Inclusive Karate at the 2027 North American Open!
The North American Open is proud to welcome athletes of all abilities through our Para and Special Needs divisions. Every athlete deserves the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, build confidence, and experience the excitement of international competition.
Divisions offered include:
⭐ Kata
⭐ Kihon
⭐ Kobudo
⭐ Unified Team Kata
Join us March 26–28, 2027, in Las Vegas for an unforgettable celebration of ability, determination, teamwork, and the inclusive spirit of karate!
Divisions offered include:
⭐ Kata
⭐ Kihon
⭐ Kobudo
⭐ Unified Team Kata
Join us March 26–28, 2027, in Las Vegas for an unforgettable celebration of ability, determination, teamwork, and the inclusive spirit of karate!
All abilities. One karate family. One incredible experience.
Inclusive Categories
Category 1 — Cognitive Disabilities
For athletes with intellectual or cognitive disabilities, including:
Category 2 — Autism
Category 3 — Sensory Impairments
For athletes with significant visual or hearing impairments: The rules state that visually impaired competitors must wear a blindfold during competition.
Category 4 — Physical Disabilities
For athletes whose physical disability involves mobility limitations or limb differences:
Category 5 — Ambulatory Disabilities
For athletes who have a physical disability but can walk without assistance:
Category 6 — Neurological Disorders
For athletes with neurological conditions, including:
Additional division classifications:
Age groups
Experience levels
Heroes and Veterans Division:
Disabled veterans and first responders who were impaired in the line of duty. The age classifications are:
Categories marked with an asterisk in the rulebook may be offered in both the Inclusive Division and the Heroes and Veterans Division. These include traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, profound hearing loss, wheelchair, walking aids, amputations, and ambulatory physical disabilities.
Important: An athlete may select only one inclusive category, even when the athlete has more than one disability. A coach may petition the tournament director to permit an inclusive athlete to compete in both inclusive and standard non-inclusive divisions.
For athletes with intellectual or cognitive disabilities, including:
- Intellectual disabilities without Down syndrome
- Down syndrome
- ADHD and other cognitive disabilities
- Traumatic brain injury*
Category 2 — Autism
- Low
- Moderate
- High
Category 3 — Sensory Impairments
For athletes with significant visual or hearing impairments: The rules state that visually impaired competitors must wear a blindfold during competition.
- Blind or visually impaired, including full blindness, impairment in one eye, or legal blindness
- Deafness or profound hearing loss*
Category 4 — Physical Disabilities
For athletes whose physical disability involves mobility limitations or limb differences:
- Wheelchair users
- Athletes using walking aids, including crutches*
- Athletes with acquired or congenital amputations*
Category 5 — Ambulatory Disabilities
For athletes who have a physical disability but can walk without assistance:
- Physical disability while able to walk unaided*
- Dwarfism
Category 6 — Neurological Disorders
For athletes with neurological conditions, including:
- Epilepsy
- Tourette syndrome
- Multiple sclerosis
- Effects of a stroke
- Cerebral palsy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Other neurological disorders
Additional division classifications:
Age groups
- 8 and under
- Ages 9–12
- Ages 13–18
- Ages 19–40
- Ages 41 and over
Experience levels
- 7th kyu and below
- 6th through 4th kyu
- 3rd through 1st kyu
- Any dan rank
Heroes and Veterans Division:
Disabled veterans and first responders who were impaired in the line of duty. The age classifications are:
- Ages 19–40
- Ages 41 and over
Categories marked with an asterisk in the rulebook may be offered in both the Inclusive Division and the Heroes and Veterans Division. These include traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, profound hearing loss, wheelchair, walking aids, amputations, and ambulatory physical disabilities.
Important: An athlete may select only one inclusive category, even when the athlete has more than one disability. A coach may petition the tournament director to permit an inclusive athlete to compete in both inclusive and standard non-inclusive divisions.