REFEREE COMMITTEE

In the tournaments of the International Kung Fu Federation the judges are classified into 5 groupings:

1. Kung Fu Tao Lu

2. Light Sanda

3. Full Sanda

4. Tai Chi

5. Tuei Sho

Each group may have tenth of judges alongside the Head Referee and 2 assistant referees.  Only in Taolu discipline alongside the Head Referee and assistant referees one representative from each style can also judge at Taolu competitions.

At each match area the responsible chief of the referees is "Match Inspector". He/she is responsible , that at his/her match area all IKF rules will be correctly applied. He/she is responsible too that just neutral referees are in duty, depending on the contestants (e.g. not from the same club/country).

The selection of referees and judges shall take place by the Match Inspector prior to each match under supervision of the head referee in duty. Nobody, no official manager, country president, contestant or coach can choose or refuse a referee or judge for a match when he is a neutral one according to the rules.

Should a referee be taken ill or be changed by the Match Inspector or the Head Referee during a match the timekeeper shall strike the gong to stop the match time, whereupon the next neutral referee takes over and proceeds with refereeing the match.

The head of all Match Inspectors is the "Head Referee". He/she must be international IKF referee and well experienced in IKF rules and regulations. He/she is responsible for a proper running of the tournament concerning the referees. He/she must also finally decide in case of protest.

At the end of a competition he/she has to make a short note of all the referees and match inspectors he/she has had. A head referee at the continental and world championships will be dominated only by the IKF Referee Committee. To become an international judge or referee a person must be recommended by his or her IKF chairman of the involved national judges committee.

In national federations the referee training is up to the local chief referee training and seminar for its referees once a year on each continent.  The executing of that seminar must be executed by a member of the IKF Referee Commission.

Tuei Sho

Referee Committee

Every other year this committee shall verify the suitability and continued qualifications of its international judges and referees.

All licensed international IKF judges and referees shall be registered in the central archives of the IKF Referees Committee. All national head-referees are responsible to inform the IKF about their referees.

All international judges and referees must be able to speak and understand the English language.

JUDGES

Each match shall be judged by 3 judges. The judges shall be seated by ringside in Full Sanda discipline and by sides in Light Contact discipline in positions indicated by the arranger responsible for the tournament. They work in co-operation with the referee. In Taolu competition the match will be judged by 4 side judges.

Each judge is responsible for him/herself, that he/she is in duty as neutral referee. He/she may voluntarily not enter the ring as a judge if he/she is not in a neutral position to the contestant (e.g. from the same club/country)

REFEREE

Each international IKF referee has to have a detailed knowledge and understanding of all the rules. He/she must implement the rules fairly and without any bias and he/she must have valid referee license.

At all championships all matches shall be conducted under the supervision of a IKF internationally registered and approved referee.

DRESS-CODE

Referees and judges (men and women) must wear black trousers, blue shirts with IKF logo on the chest (small), black bow-tie and black sport-shoes.

Any kind of jewellery is strictly forbidden. Especially no watches, chains and rings, also pens in the chest-pocket of the shirt.

The referee shall inspect in a proper manner the safety equipment.

REFEREE RESPONSIBILITY

During the match the referee shall use the command "Fight" when the fighters shall start or commence the match. He/she shall use the command "Stop" when ordering the contestants to stop the match. The referee shall use the command "Break" when ordering the contestants to separate and upon this command both contestants must retreat one step and continue immediately without the referee's command 'fight".

In case of violation of the rules it is up to the referee to give a warning, penalty point (minus point) or a disqualification to a fighter or also his/her coach, if they do not behave in a proper manner.

It is the referees responsibility to interpret the rules to the best of his/her ability, thus insuring fair play without any bias for both contestants.

Referees will be controlled by the IKF Master and Referee Committee.  

Copyright 2003 International Kung Fu Federation