Rules & Regulations

PROMOTER: EUROPEAN KENDO FEDERATION.
HOST ORGANIZATION: SWISS KENDO & IAIDO (SJV/FSJ),
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: ALL JAPAN KENDO FEDERATION.
PLACE & DATE: BERN, SWITZERLAND;
15th up to 17th of April, 2005.
EVENTS & SCHEDULE: Will be distributed by the SJV/FSJ.
GENERAL REFEREEING RULES
The regulation of the matches will be made according to "The Regulations of Kendo Matches and its Refereeing (Revised March 23, 2000)", published by I.K.F., excepted for the points specified hereafter.
CONTENT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Male National Team Championship with teams composed of maximum 5 persons out of 7 inscriptions
Female 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 5 women older than 18 years (at the time of the actual championship);

Junior Individual Championship for maximum 3 persons older than 16 and younger than 18 years (at the time of the actual championship).

Every championship gives right to the attribution of an official 'European Champion' title, together with the Vice-Champion and an ex-æquo third place. Also, for every championship, minimum one so called 'Fighting Spirit' trophy is awarded;

CHRONOLOGY
The general principle is that for a same category the team championships precede the individual championships.
SPECIFIC RULES FOR EACH CATEGORY.
1. Team Championships.
  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 arrived in due time inscriptions. Everybody should have at least the age of 18 at the time of the actual championship day (*).
    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.
  2. Female National Team Championship.
    Every country is represented by a team of 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. Every woman should have at least the age of 18 at the time of the actual championship day (*).
    The communication of the names and the order of combats will be handed in according to the rules set out above (7.1.1. second paragraph).
  3. Participation.
    Men can only participate at the National Team Championship, women only at the Female National Team Championship.
    (*) Outclassing: not foreseen yet.
  4. Common rules for the Team Championships.
    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 and a minimum of two fights, might be adopted if necessary.
      The first two teams will move on to the tournament matches.
      1. Specific pool system rules.
        The combats are played by ³sanbon-shobu² and the duration is 5 minutes. 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 minutes, and be held according to the ³ippon-shobu²-principle. If no decision is reached in time, one prolongation (encho) will be added until a decisive point is made.
      2. Team Classification.
        Determination of the winning team in both league and tournament matches will be made in the following order of precedence:
        
        1.    Highest number of individual winners; but, if it is a tie, then
        2.    Highest number of points scored.
        3.    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.
        4.    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:
        
        1.    Highest number of matches won; but, if it is a tie, then
        2.    Highest number of individual winners; should there still be a tie, then (*)
        3.    Highest number of points scored.
        4.    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.
    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 2nd 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.
2. Individual Championships.
  1. Senior 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.
  2. Senior Female Championship.
    Every country may list a maximum of 5 competitors, following the rules set out earlier.
    
    The minimal age is 18 years at the time of the actual championship day.
  3. Common rules for both Individual Championships.
    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 two 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 ³sanbon shobu² 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:
      
      1. The number of fights won; but, if this breaks even, then
      2. The 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 ³ippon shobu², 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 ³sanbon shobu² principle.
    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 7.1.4.1) as much as possible.
      
      The fights will follow the knock out system.
      
      The combat time is 5 minutes, following the ³sanbon shobu² rule, with the possibility of one prolongation (encho) without time limit, if necessary.
3. Individual Junior Championship.
  Every country may list a maximum of 3 junior competitors.
  
  The minimal age required is 16 years, the maximum is 18 years, all this at the time of the actual championship day.
  
  Male and female participants are allowed.
  
  The refereeing rules will be the same as those adopted for the senior championships, except for the duration of the fights, which will be 4 minutes. The two first out of every pool will go on to the tournament.

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE SHINAI.
The shinai will have the format explained in the following table out of ³The Regulations of Kendo Matches and its Refereeing (Revised March 23, 2000)², published by I.K.F. (see page 22).

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

RULES CONCERNING THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE COMPETITORS AND THE CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION. INCOMPATIBLITY & MISCELLANEOUS.
1. Every competitor must be a member of an organisation adhering to the EKF, and the inscriptions must be handed in by that organisation.
2. Every competitor must have the nationality of the country he represents (a passport serves as proof).
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.
4. Referees, Managers and Coaches may not participate as competitors in neither the Team nor the Individual Championships.
5. Every other official may participate as a competitor keeping in mind the limited number in every category.
6. Any competitor may participate in both the Team and the Individual Championships.
REFEREES.
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.
2. Referees may not participate as competitors.
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.
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 14th to Monday morning 18th of April 2005.
5. Each referee will bring his own set of flags.
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.
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.
DRAWING.
1. The drawing for all categories will be made prior to the event, on Monday the 11th of April 2005 at the official hotel in Bern, under the authority of the EKF, in cooperation with the SJV/FSJ.
2. Every member country may be represented by the especially indicated person; everybody else is excluded.
COMPLAINTS.
All complaints are to be handed in to the EKF Technical Director by the Manager or the Team Leader; all other people will be refused.
INSURANCE.
Every delegation will see to it that all its officials, members and the participants to the seminars are insured against any possible mishaps.
DEADLINES FOR PRE-ENTRY AND FINAL ENTRY.
1. Pre-Entry: 23th of December 2004.
2. Final Entry: 7th of February 2005.
3. In case of Œsuperior force¹, names may be altered until one week prior to the actual event, after permission has been granted by the Technical Director.