Sensory Impairments

Sensory impairments cover a wide range of experiences. Someone may have partial sight, no sight, use hearing aids or cochlear implants, communicate through British Sign Language, lip-read, use a combination of approaches, or require no particular support at all.

That means there is no single method that will work for everybody.

The most useful starting point is usually to listen, understand and ask the individual what works for them. A small change to communication, positioning, demonstration or the training environment may make a significant difference, but support should always reflect the person rather than assumptions about their impairment.

Karate also provides competitive opportunities beyond mainstream competition. WKF Para Karate includes the K10 sport class for eligible athletes with visual impairment, with eligibility determined through classification rather than diagnosis alone.

Deaf karate also has its own international competitive pathway. Karate has been part of the Deaflympics since 2009, with both kata and kumite contested at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics.

These resources are a starting point.

As the EKF develops its inclusion work, we want to improve the information and opportunities available to blind, partially sighted, Deaf and hard-of-hearing karateka, as well as their families, clubs and coaches.

That means reviewing our existing guidance, listening to people with lived experience and working with specialist organisations that understand the barriers people can encounter in sport.

Where good specialist guidance already exists, we will help people find it. Where karate-specific support is needed, we will work to develop it.