TOURNAMENT

To promote team unity, leadership, and fair play for all competitors, only the following approved uniforms and equipment are allowed at the BLK Interschool Tournament. These guidelines help keep the tournament fair by making sure students are judged on their skills, effort, and attitude, not on what uniform they wear or what gear or weapons they use.

Having clear uniform and equipment standards also builds school pride, respect, and a sense of belonging within the BLK community. It helps keep everyone safe, focused, and professional so students can compete with confidence and good sportsmanship. By following these rules, we create a positive and rewarding tournament experience for every student.

Tournament Approved Bobby Lawrence Karate Basic Uniform

All white uniform with Bobby Lawrence Karate logo on the back.

Tournament Approved Bobby Lawrence Karate Black Belt Training Uniform

All blue uniform with Bobby Lawrence Karate logo on the back and the yin yang patch on the front.

Tournament Approved Bobby Lawrence Karate Black Belt Leadership Uniform

All black uniform with Bobby Lawrence Karate logo on the back and the yin yang patch on the front.

Tournament Logistics

When you arrive at the event, please check-in and pick up your competitor card. This card will be used by the judges in your division to record your scores in each event.

After picking up your card, take a seat in the bleachers. Since each division (group of competitors) is assigned a ring right before their division starts, we won't know which ring you'll be competing in or which seats offer the best view.

The emcee will call divisions to the "pit" in numerical order. When your division is called, please report to the pit where roll will be called.

If you're not familiar with the pit, here is a quick video on how it works and how to figure out where to go within the pit: How the pit works

Once a ring is available, your division will head to that ring.

Schedule of Events: 

Please check back here as the date approaches for more information! See you soon!

Available Events:

Kid Champs: Students may perform an Empty-hand Form and do the Power Karate combo that corresponds to the season.

Juniors, Teens and Adults: Forms, Weapons, and Point Sparring (plus Power Karate for white–green belts).

Ban Bu and Black Belts: Forms, Weapons, and Point Sparring, Weapon Sparring, Team Sparring, and Power Karate. 

Power Karate Combos:

Competitors will perform each combo three times.

In the spring tournaments, the power karate combos are:

123 P8
232 SK

In the fall tournaments, the power karate combos are:
145 P8
252 SK

Scoring:

Each division is assigned a scoring range.

• Little Ninjas: 5.0-5.9
• Kid Champs / W, Y, O: 6.0-6.9
• P, B, G: 7.0-7.9
• Brown, Ban Bu: 8.0-8.9
• Black: 9.0-9.9

So a Purple Belt would receive a score between 7.0 and 7.9. A score of 5 (e.g., 7.5) is considered to be an average score. A score of 8 (e.g., 7.8) would be a high score and a score of 2 (e.g., 7.2) would be a low score. If a division has competitors with multiple different belt levels, all competitors will be scored at the higher range. (For example, all competitors in an orange and purple belt division would be scored between 7.0 and 7.9).

Being a judge at a Bobby Lawrence Karate Tournament is a fun experience that enables our black belts to see the event from a different perspective. In order to ensure we have the highest quality judges, we have training material and information at the link below.

Judge Information

Demo Teams

Note: Demo teams will compete first thing on Saturday morning. For a schedule of demo team events, see the "schedule" section of this webpage.

***There will be no demo team registrations after April 25, 2026.***

Click here to register for demo teams. Log in or create an account. If you are an adult black belt, demo team registration will appear as an option.

NOTE: There should only be ONE registration per team (generally handled by the head instructor, branch manager, or team captain). Team members DO NOT need to register themselves individually at this link.

Black Belt Graduation Information

Download the Black Belt Graduation program here.

The Spring 2026 Black Belt Graduation will take place on Saturday, May 2nd. There are three parts to the event:

1. Compete in the tournament in your individual division.
2. Complete an assignment at the tournament with black belt excellence.
3. Excel in the final test and celebration held Saturday evening 

Information on required equipment, clothing, and other preparatory steps is below:

Required Gear / Uniforms

For both the individual competition and the final black belt celebration, candidates will need the following:

1. Testing uniform, including belt. If ordered, candidates will be able to pick up their uniform when they arrive but will need to bring their current belt.

2. If the candidate is competing in sparring and / or weapons at the tournament, they will need appropriate equipment for those events. Sparring gear will NOT be needed during the final portion of the test on Saturday evening.

3. For officiating at the tournament, candidates should wear white long sleeved button down shirts, black slacks, a red tie, and black dress shoes).

Assignments

Candidates are required to complete an assignment assisting with the tournament.

Preparing for Your Assignment – Generally, teens and adults serve as judges while younger students serve as score-keepers or runners. If you are likely to be assigned as a judge, we recommend reading the rules, watching the videos, and taking the quiz here.

Assignment schedules will vary depending on your assignment. You should have received an e-mail with the details of your assignment.

If you are have been assigned to assist after your division:
Your competition will be one of the first events of the day.

When it’s time for your assignment (which may be immediately after your division finishes or may be a little bit later), check in at the judges’ table and you will be rotated into a ring at the next opportunity. Please note that you may have to wait for a few minutes before you can be rotated into a ring.

If you are have been assigned to assist at the start of the tournament
Please check-in at the judges’ table by 9:00 a.m.  (At check-in, you can confirm your ring assignment. Teens / adults will generally be expected to judge throughout the morning with a break. Younger students will have shorter shifts.

To receive credit, candidates must check in at the assigned start time and continue to serve for the duration of their assignment. Please plan accordingly by eating a nutritious and filling breakfast, bringing water and snacks for during the day, and bringing all gear that will be needed later in the day.

Final Graduation / Celebration

At 4:00 PM, the candidates will be invited to take pictures with their instructors and Master Lawrence before lining up for the graduation.

The black belt graduation will start at 4:30 PM on Saturday and is expected to last about an hour. 

General Tips

* Especially if you are driving from a distance, it can end up being a while between the time you eat breakfast in the morning and the time that you’re able to take a break and eat lunch. Make sure to eat a filling and nutritious breakfast.

* There is not a limit on the number of spectators.

* While there are many activities and events during the day, there may also be some down-time between events. It is recommended that candidates come prepared with a book, tablet, or other activity to use in case there is down-time.

* Bring water and stay hydrated. Sometimes there is so much going on that it’s easy to forget to drink water, but drinking throughout the day is important.