On 4 January 2016 the World Karate Federation announced the following:

 

TEN brands with sport protections homologated for the 2016 - 2019 term, the use of the mentioned protections is in force from January 1st, according to the following:

 

COMPULSORY SPORT ITEMS IN COMPETITION

KARATE MITTS (red & blue)

SHIN-PAD & FOOT PROTECTOR (red & blue)

BODY PROTECTOR (white)

FEMALE CHEST PROTECTOR (white)

 

RECOMMENDED SPORT ITEMS IN COMPETITION

MALE AND FEMALE GROIN GUARD (white)

 

The use of the “WKF Approved “ protections will be compulsory in all competitions organized or authorised by the WKF, and cannot be rejected at any competition or activity held by any of the WKF National or Continental Federation members, in compliance with our Statutes and Rules.

Furthermore and as WKF partners, the TEN brands with “WKF Approved” protections must have a preferential treatment in the allocation of a stand at international and/or continental events in which National Federations members take part.

 

The TEN brands with “WKF Approved” sport protections are:

 

ADIDAS                       SHUREIDO

ARAWAZA                  SMAI

BUDO NORD             TOKAIDO

DAEDO                        WACOKU

HAYASHI                    WESING