Categories, rule adaptations, events, and champions for practitioners aged 35 and above.
| Category | Age Range | Weight Classes | Modifications | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters 1 — Kumite | 35–39 | -60kg, -67kg, -75kg, -84kg, +84kg (M) / -50kg, -55kg, -61kg, -68kg, +68kg (F) | Continuous contact still permitted; head contact allowed with control | Closest to open adult rules. Full fitness expected. |
| Masters 2 — Kumite | 40–44 | As Masters 1 above | Head contact permitted but fouls penalised more strictly; extended medical timeout allowed | Slight reduction in pace expectation. Recovery time between matches extended. |
| Masters 3 — Kumite | 45–49 | -65kg, -75kg, -85kg, +85kg (M) / -55kg, -65kg, +65kg (F) | No jodan (head) attacks permitted; trunk only scoring zone | Significant modification for athlete safety. Most major competitions use this from Masters 3. |
| Masters 4 — Kumite | 50–54 | -70kg, -80kg, +80kg (M) / -60kg, +60kg (F) | Trunk only, semi-contact. No sweeps below knee. Match duration reduced to 2 minutes. | Point-stop competition recommended at this level and above. |
| Masters 5 — Kumite | 55–59 | -75kg, +75kg (M) / Open (F) | Semi-contact, no jodan, no sweeps, 2-minute matches, referee stop-and-restart format | Point-stop mandatory. Medical certificate required to compete. |
| Masters 6 — Kumite | 60–64 | Open (no weight division) | Light contact only; trunk and head with strict control; match duration 90 seconds | Referee discretion elevated. Protective equipment mandatory. |
| Masters 7 — Kumite | 65+ | Open | Controlled sparring format; no head contact; referee may stop for any safety concern | Participation is prioritised over competition. Medals awarded for participation as well as placement. |
| Masters 1–3 — Kata Individual | 35–49 | N/A | Same kata list as senior adult. Same judging criteria. | No modifications. Veteran kata practitioners often outperform juniors in depth and expression. |
| Masters 4–6 — Kata Individual | 50–64 | N/A | Same kata list. Judges instructed to weight technical expression over athleticism where age-appropriate. | Age-appropriate modifications in scoring notes only. No kata excluded. |
| Masters 7+ — Kata | 65+ | N/A | Kata list narrowed to style-appropriate selection. Judging criteria explicitly adjusted for physical range of motion. | Kata competition at 65+ is about preservation of art form as much as competition. |
| Masters Kata — Pair and Team | 35+ | N/A | No age modification to kata requirements. Team members must be within the same masters category. | Pair and team kata are popular at veteran level — shared technique and timing. |
| Masters Open — Non-Competitive | 35+ | N/A | Exhibition format; no judging or ranking; open to all styles | For practitioners who want to participate in community events without competition pressure. |