Kata etiquette in competitions varies from competition to competition and association to association. The following steps are a rough guide to what to expect:
0 – go to waiting position
1 – walk (not too fast and straight back) along back of competition area tatami (mat)
2 – turn and face judges
3 – walk onto tatami
4 – go into musubi dachi (legs together feet at 45 deg) hands by sides
5 – bow
6 – on raising say name of kata (show spirit)
7 – go into heiko dachi (feet apart stance) For kata starting in musubi or heisoku dachi (feet together) then go to starting position, eg. Empi, Jion, etc.
8 – start kata
9 – on finish go to heiko dachi then musubi dachi
10 – bow
11 – walk backwards to end of tatami
12 – walk back to waiting position
13 – if waiting for other competitor to finish, stay in heiko dachi until they return to waiting position
14 – on judges announcement bow to judges
15 – face competitor and bow (optional to go and shake hands)
Karate Kata Step By Step 