira Watanabe)
    Ira Watanabe
    E-mail:

    Japanese: (Seiji Nishimura)
    Seiji Nishimura
    Mobile: +81-90-3415-3169
    E-mail:
    Adress: 3-6-36-1011, Shinshoji, Jyonan-ku, Fukuoka-city, Fukuoka, JAPAN, 814-0121
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seiji.nishimura.12
    The records of the past tournaments are listed on the website and on Facebook.

  11. Participation Fee & Payment

    For Kumite & Kata Individual - per person per category: 2,000Yen
    For Team Kumite - per team: 3,000Yen
    Welcome Party at Daikanso (Optional) per person
    Venue for the welcome party:
    Daikanso Hotel and Hotspring
    1-12-1 Yumachi Chikushino-shi Fukuoka Japan
    818-0055
    Tel: +81-92-922-3236    		 6,500Yen

    Application form for Competition & Seminar (.xls File)

    Please fill in the attached application form (a separate excel sheet)

    Please kindly send your payment for the participation fee, advertising fee and welcome party fee to the following bank account by Monday, August 10, 2026.

    ** Bank Account **
    Account Name: Ippan Shadan Hojin, Zen-nihon Karatedo Kensei-Juku
    Bank Institute: Nishinihon City Bank, Nanakuma branch
    Bank Account: 3065827

  12. Parking

    The 276 parking tickets will be allocated to each group/dojo according to its number of participants. Please therefore kindly do the carpooling. Please be noted that there is no parking space around the location. Please use the public transport. Please refrain from the unruly incident with neighbors around the location.

  13. Other

    • Each Dojo is requested to provide with 2 judges for the tournament (with tie on, please). If your Dojo cannot provide with any judge, we request you to provide with two supporters (adults) for court staff.
    • The seats on the second floor will be assigned and allocated for each Dojo. Please check the seats reservation and please refrain from using seats assigned to other teams.
    • Both competitors and coaches are requested to enter the gymnasium floor barefooted. Please leave all your shoes and sandals at your seat upstairs. It is not allowed to leave your shoes and sandals at the entrance of the hall for safety reasons.
    • Dressing rooms for male and female are available on the first floor so please feel free to use them when changing to your karate uniforms.

  14. Seminar

    Regarding the Technique Seminar the Day Before the Tournament
    As a unique feature of this year's tournament, a free kumite (sparring) technique seminar will be held for participants at the same venue from 1:00 PM on Saturday, August 10th.
    Participation requires assistance with setting up the mats.
    The instructors will be announced at a later date.