WKKO UK Combat Karate
STRIKING, GRAPPLING & SUBMISSIONS
Huddersfield MMA – MMA Huddersfield. MMA BJJ Jiu Jitsu, MMA BJJ Jiu Jitsu Huddersfield MMA – MMA Huddersfield. MMA BJJ Jiu Jitsu, MMA BJJ Jiu Jitsu
The WKKO Kakuto Karate is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to promote a personal commitment to constant, unending self-improvement in the areas of physical health, mental well-being, emotional strength, personal integrity, and community responsibility through the study of Full Contact Karate striking & grappling.



Karate is a melting pot of martial traditions from Okinawa (Te), Japan (JuJitsu) & China (Quanfa) plus there is some evidence to suggest there is influence from the Philippines & Siam (Thailand) via trading routes. It could be said that Karate is the original ‘MMA’. WKKO Combat Karate strives to recreate ‘original’ Karate, before the advent of ‘styles’ & competitive rulesets that disallowed any form of grappling.
WKKO UK COMBAT KARATE
Kakuto Karate is a martial art that emphasises rigorous training, strict discipline, full-contact fighting, endurance and strength training. The Kakuto Karate philosophy of self-improvement and resilience pushes practitioners to their physical and mental limits, embodying the idea of finding “the ultimate truth” through martial arts training.
Purpose of Grappling
In Karate, grappling is primarily used to:
- Control the opponent: To prevent them from striking or continuing their attack.
- Create space: To set up a strike or a throw.
- Initiate a takedown: To transition to a ground-based defence.
- Escape: To extricate oneself from a close-range grappling situation.
Styles and Variation
While many Karate styles emphasise striking, some incorporate more grappling elements, like Shito-Ryu. Kyokushin, for instance, is known for its full-contact sparring, but grappling techniques are generally less emphasised.
Historical Context
Karate’s grappling techniques have roots in Okinawan wrestling traditions like Tegumi and the term Torite, which takes its influence from Chinese Chin Na & Shuai Jiao (both forms of grappling).
Kumite and Sparring
Jissen Kumite style Knockdown/knockout Karate with helmet and face striking with grabs sweeps throws and groundfighting.
ATTIRE
- Full matching Gi
- 3oz MMA gloves
- Shin/Instep pads
- Headgear – Kudo style, Krav Maga style or black grill style
- Groin guard
- Gum sheild
- Chest protectors for women
- Mens chest protector are allowed as long as they are thin & worn under the Gi

a CLASS
2 min roundS for adults UNTIL A WINNER IS FOUND
3 x 1 min round for u16's & B-Class UNTIL A WINNER IS FOUND
STANDING
- All strikes allowed to head, body & legs – Hand & elbow strikes, open or closed, Leg strikes & head butt strikes.
- All open hand strikes are permitted to the head, body and legs.
- All clinching techniques are legal.
- Striking in the clinch to the head, body & legs is permitted as is holding on to the Gi and striking whilst holding.
- All throwing, tripping, sweeping & takedown techniques are legal.
- Standing submissions are legal including chokes, arm locks shoulder locks & wrist locks.
- 3oz MMA gloves to be worn, head guard with face covering, shin & instep, groin guard, gum shield.
SPLIT LEVEL (one standing & one on ground)
10 second limit in split level – Grounded can get back to a standing position through a technical standup OR standing fighter perform a standing guard pass.
- If a submission is obtained within 10 seconds the fighter will be allowed an extra 10 seconds to obtain a tapout from opponent.
- If a pin is obtained within 10 seconds the fighter holddown for a extra 10 seconds to obtain an ippon.
GROUND
10 second to obtain a pin or submission
- If a submission is obtained within 10 seconds the fighter will be allowed an extra 10 seconds to obtain a tapout from opponent
- If a pin is obtained within 10 seconds the fighter holddown for a extra 10 seconds to obtain an ippon.
WAYS TO WIN
- Ippon by Submission
- Ippon by a knockdown that lasts more than 3 seconds
- Ippon by 5 consecutive shots to the head while pinned ground or inside guard
- Ippon by 10 second ‘CHEST ON CHEST’ pin
- Waza-ari by Takedown (4 Waza-ari = Ippon)
ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES
B CLASS
- Avoiding fighting is regarded as passivity & will result in a warning
- ‘Butt scooting’ on the ground is regarded as passivity & will result in a warning
- Excessive power in ground & pound to the head
- No striking to the head of a downed opponent in ‘split level’
- Attacks to the groin or eyes
- Striking a joint
- Twisting ankle locks/Heal hooks
- Twisting neck locks
- Wrist locks & other small joint locks
- Throwing opponent on head/neck
- Holding head guard
- Hooking eyes/mouth
- Attacking the spine & base if neck through striking
- As above however with no head shots (no headgear required)