WUMA National Open Championships 2026

WUMA NATIONAL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026

DATE: Sunday 20th September 2026
EARLY BIRD ENDS: Sunday 30th August 2026
REGISTRATION CLOSES: Midnight Sunday 13th September 2026
LATE ENTRIES: Only accepted at organiser discretion and, if accepted, additional charges will apply.
VENUE: Leisure at Cheltenham, Tommy Taylors Lane, Cheltenham, GL50 4RN
DOORS OPEN: 11:30am

ELIGIBILITY
OPEN EVENT - While this event is open registration, all entries remain subject to approval by the organisers.
WUMA reserves the right to decline, cancel, or revoke any registration where there is a history of misconduct, safeguarding concerns, abusive behaviour, or previous breaches of event rules or codes of conduct. WUMA reserves the right to remove or refuse entry to any competitor, coach, spectator, or club whose behaviour is deemed unsafe, abusive, disruptive, or contrary to the standards of the event. No refunds will be issued.

LICENCE REQUIREMENTS
All competitors must hold a valid martial arts licence and Personal Accident insurance cover to enter this event. WUMA Licence Holders receive a category discount at WUMA events, and competitors from WUMA-affiliated clubs will already hold the required licence through their membership. Competitors from outside WUMA may purchase a WUMA Competition Licence for £39 per competitor per year, which provides eligibility to compete, category discounts, and cover under WUMA’s Personal Accident (PA) Policy. A link to apply can be found in the information section of the Kihapp event page. Alternatively, non-WUMA competitors may use their own organisation’s licence, provided it includes Personal Accident cover; if not, separate private Personal Accident insurance must be held. Proof of valid licensing and insurance cover must be available on request and is a mandatory condition of entry.

DIVISIONS
• Kata Performer (non-competitive)
• Points Fighting
• Light Continuous Fighting
• NEW Light-Contact Boxing
• 3 Person Team Event
• Grand Championship FREE Category for Title Belt
All Men’s and Women’s category winners will be invited to compete later in the event at no additional cost to determine the Overall Men’s Grand Champion and Overall Women’s Grand Champion. Each winner receives a Grand Championship Title Belt.

CATEGORY STRUCTURE & MATCHING
Categories are not separated by experience. Competitors enter by age, height and/or weight as listed. Draws will aim to separate same-club competitors where possible and initially match athletes with similar declared training experience based on information provided at registration. Training experience includes all martial arts and combat sports from the date of a competitor’s first lesson, including any breaks. As the competition progresses, competitors may face opponents with greater or lesser experience depending on results, as advancement is based on winning bouts. Final draw structure remains at organiser discretion. All heights will be checked at the mat and adult weigh-in is 12:00–2:00pm. Under-18s cannot compete in adult divisions under any circumstances. Competitors can only compete in their biological gender category and gender categories cannot be mixed under any circumstances. Weight cutting is not permitted. Incorrect entries not corrected before registration closes will result in disqualification. Event organisers reserve the right to merge, split, adjust, or cancel categories where necessary for safety, fairness, or competitor numbers. All divisions are governed by official WUMA Rules of Competition.

REGISTRATION & ENTRY
Pre-registration only via Kihapp. No entries on the day. Prices can be found on this page. QR code required for entry (print or screenshot recommended). No ticket, no entry. On-the-door spectator tickets are available at an additional cost. All attendees must follow the WUMA Code of Conduct. By registering, all competitors, coaches, parents/legal guardians, and spectators agree to comply with all WUMA event rules, safeguarding policies, and instructions from officials.

ESTIMATED EVENT TIMINGS
Doors Open: 11:30am
Coaches & Referees Briefing: 11:50am
Kata: 12:00pm
-18yrs Fighting: From 12:00pm
Adult Weigh-In: 12:00–2:00pm
Adult Fighting: Approx. 4:00pm
Finish: Approx. 7:30pm
Schedule may be adjusted at organiser discretion.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026 QUALIFYING EVENT

REFUND POLICY
All payments are strictly non-refundable unless the event is cancelled by the organiser.

CONTACT
For all enquiries, email: info@wumawebsite.com
We aim to respond within 72 hours.

WAIVER
By registering for this event, all competitors acknowledge that martial arts is a contact sport involving physical exertion and inherent risks, including serious injury or, in rare circumstances, death. Participation is entirely voluntary and undertaken at the competitor’s own risk. Competitors confirm that they are medically fit and clear to participate in the event.