All world open tournaments operate under knockdown karate rules which involve standup bareknuckle fighting with basically no protection. The more characteristical rules in knockdown karate compared to other styles are that you are not allowed to punch in the face and a point system that only counts hits that actually "hurt" the opponent. This makes knockdown fighting very physical but at the same time quite safe considering that there are very few hits to the head. There can be slight variances in the rules between the different organizations responsible for a tournaments although the basics are the same. The rules have also been modified over the years. Normally knockdown rules include:
No protectors or guards are used, with the exception of groin guards and protection of the teeth.
3 minutes match time
The fighter that achieves an Ippon will win the match and the fight is stopped. An Ippon is achieved when an attack either knocks down the opponent for more than 3 seconds or renders the opponent reluctant to continue the fight. An ippon can also be granted if an illegal technique is used or the other fighter is disqualified.
A fighter can also win the fight by Waza-ari which is awarded if the opponent is knocked down for less than 3 seconds and is able to continue the fight. If two Waza-aris are achieved during the fight by the same fighter it is counted as an Ippon and the fight is stopped.
If no knockdowns occur, the judges can declare one fighter as the winner by overall efficiency of techniques, force and spirit.
In case of a draw there can be a maximum of 3 extensions. Some tournaments will also settle draws by weight difference and the result of Tamaeshiwari
After the death of Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, in 1994, IKO split in up in several fractions. The World Open Tournament has continued to be held but organised in parallel by several organizations.
IKO1 (Matsui branch)
From 1995, the World Open Tournament has been organized by IKO1 led by Shokei Matsui.
6th World Open Tournament IKO1 with 168 competitors from 85 Countries
7th World Open Tournament IKO1 with 192 competitors from 86 Countries
8th World Open Tournament IKO1 with 240 competitors from 63 Countries
9th World Open Tournament IKO1 with 192 competitors from 65 Countries
10th World Open Tournament IKO1 with 192 competitors from 43 Countries
11th World Open Tournament IKO1 with 192 competitors from 46 Countries
12th World Open Tournament IKO1 with 164 competitors from 38 Countries
Place
6th World Open
7th World Open
8th World Open
9th World Open
10th World Open
11th World Open
12th World Open
1
Kenji Yamaki
Francisco Filho
Hitoshi Kiyama
Ewerton Teixeira
Tariel Nikoleishvili
Zahari Damyanov
Mikio Ueda
2
Hajime Kazumi
Hajime Kazumi
Sergey Plekhanov
Jan Sokup
Ewerton Teixeira
Djema Belkhodja
Aleksandr Eremenko
3
Francisco Filho
Alexander Pichkunov
Ewerton Teixeira
Artur Oganasian
Goderzi Kapanadze
Darmen Sadvokasov
Andrei Luzin
4
Garry O'Neill
Glaube Feitosa
Glaube Feitosa
Darmen Sadvokasov
Makoto Akaishi
Kiril Kochnev
Yuta Takahashi
5
Nicholas Pettas
Nicholas Pettas
Lechi Kurbanov
Andrey Stepin
Zahari Damyanov
Ashot Zarinyan
Konstantin Kovalenko
6
Hiroki Kurosawa
Yasuhiro Kimura
Yasuhiro Kimura
Alejandro Navarro
Nikolai Davydov
Mikio Ueda
Ryunosuke Hoshi
7
Luciano Basile
Ryuta Noji
Sergey Osipov
Eduardo Tanaka
Alexander Yeremenko
Ivan Mezentsev
Igor Zagainov
8
Glaube Feitosa
Ryu Narushima
Hiroyuki Kidachi
Tatsuya Murata
Ilya Karpenko
Shoki Arata
Shoki Arata
WKO (Shinkyokushinkai)
From 1996, the World Open Tournament has also been organized by WKO led by Kenji Midori.
6th World Open Tournament WKO with 172 competitors
7th World Open Tournament WKO with 128 competitors from 53 countries
8th World Open Tournament WKO with 128 competitors from 63 countries
9th World Open Tournament WKO with 128 competitors
10th World Open Tournament WKO with 129 competitors from 52 countries
11th World Open Tournament WKO with 164 competitors from 60 countries
12th World Open Tournament WKO with 161 competitors from 71 countries
From 2004, the World Open Tournament has also been organized by All Japan Kyokushin Union led by Yasuhiro Shichinohe.
1st World Open Tournament Rengōkai
2nd World Open Tournament Rengōkai - held in weight categories
3rd World Open Tournament Rengōkai
4th World Open Tournament Rengōkai
They decided though to renumber the event starting with World Open Tournament 1. Also note that the second event in 2008 was organized in weight categories and is therefore not presented here.
