EUROPEAN KENDO CHAMPIONSHIPS HELSINKI FINLAND 2008

Rules & Regulations of the 22nd European Kendo Championships 2008.

1.
PROMOTER: EUROPEAN KENDO FEDERATION.
HOST ORGANIZATION: FINNISH KENDO ASSOCIATION,
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: ALL JAPAN KENDO FEDERATION.

2. PLACE & DATE:
HELSINKI, FINLAND; 21 st up to 23rd of March, 2008.

3. EVENTS & SCHEDULE:
Will be distributed by the FKA. See Schedules.

4. GENERAL REFEREEING RULES.
The regulation of the matches will be made according to "The Regulations of Kendo Matches and its Refereeing (Revised December 7th, 2006)", published by F.I.K., excepted for the points specified hereafter.

5. CONTENT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS.
As decided by the consecutive General Assemblies it has been decided and confirmed that the content of the EKF Championships is as follows:

Male National Team Championship with teams composed of maximum 5 persons out of 7 inscriptions;
Female National Team Championship with teams composed of maximum 5 persons out of 7 inscriptions;
Junior National Team Championship with teams composed of maximum 3 persons out of 5 inscriptions.
Senior Male Individual Championship for maximum 7 men older than 18 years (at the time of the actual championship);
Senior Female Individual Championship for maximum 7 women older than 18 years (at the time of the actual championship);
Junior Individual Championship for maximum 3 persons. For the two junior categories, the participants should be older than 16 and younger than 18 years (at the time of the actual championship).

After every championship the first placed will be awarded by an official "European Champion" title an there will be one second place and two ex-æquo third places. Also, for every championship, minimum one so called "Fighting Spirit" trophy is awarded.

6. SPECIFIC RULES FOR EACH CATEGORY.

6.1. Team Championships.

6.1.1. Male National Team Championship.
Every country is represented by a team of five, or by a minimum of three male fighters, chosen freely before every fight out of the maximum of seven official inscriptions arrived in due time.
Every competitor should have at least the age of 18 at the time of the actual championship day (*).

6.1.2. Female National Team Championship.
Every country is represented by a team of five, or by a minimum of three fighters, chosen freely before every fight out of the maximum of seven official inscriptions arrived in due time.
Every competitor should have at least the age of 18 at the time of the actual championship day (*).

6.1.3. Junior National Team Championship.
Every country is represented by a team of maximum three, or, in default of, of minimum two fighters, chosen freely before every fight out of the maximum of five official inscriptions arrived in due time.
For the age, the rules of chapter 5 are applicable.

6.1.4. Participation.
Senior men can only participate at the National Team Championship, senior women only at the Female National Team Championship. Both men & female are allowed in the junior category.
(*) Outclassing: not foreseen yet.

6.1.5. Common rules for the Team Championships.

6.1.5.1. Preliminary contests (Pool system).
All teams that entered their official inscriptions in due time will be divided by drawing into as many pools of 3 as possible. However, the 4 teams that got the medals at the previous Team Championships will be seeded into different pools, and removed to the far end of the grid.
In pools of 3 the order of matches is as follows: 1><2, 1><3 & 2><3.
If ever the number of inscriptions makes pools of four necessary, every team will fight three matches: 1><2, 3><4, 1><4, 3><2, 3><1 & 4><2.
The teams that go on will be separated from then on into different grid locations.
It is possible that in this same order several pools will be combined.
A different system, respecting the pool system principle, with separation of the best results of the previous championships nd a minimum of two fights, might be adopted if necessary.
The first two teams will move on to the tournament matches.

6.1.5.1.1. Specific pool system rules.
For the first round the names and the order of combats will be handed in at the head judge of the shiai-jo and/or at the administration table, at the latest at the official start of the competitions. Afterwards this communication will be handed in immediately after the end of the previous fight. The combats are played by "sanbon-shobu" and the duration is 5 minutes for the senior categories and 4 minutes for the junior category. Equality (hikiwake) will be declared in case no points are scored of if the score is one to one. If two teams remain even at the end of the pool, a supplementary fight between two of the team members, will decide on the victory. This fight will also take maximum five or four minutes, and be held according to the "ippon-shobu"-principle. If no decision is reached in time, one prolongation (encho) will be added until a decisive point is made.

6.1.5.1.2. Team Classification.
Determination of the winning team in both league and tournament matches will be made in the following order of precedence:

Highest number of individual winners; but, if it is a tie, then
Highest number of points scored.
Should 1. and 2. still be a tie, a draw will be declared in the league matches and a play-off will be conducted in the tournament matches.
A default is regarded as a loss: the opponent is given 2 points.

Determination of the ranking of teams in each zone of the league matches will be made in the following order of precedence:

Highest number of matches won; but, if it is a tie, then
Highest number of individual winners; should there still be a tie, then (*)
Highest number of points scored.
If two teams turn out to be even in all of the cases 1. through 3., (*) a play-off between a representative of each team will determine their position.

(*)Important to notice is that in all cases, independent of the type of counting used, the even match will be considered superior to a defeat.

6.1.5.2. Tournament.
The tournament is using the knockout system. As two teams come out of every pool, the 1st place team will, in principle, compete with the 2 nd place team of another pool. The refereeing rules and the principles for discerning the winners are the same as those defined for the preliminary pools.

6.2. Individual Championships.

6.2.1. Senior Individual Male Championship.
Every country may list a maximum of 7 competitors, following the rules set out earlier. The minimal age is 18 years at the time of the actual championship day.

6.2.2. Senior Individual Female Championship.
Every country may list a maximum of 7 competitors , following the rules set out earlier. The minimal age is 18 years at the time of the actual championship day.

6.2.3. Junior Individual Championship.
Every country may list a maximum of 5 competitors, following the rules set out earlier. The same conditions as for the team competition will apply for sex and age (see also chapters 5 & 6.1.4.).

6.2.4 . Common rules for the Individual Championships.

6.2.4.1. Preliminary contests (Pool system).
Every pool is in principle composed of three fighters, who fight in the following order: 1><2, 1><3 & 2><3.
It is possible that in this same order pools will be combined.
In the case of pools composed of four, each one will fight three times: 1><2, 3><4, 1><4, 3><2, 3><1 & 4><2).
The division into different pools will be handled by drawing, on condition that fighters of the same nation will be kept out of the same pool.
The combat time is 4 minutes, following the "sanbon shobu" rule. If appropriate an even match (hikiwake) may be the result.
The classification of the fighters out of the same pool will be handled as follows:

The number of fights won; but, if this breaks even, then
number of points scored.

Note that an even match will be considered superior to a defeat.
In case of equality, one supplementary fight will take place immediately after the normal pool fights, to establish the final order among the fighters. These fights will be run for 4 minutes and follow the rule of "ippon shobu", with the possibility of one prolongation (encho) without time limit, when necessary. In case of equality between all 3 fighters at the end of the pool, they will fight again following the " sanbon shobu" principle.

6.2.4.2. Tournament.
After the pool system, the first 2 out of every pool will be put on the tournament grid, respecting the principle of separation (see 6.1.5.1.) as much as possible. The fights will follow the knock out system. The combat time is 5 minutes for seniors and 4 minutes for juniors, following the " sanbon shobu" rule, with the possibility of one prolongation (encho) without time limit, if necessary.

7. SPECIFICATIONS OF THE SHINAI.
The shinai will have the format explained in the following table out of "The Regulations of Kendo Matches and its Refereeing (Revised December 7 th, 2006)", published by F.I.K. (see page 22).

	Sex	Junior	Senior
Length	Male/Female	117 cm	120 cm
Weight	Male	480 gr	510 gr
	Female	420gr	440 gr
Diameter	Male	26 mm	26 mm
	Female	25 mm	25 mm

8. RULES CONCERNING THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE COMPETITORS AND THE CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION. INCOMPATIBLITY & MISCELLANEOUS.

8.1.
Every competitor must be a member of an organisation adhering to the EKF, and the inscriptions must be handed in by that organisation.

8.2.
Every competitor must have the nationality of the country he represents (a passport serves as proof). Exceptions can be allowed by the EKF President.

8.3.
Competitors must be chosen among the names that figure on the official inscription lists in every category that were handed in in due time.

8.4.
Referees, Managers and Coaches may not participate as competitors in neither the Team nor the Individual Championships.

8.5.
Every other official may participate as a competitor keeping in mind the limited number in every category.

8.6.
Any competitor may participate in both the Team and the Individual Championships.

9. REFEREES.

9.1.
Appointment of Referees of the European Championships is entrusted to the EKF, assisted by the ZNKR; they are chosen among those who are proposed by the EKF Member Countries.

9.2.
Referees may not participate as competitors.

9.3.
The function of Referee is incompatible with that of Coach or Manager, even as far as a certain reservation and neutrality remain required as general attitude.

9.4.
The cost of the referees (lodging, meals, bus transport, sayonara party) is taken in charge by the organising country for four nights, starting from Thursday evening 20 th to Monday morning 24th of March 2008.

9.5.
Each referee will bring his own set of flags.

9.6.
All referees will wear the same uniform: a plain white shirt, a plain deep red necktie, a plain light grey trousers, a plain dark blue pair of socks and a plain dark blue jacket.

10. MANAGER.
The manager of each team is responsible for the attitude of every competitor (the correct way of wearing their bôgu, the length of the men-himo, etc.), and everything that may improve the harmonious flow of events during the championships. He or she will maintain an general attitude that corresponds with the Budo spirit.

11. DRAWING.

11.1.
The drawing for all categories will be made prior to the event. The date and place will be communicated after the reception of all pre-entry forms.

11.2.
Every member country may be represented by an especially indicated person; everybody else is excluded.

12. COMPLAINTS.
All complaints concerning the championships are to be handed in to the EKF Technical Director by the Manager or the Team Leader according to the Rules of Refereeing mentioned before; all other people will be refused.

13. INSURANCE.
Every delegation will see to it that all its officials, all members and all participants are insured against any possible mishaps.

14. DOPING PREVENTION.
The prescriptions and prohibitions established by the FIK (International Kendo Federation) will be of application at these championships.

15. DEADLINES FOR PRE-ENTRY AND FINAL ENTRY.

15.1. Pre-Entry:
2nd of December 2007.

15.2. Final Entry:
31st of January 2008.