At every Shoto Cup event, athletes compete in their respective divisions. Points are awarded based on final placement in each division. These points accumulate across all events within a season and across all seasons to build the overall rankings.
| Placement | Award | Points | Available At |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Place | Gold Medal | 15 pts | All standard events |
| 2nd Place | Silver Medal | 10 pts | All standard events |
| 3rd Place | Bronze Medal | 5 pts | All standard events |
| Combine Winner | Combine Championship | 30 pts | Combine bonus round only |
The Combine is an elite bonus round held at select Shoto Cup events. It is not a standard division — it is an invitation-only championship that pits the very best athletes against each other in a head-to-head showdown.
Who qualifies? The Combine is open exclusively to the Gold Medal winners from the Kata and Kobudo divisions at that event. Only athletes who have already proven themselves by winning their individual division are eligible to enter the Combine round.
How it works: The Kata champion and the Kobudo champion go head-to-head in a single combined performance round. Judges evaluate both athletes on a unified scoring criteria, and the winner of this showdown is crowned the Combine Champion — earning a massive 30-point bonus on top of the 15 points already earned for their Gold Medal placement.
Why 30 points? The Combine represents the pinnacle of performance at any given event. An athlete who wins both their division and the Combine in a single event can earn up to 45 points (15 for Gold + 30 for Combine) — making it the single biggest points opportunity in the entire Shoto Cup season.