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Upcoming rule changes for WAKO tournaments

Below are the current changes scheduled to take affect in regards to the new WAKO Approved label over the course of 2025 and 2026

What is the new WAKO Approved label and why is it being enforced?

The new WAKO Approved label has been introduced by WAKO IF to help ensure a safe and fair environment for athletes to compete. The new Label is also part of WAKOs goal of becoming an Olympic sport!

The label is embedded with UV thread to add a level of verification, this helps prevent counterfeits which haven't been produced under the same strict guidelines

The reason a woven label has been chosen is to enable referees to quickly and easily identify if the equipment a fighter is using is approved. This helps competitions to run on time as well as ensuring the athletes are competing in safe equipment

When are the rules coming into effect?

  • 2025

    Safety Equipment -

    From January 2025, ALL WAKO tournaments worldwide will require safety equipment to have a WAKO approved label attached on the outside of the product.

    Clothing & Uniforms -

    From January 2025, ONLY WAKO World & European Championships as well as WAKO World Cups will require the WAKO Approved Label to be attached on the outside of the garment

  • 2026

    Safety Equipment -

    ALL WAKO tournaments will require ALL safety equipment to have a WAKO Approved label attached to the outside of the product

    Clothing & Uniforms -

    ALL WAKO tournaments worldwide at every level will require WAKO Approved labels to be attached to the outside of the garment

  • Beyond 2026

    WAKO tournaments will have been running for two years whilst enforcing the WAKO Approved label regulations. This will have helped ensure all athletes have been and will continue to compete in approved and safe equipment.

    The label itself will have enabled WAKO referees to quickly and efficiently verify the clothing and equipment worn by fighters. This ensures a safe and equal environment for all athletes
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