semicontact

Semicontact, also called semicontact karate or semi-contact competition, is a form of martial arts competition in which athletes score points for controlled strikes rather than attempting knockouts. The discipline emphasizes speed, precision, control, and technique over raw power, with participants mitigating risk through protective gear and refereed contact. Semicontact originated in mid-20th-century karate as a safer, more accessible style of sparring and has since been adopted in various martial arts that use point-based scoring.

Rules and scoring: Matches are divided into rounds with the objective of landing clean techniques on permitted targets while maintaining control. Points are awarded for controlled strikes delivered to scoring areas, typically the torso and sometimes the head, knees, or legs depending on the federation. Contact must be controlled and not excessive; judges and referees assess form, speed, balance, timing, and control. Penalties or disqualification may result from illegal techniques, dangerous actions, or loss of control. Referees may pause action to ensure safety.

Equipment and preparation: Beneficial protective equipment, including mouthguards, gloves, shin guards, foot protectors, and chest protectors, is common. Competitors devote emphasis to footwork, distance management, timing, and technique, practicing snap-fast strikes and controlled kicks designed to score rather than injure.

Relation to other styles: Semicontact differs from full-contact sparring, where aiming to damage is allowed, and from light contact, where even less force is used. It is often used in youth and amateur circuits as a safer pathway into martial arts competition.