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Karate at the Tokyo Olympics, instructions for use

Born on Okinawa Island, Japan, karate will make its debut at the Olympics for the first time, at the end of the second Olympic week in Tokyo. As with judo, the three days of competition, from Thursday to Saturday, will take place at the Nippon Budokan. But this great first will not see any follow-up, at least in the short term, since this sport is not part of the program for the Paris 2024 Games.

What principles?

There are two types of karate at the Games: kata and kumite.

For the kata, no opposition. This is a demonstration, the karateka performs a series of offensive and defensive movements targeting a virtual opponent. Judges give them a mark. « It is a sequence of techniques codified in a vacuum against imaginary adversaries, says Alexandra Feracci, who will represent France in kata at the Olympics. Each gesture has a meaning, whether it’s a block, an attack, a kick. On the scoring, we are judged on the technical and physical aspect. You have to be as perfect as possible, fast, powerful, balanced. »

Alexandra Feracci in action at the 2019 Paris Open (E. Garnier / L’Équipe)

Kumite is a form of karate more recognized by the general public: two athletes compete in an area of ​​8m x 8m. They must target their blows on the target area of ​​their opponent’s body. These attacks are worth one to three points depending on their difficulty: one point for punches (yuko), two points for kicks to the body (waza ari) and three points for kicks to the face or a sweep followed by a punch to the chest on the opponent on the ground (ippon).

The first karateka with 8 points more than his opponent wins. And if neither of them has widened such a gap, the one who wins at the end of regulation time (2 minutes for women, 3 for men) is the one with the most points.

Which French?

Three French have validated their place for Tokyo. The main chance for a medal is Steven Da Costa (2018 world champion and 2016 and 2019 European champion), world n ° 1 in his category, who will compete in his competition on Thursday, the kumite -67kg. The same day, Alexandra Feracci, who qualified during the TQO in Paris, will be competing in the women’s kata. Finally, Friday, it will be the turn of Leïla Heurtault, bronze medalist at the European Championships in the spring, to fight in -61 kg.

What format of the competitions at the Olympics?

In kata, two Olympic tables are scheduled in Tokyo: that of men and that of women, without weight category. Each time, ten athletes are in the running, first divided into two groups. The karatekas will perform two passes to obtain an average score. The first three from each pool are then qualified for two classification pools.

In these classification pools, the athletes make a single pass, which will allow them, or not, to reach the final, which will be accessed by the first two of each pool. The second and third will meet for bronze (two medals are awarded).

In kumite, six competitions will take place, three for women (-55 kg, -61 kg and +61 kg), three for men (-67 kg, -75 kg, +75 kg). For each, the ten athletes are divided into two pools of five. Within these hens, each karateka faces the other four. A victory is worth two points, a draw one point. The first two from each pool qualify for the semi-finals. Two bronze medals are awarded to the losing semi-finalists.

What timetable?

Thusday
kata (F), -67 kg (M) and -55 kg (F): qualifications from 3 hours, final stages from 12:30 p.m.

Friday
kata (M), -61 kg (F) and -75 kg (H):: qualifications from 3 hours, final stages from 12:30 p.m.

On Saturday
+61 kg (F) and + 75 kg (M): qualifications from 7 a.m., final stages from 12.20 p.m.

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