March 2026 Referee Update

We are looking forward to another fantastic US Open/JIC and U21 Team Trials on April 2-5, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas! This is our first signature event of the year, and many domestic and international athletes will be participating in the four-day event. Officials from across the US as well as international WKF and PKF referees will be there.

The Policy Manual for USA Karate Officials and the USA Karate Rules of Competition were updated in January: HERE. Updated rules will be explained in detail during the referee course at the US Open.

Reminder that officials with USA Karate Referee A and Referee B licenses must renew their licenses each year by attending the USA Karate Referee Course at one of the two signature events on the Wednesday morning before either the US Open or the National Championships and officiate each day until official dismissal at the end of each day. In addition, any USA Karate official that is planning to attend an international (PKF/WKF) event to test or renew a license will need to officiate at the two most recent signature events before that international event.

Each signature event also provides the opportunity for officials to test for or upgrade their USA Karate kumite and/or kata license. At the US Open, this will take place on Wednesday, April 1.

All officials must be current on their referee membership, SafeSport training, and background screening prior to registering. All officials must attend the referee briefing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1. Please check your requirements and register at: USOpen.

Several USA Karate officials represented USA Karate at the Youth League in Fujairah in February, including senior officials Kathy Bailey, Will Gatch, and Fariba Madani. Congratulations to the officials that tested for WKF licenses; 5 officials obtained WKF licenses in kata and/or kumite - Henry Barnabei (Kumite JB/Kata JB), Vincent Garcia (Kata JB), Parkhi Rai (Kumite JB), Shanta Thokar (Kata JB), and Faouzi Touati (Kumite JB). Great job to all the USA athletes that competed in Fujairah.

USA Karate

Sanctioned regional referee seminars were held in New Jersey, Hawaii, and Alaska in February. There are 9 additional seminars scheduled across several regions in the first quarter. 

USA Karate

USA Karate

Planning is underway for the second Referee Training Camp in 2026. Feedback from the inaugural training camp was extremely positive, including the practice sessions with national camp athletes and coaches. More information will be announced soon! 

Thank you to all our officials for continuing to support USA Karate! We look forward to seeing everyone soon at the US Open/JIC in Fort Worth!