Sunshine Coast Open Karate & Kobudo Championships
About
2026 SUNSHINE COAST OPEN
Traditional Karate & Kobudo Championships
Individual Events: Bogu Kumite, Kata, Bo Kata & Sai Kata
An open tournament, in practice as well as in name
Competitors from any traditional karate or kobudo style or organisation are welcome. The rules have been written to make that real rather than nominal: there is no fixed kata list, and no style's syllabus sets the standard.
Competitors declare their kata at entry, drawn from the recognised syllabus of the style they train in. Judges evaluate basics, body control and effective application of the performance. Judges are expressly directed not to penalise a kata for differing from the version taught in their own style. Kobudo bo and kobudo sai kata follow the same principle.
About bogu kumite
Bogu kumite is fought in full protective equipment: body armour, headgear with a face mask, gloves and shin/instep protectors. It allows controlled contact to be scored cleanly and judged clearly, with a referee and four corner judges on every match.
For most dojos outside our organisation this will be an unfamiliar format, so we are introducing it carefully. Entry to kumite is open only to students of instructors who have attended one of our instructor education seminars. That is a safety measure, not an exclusion — the seminars are open to any instructor who wants to attend, they are free, and you will put the gear on and fight in one yourself. Kata, bo kata and sai kata are open to every competitor with no such requirement.
Why we're doing it this way
We would rather build something that lasts than fill a hall once. Starting deliberately — with instructors who understand the format, rules that treat every style fairly, and officials who know what they are looking at — is how a tournament earns the trust to become a circuit.
Seminar dates (introduction to bogu kumite):
- Sat 26 Sep, 3-5pm - Sunshine Coast & Gold Coast
- Sat 10 Oct, 3-5pm - Sunshine Coast & Gold Coast
Protective Equipment
We hold a pool of bogu (head gear and body gear) available on loan on tournament day at no cost.
Apart from this, all competitors must supply their personal protective equipment:
- Gloves
- Shin/instep protectors
- Mouth guard
- Groin guard (male competitors)
Entry Fees
Standard entries close: Sunday 18 October 2026, 11.59pm. Two weeks before the event.
Final divisions will be set at this point in time based on entries received up until this point in time.
- $50 for the first event
- $10 for each additional event.
- OR $150 per family (flat rate).
Late entries close: Sunday 25 October 2026, 11.59pm. One week before the event.
- $60 for the first event
- $15 for each additional event.
- OR $180 per family (flat rate).
NOTE: Family rates only apply to parents & children U/21 yrs of age.
Tournament Rules
[Official Rules Coming Soon]
In the meantime, the rules for this tournament will be based on the rules for 15th International Soke Cup. Please note, the Soke Cup rules are style specific (Chito-Ryu). The official rules for this tournament will be adapted so that they are not specific to any one style of karate.
Enquiries
https://www.karatedo.org.au/contact-us/
Location & Address
Events
Tournament organisers reserve the right to combine or cancel divisions if there are insufficient entries to form a division.
Seminars
Seminars run alongside this tournament. Each has its own registration and entry deadline.
Entry Fees
Regular — current pricing
This pricing ends 18 Oct 2026, 3:52pm (AEST)
To pay this price, enter AND pay before the deadline. Entering alone does not hold it — an entry that is still unpaid when the deadline passes moves to the next price.
First event: $50.00
Each additional: $10.00
Family rate: $150.00 when 3+ household members register together
Covers a parent (and their partner) plus their under-21 children. Adult children 21+ and extended family pay the standard fee.
Have a discount code? Enter it when you register.
Other pricing periods
Details
Date: 01 Nov 2026
Venue: Kuluin State School
Address: 41-67 Tallow Wood Dr, Kuluin QLD 4558
Registration closes: 25 Oct 2026, 11:59pm
Closes in …