The Virginia Karate Alliance (VKA) rates both black belts and under black belts. 
V.K.A. members may compete and earn points at any karate tournament that is officially sanctioned by VKA,  members who place in the top 8 receive points toward their rating. One person from each category will be awarded VA State Champion. The season begins January 1st and ends November 31st.  Players will not receive points until they join VKA and will receive no points for earlier tournaments.  No points will be recorded for non-members.

Points are tallied and published online at the VKA website and are available at each VKA tournament.  At the end of the season, final points will be tabulated and a banquet will be held.  The Virginia State Champions receive jackets, while 2^nd and 3^rd places shall be awarded plaques.  The division championship will be determined by using all eight events.

Divisions: There will be 1 person from each of the categories that will be awarded VA State Champion. You are competing to be the best competitor in a category; for example, 6-8 Beginner Forms category. If you are 8 and a tournament offers 6-7 Beginner Forms and 8-9 Beginner Forms, compete at your appropriate age and rank, and your points will be placed in the appropriate category for the VKA. In this case, there may be two first place points awarded for the 6-8 Beginner Forms category. This goes for all categories.

Belt Rank: You must compete at the level that you currently are on the day of the tournament. If you switch categories during the season, you may carry ¾ of your points with you to the next group, or if you know you will be moving up in belt rank, you can compete up to the next category for the entire competition season.

Note: No points may be carried from under belt divisions to Black Belt Division

Age: You must compete at the age you are on January 1 of the competition season. 

Members should list their name the same way on all VKA documents!
Points Disputes: Any person may question the placing and/or points listed by the VKA. This can be done by phone, email or at a tournament.