33rd Friendship Karate Tournament ‑ Walla Walla Tournament

🥋 YOU’RE INVITED TO THE 33rd FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT! 🥋

Saturday, November 21, 2026

📍 Location: McLoughlin High School Gym (Mac-Hi), 120 South Main St., Milton-Freewater, OR 97862

We invite karate athletes, coaches, instructors, referees, families, and supporters to join us for the 33rd Friendship Tournament!

For more than three decades, this tournament has provided an opportunity for martial artists to come together in the spirit of friendly competition, continued learning, and respect for one another.

Whether this is your first tournament or you have competed for many years, our goal is to provide a positive experience where athletes can challenge themselves, support one another, and continue growing through karate.

🛎️🛏️Hotel Room Block Special Rate Offer:
20 min from Tournament Venue
Marcus Whitman Hotel in the downtown heart of Walla Walla has offered a generous discount for their rooms.
$154 per night for each room. Limited quantity of rooms available.
To make a reservation please click below:
After you click, press the button that says take you to your destination.
https://bit.ly/26MWHotel

🥋 RANK DESCRIPTION / KEY
Beginner: - 0 - 1 year experience - White, Yellow, Gold
Intermediate: - 1–2 years experience - Orange through Green
Advanced: - 2-3 years experience - Brown
Black Belt - 4 years plus - Black Belt

🥋 TOURNAMENT DAY SCHEDULE

🕖 8:00 AM – Doors Open & Athlete Check-In
🕤 9:30 AM – Mandatory Coach & Referee Meeting
🕙 10:00 AM – National Anthem & Competition Begins

Black Belt Kata and Kobudo divisions will begin first, followed by Youth and Adult under-belt divisions.

📌 MANDATORY COACH & REFEREE MEETING

All individuals who plan to coach on the competition floor or referee in the rings are required to attend the 9:30 AM meeting.

This meeting will review tournament procedures, scoring, rules, expectations, and other important information to help provide consistency throughout the event.

Referees:
• Review scoring procedures and rule applications
• Work together to provide fair and consistent officiating
• Ask questions and clarify tournament procedures before competition begins

Coaches:
• Review the rules being used for the tournament
• Understand coaching expectations and competition procedures
• Help athletes arrive prepared and ready when their divisions are called

🏆 TOURNAMENT DIVISIONS
Competition will include:
• Kata
• Kobudo
• Kumite (Sparring)
• Inclusive Division
• Black Belt Grand Champion Divisions

The Inclusive Division provides an opportunity for athletes with physical, developmental, or cognitive challenges to participate in competition. Inclusive divisions may be adjusted or combined when necessary based on registration.

🏅 DIVISION SCORING & AWARDS
Kata – Scorecard
1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Awards
Kobudo – Scorecard
1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Awards
Kumite (Sparring) – Single Elimination
1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Awards

Grand Champion Awards:
• Youth Black Belt Kata
• Youth Black Belt Kumite
• Adult Black Belt Kata
• Adult Black Belt Kumite

Our goal is to provide fair and respectful judging using modified AAU-style rules while creating an environment that encourages athletes to learn and grow.

💻 REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Online Registration Only

Regular Registration Deadline:
November 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST

• $85 – First Event
• $10 – Each Additional Event

Please carefully review your athlete's registration before submitting, including:

• Name
• Birthdate
• Age
• Rank
• Division(s)

📌 REGISTRATION CHANGES

PLEASE VERIFY YOUR INFORMATION CAREFULLY.
Change Fee: $30 per change after check-in and once tournament operations have begun.
Changes may include corrections to birthdate, age, rank, division, or other registration information.
All changes must be completed before the athlete's division begins.

*Divisions may be combined or adjusted at the discretion of the tournament host and tournament administration based on registration.*

🎟 SPECTATOR INFORMATION
• $5 – Ages 7 and older
• FREE – Children 6 and under

🧡 COMPETITION IN THE SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP

The Friendship Tournament is about more than medals and competition. It is an opportunity for students, instructors, coaches, referees, and families to come together and represent the values martial arts teaches us every day: respect, perseverance, courage, sportsmanship, and community.

In the spirit of a developmental tournament, we encourage everyone involved to use this event as an opportunity to learn and improve.

Athletes gain experience through competition, coaches and instructors strengthen their ability to support their students, referees continue developing their officiating skills, and families play an important role in creating a positive tournament atmosphere.

From first-time competitors to experienced Black Belts, everyone has an opportunity to learn, improve, and demonstrate their best Budo spirit.

We look forward to welcoming you to the 33rd Friendship Tournament!

Bring your team, support your fellow competitors, and come ready for a great day of karate, competition, and friendship! 🥋
Shihan David Lybbert