2026 Karate BC Provincial Championships - Elite Competition

Karate BC accepts all language contained in the British Columbia Universal Code of Conduct (BC UCC), and is committed to ensuring a safe sporting and event experience that is free from all forms of harm, including sexual, physical, mental, emotional, and psychological harm for all participants. All participants, including athletes, coaches, referees, and volunteers, must complete, agree to, and adhere to the BC UCC at all times during the 2025 British Columbia Open Karate Championships.

The BC UCC is designed to raise awareness of the responsibilities of all participants in sport, including athletes, coaches, referees, volunteers, spectators, and staff, to contribute to a safe environment, and to raise awareness of prohibited behaviours or conduct.

Below is a summary of the BC UCC. The full version of the BC UCC is hosted at the following link: British Columbia Universal Code of Conduct

Every participant has a responsibility to:

1. Make sure their intentions, actions and efforts put priority on the safety of all Participants.
2. Treat others with respect and dignity.
3. Promote sportsmanship, leadership, and ethical conduct.
4. Respect the diversity of Participants and reject discrimination.
5. Treat individuals fairly and reasonably.
6. Follow the rules of the sport, and the spirit of the rules.
7. Report any acts or suspicions of inappropriate behaviours or other Maltreatment.
8. Make sure all individuals feel included.
9. Accept feedback about their own behaviours, and work to correct problems.
10. Establish, respect, and maintain appropriate boundaries with Participants.
11. Make sure that interactions respect the role of every Participant in the sport.
12. Make sure that individual accountability is promoted during interactions.
13. Make sure that interactions are transparent and easily understood by both Participants and outside observers.
14. Monitor their own behaviours, and the behaviours of others.
15. Take seriously all reports, allegations, and suspicions of Maltreatment.
16. Identify and participate in conversations that lead to positive behaviour change.
17. Do not take part in any Prohibited Behaviours.

All participants in a position of trust or authority have a responsibility to:

1. Protect the health and well-being of all other Participants.
2. Prevent or reduce opportunities for Maltreatment and other Prohibited Behaviours.
3. Respond to any Maltreatment involving Minors and other Vulnerable Participants.
4. Learn to recognize systemic bias, unconscious bias, and to respond quickly and effectively to Discriminatory practices.
5. Recognize when you are in a position of Power Imbalance.

It is a violation of the BC Universal Code of Conduct to engage in:

1. Psychological Maltreatment including Verbal Conduct such as yelling; Non-assaultive physical conduct such as throwing items; or behaviours restricting attention or support, such as abandoning an athlete as punishment for poor performance.
2. Physical Maltreatment including Contact behaviours such as deliberately hitting someone; or Non-contact behaviours such as the use of exercise for the purposes of punishment.
3. Sexual Maltreatment of Minors or Adult participants, including Criminal Code offenses; and any comment or conduct of a sexual nature that is unwelcome or that would be objectively perceived as unwelcome by an outside observer.
4. Grooming which can include one or several acts that, viewed objectively, make it easier to either engage in Sexual Maltreatment or reduce the chance that Sexual Maltreatment will be reported.
5. Boundary Transgressions which include a wide range of activities such as communicating privately with a Minor through social media or text; or one-on-one meetings that are not held in an open and observable environment.
6. Neglect such as not providing an athlete recovery time and/or treatment for a sport injury.
7. Discrimination such as denying someone access to participating in sport or treating them unfairly.
8. Subjecting a Participant to the Risk of Maltreatment such as putting Participants in situations that could obviously make them vulnerable to Maltreatment.
9. Aiding and Abetting which includes any action intended to result in Maltreatment by or against a Participant.
10. Failure to Report possible Maltreatment, Prohibited Behaviour, or Boundary Transgressions toward a Minor or an Adult Participant.
11. Intentionally Filing a False Allegation or influencing someone else to file one. Making a False Allegation is different from an Unsubstantiated Allegation, which is where an allegation is made honestly but there’s not enough evidence to prove it.
12. Honestly made Unsubstantiated Allegations are not prohibited actions.
13. Interference with or Manipulation of Process such as knowingly falsifying, distorting, misrepresenting, concealing, or destroying information with the intent to influence the proceedings or outcome of the resolution process.
14. Retaliation including threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, or any other behaviour that would discourage a reasonable person from participating in an investigation or disciplinary review processes at any point in the process, and regardless of outcome.

INSTRUCTIONS:
All karate competitors must submit the following documents in order to be eligible to participate in the 2026 Karate BC Provincial Championships:

1. Waiver and Release Agreement
2. Medical History
3. Anti-Doping Acknowledgement and Agreement

The tournament doctor/medical staff will review the forms and contact the athlete if there are any issues with the form. The tournament doctor/medical staff will have the sole discretion to determine if a competitor is or is not medically fit to compete.

If the medical history of the competitor changes between the time this document is submitted and the competition, Karate BC must be notified in writing of these changes at events@karatebc.org.

ALL COMPETITORS MUST BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. Competitors will not wear bandages, padding or supports during Kumite matches unless approved by the referee in consultation with the Tournament Medical Director (TMD)/tournament medical staff.
2. A competitor injured during a match and declared unfit to fight by the TMD/tournament medical staff will not be eligible to further compete in the competition.
3. All finger and toenails must be kept short.
4. Competitors will not wear metallic or other objects, which may injure an
   opponent.
5. Competitors are advised to see their regular physician following a competition
   for follow-up examination of any injuries suffered during the competition. Note: The full extent of some injuries may not manifest themselves until sometime following the injury, e.g. abdominal or head injuries.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE that my signing of this document constitutes that:

1. I am registering willingly and participating voluntarily in the 2026 Karate BC Provincial Championships.
2. I am physically, emotionally and mentally able to participate in the 2026 Karate BC Provincial Championships.
3. I have expressly disclosed all illnesses, injuries, ailments, symptoms and/or
   medical conditions of any kinds whatsoever suffered or sustained as requested in the Medical Report.
4. I agree to consult my regular doctor should such an examination be requested
   by the TMD/tournament medical staff.
5. I agree that there are risks as described in the Waiver and Release Agreement
   and will be exposed to these risks and hazards.
6. I agree to accept all these risks and hazards and be responsible for any injury
   or other loss which I might receive while participating in the 2026 Karate BC Provincial Championships.
7. By participating in the 2026 Karate BC Provincial Championships, I hereby consent to having any picture or video image taken of me during any activity in any edited material used for Karate BC and/or Karate Canada's promotional activities, social media posts, websites and/or souvenir videos. I also accept that Karate BC and Karate Canada use any photomontage and videotape in which I appear for television purposes.
8. I have read the Waiver and Release Agreement and understand its terms and conditions.

I, the competitor, and the parent/guardian of the competitor if the competitor is under the age of 19 as of today, have read and understood the terms and conditions of this agreement, and by signing it voluntarily, I am/we are agreeing to abide by these terms.

WARNING

This is a binding legal agreement. Clarify any questions or concerns before signing.

This Agreement must be signed by the Participant and/or the Participant’s parent/guardian (if applicable, when the Participant is younger than 19 years of age) prior to participation.

The Participant acknowledges and agrees to the terms outlined in this document. When applicable, the Participant’s parent/guardian acknowledges and agrees to the terms on behalf of the Participant and references in this document to the Participant agreeing to or acknowledging a risk or term is understood to be referring to the Participant’s parent/guardian agreeing to or acknowledging the risk or term on behalf of the Participant.

DISCLAIMER

The Participant is voluntarily participating in the sport of karate and the spectating, orientation, instruction, activities, competitions, programs, and services (collectively the “Activities”) of Karate BC and Karate Canada.

Karate BC and Karate Canada, and its respective directors, officers, members, employees, coaches, volunteers, officials, participants, agents, owner's/operator's of facilities, and representatives (collectively the "Organization") are not responsible for any injury, personal injury, damage, property damage, expense, loss of income or loss of any kind suffered by a Participant during or as a result of the Activities and/or, when the Participant is the age of majority or older, when caused by the negligence of the Organization.

DESCRIPTION OF RISKS

The Activities have foreseeable and unforeseeable inherent risks, hazards and dangers that no amount of care, caution or expertise can eliminate, including without limitation, the potential for serious bodily injury, permanent disability, paralysis, and loss of life. These risks include:

1. Health: executing strenuous and demanding physical techniques; physical exertion; overexertion; stretching; dehydration; fatigue; cardiovascular workouts; rapid movements and stops; lack of fitness or conditioning; traumatic injury; sprains and fractures, spinal cord injuries, bacterial infections; rashes; and the transmission of communicable diseases, including viruses of all kinds, COVID-19, bacteria, parasites or other organisms or any mutation thereof
2. Premises: defective, dangerous or unsafe condition of the facilities; falls; collisions with objects or barriers that are a part of the premises; dangerous, unsafe, or irregular conditions on the floor or other surfaces; and travel to and from the premises
3. Contact: contact with participants or other persons; and other contact that may
   lead to serious bodily injury, including but not limited to concussions and/or other
   brain injury or serious spinal injury
4. Advice: negligent advice regarding the Activities
5. Ability: failing to act safely or within the Participant’s own ability or within designated areas
6. Sport: the sport of karate and its inherent risks, including but not limited to physical contact with other participants; striking participants and objects with parts of the body; tumbling falling or being thrown to the floor; and contact, colliding or being struck by other participants
7. Conduct: the Participant’s conduct and conduct of other persons including any physical altercation between participants
8. Travel: travel to and from the Activities

COVID-19 RISKS AND PROTOCOL

The COVID-19 disease has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization and is extremely contagious. The Organization has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, the Organization cannot guarantee that the Participant will not become infected with COVID-19. Further, participating in the Activities could increase the Participant’s risk of contracting COVID-19 or any other contagious disease.

The Organization may develop COVID-19 protocols to which all participants must adhere. The Participant has reviewed the COVID-19 protocols and, when applicable, responded to any COVID-19 questionnaire or compliance declaration provided to the Participant by the Organization. The Organization has the discretion to remove the Participant from the Activities if the Participant does not comply with the protocols.

FURTHERMORE, THE PARTICIPANT IS AWARE:

1. That injuries sustained can be severe;
2. That the Participant may experience anxiety while challenging themselves during the competitions, activities, events and programs;
3. That the Participant’s risk of injury is reduced if the Participant follows all rules established for participation; and
4. That the Participant’s risk of injury increases as the Participant becomes fatigued.

REMOVAL FROM COMPETITION DUE TO INJURY

In order to ensure the health and safety of all participants, to the Participant will be removed from competition if:

1. The Participant sustains direct contact to the head resulting in a loss of consciousness;
2. The Participant displays signs or symptoms relating to a head injury or concussion after contact to the head, contact to the body causing whiplash or a fall resulting in either whiplash and/or contact to the head;
3. The Participant sustains an injury that requires medical imaging or intervention.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY

In consideration of the Organization allowing the Participant to participate, the Participant agrees:

1. That the Participant is not relying on any oral or written statements made by the Organization or their agents, whether in a brochure or advertisement or in individual conversations, to agree to participate in the Activities
2. That when the Participant practices or trains in their own space, the Participant (or the Participant’s parent/guardian, if applicable) is responsible for the Participant’s surroundings and the location and equipment that is selected for the Participant
3. That the Participant’s mental and physical condition is appropriate to participate in the Activities and the Participant (or the Participant’s parent/guardian, if applicable)
   assumes all risks related to the Participant’s mental and physical condition
4. To comply with the rules and regulations for participation in the Activities
5. To comply with the rules of the facility or equipment
6. That if the Participant observes an unusual significant hazard or risk, the Participant will remove themselves from participation and immediately bring their observations to a representative of the Organization
7. The risks associated with the Activities are increased when the Participant is impaired and the Participant will not participate if impaired in any way
8. That it is the Participant’s (or the Participant’s parent/guardian, if applicable) sole responsibility to assess whether any Activities are too difficult for the Participant. By the Participant commencing an Activity, the Participant (or the Participant’s parent/guardian, if applicable) acknowledges and accepts the suitability and conditions of the Activity
9. That COVID-19 is contagious in nature and the Participant may be exposed to, or infected by, COVID-19 and such exposure may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, or death
10. That the Participant (or the Participant’s parent/guardian, if applicable) is responsible for choosing the Participant’s safety or protective equipment and the secure fitting of that equipment

DISCLAIMER

When the Participant is the age of majority or older in the Province of British Columbia, the Participant assumes all risks arising out of, associated with or related to, participation in the Activities and waives any and all claims that the Participant may have now or in the future against the Organization. The Participant, when the age of majority or older, accepts and fully assumes all such risks and possibility of personal injury, death, property damage, expense and related loss, including loss of income, resulting from participation in the Activities.

When the Participant is the age of majority or older in the Province of British Columbia, the Participant forever indemnifies and releases the Organization from any and all liability for any and all claims, demands, actions, damages (including direct, indirect, special and/or consequential), losses, actions, judgments, and costs (including legal fees) (collectively, the “Claims”) which the Participant has or may have in the future, that might arise out of, result from, or relate to, participation in the Activities, even though such Claims may have been caused by any manner whatsoever, including but not limited to, the Organization’s negligence, gross negligence, negligent rescue, omissions, carelessness, breach of contract and/or breach of any statutory duty of care of the Organization.

For all Participants. The Organization is not responsible or liable for any damage to the Participant’s vehicle, property, or equipment that may occur as a result of the Activities. This Agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by law of the Province of British Columbia and if any portion thereof is held invalid, the balance shall continue in full legal force and effect. The Participant (or the Participant’s parent/guardian, if applicable) agrees to file any lawsuit against the Organization in the Province of British Columbia and further agrees that the substantive law of the Province of British Columbia will apply with regard to conflict of law rules.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Participant (and the Participant’s parent/guardian, if applicable) acknowledges that they have read and understand this Agreement, that they have executed this Agreement voluntarily, and that this Agreement is to be binding upon themselves, their heirs, spouse, children, parents, guardians, next of kin, executors, administrators and legal or personal representatives. They further acknowledge that by signing this Agreement they have waived their right to maintain a lawsuit against the Organization on the basis of any claims from which they have released herein.

When the Participant is younger than the age of majority in the Province of British Columbia, the undersigned acknowledges and agrees that they are a parent/guardian of the Participant and have full legal for the decisions of the Participant.

This part must be completed by all athletes. Incomplete reports will not be accepted.

Participants at the 2026 Karate BC Provincial Championships are subject to the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code, the World Karate Federation (WKF) Anti-Doping Rules, and the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP). Competitors may be selected for doping control (testing) during the event.

For more information about anti-doping and prohibited substances and methods, please consult the following resources:

• World Karate Federation (WKF) Anti-Doping Page: https://www.wkf.net/sport-antidoping
• Sport Integrity Canada: https://sportintegrity.ca
• World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA): https://www.wada-ama.org/en
• MedEffect Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada.html