COMPETITOR: Each competitor must present him/herself to the referee suitably attired with proper uniform and equipment and physically prepared to compete. If he/she is not prepared to compete as deemed by the center referee, the competitor may be penalized for delay of time.

DELAY OF TIME PENALTY: Sparring: An automatic warning will be issued to the competitor. A penalty point will be issued for each minute the competitor is not properly ready to compete. Upon 3 penalty points the offending competitor will be disqualified. Form: .10 points will be deducted from the offending competitor's final score. If a competitor is still not ready to compete after 3 minutes, he/she will be disqualified.

RANK RULE: A competitor must compete at the highest belt level they have earned in the martial arts. A competitor can never compete in a division of which he/she had not earned that rank. Once a competitor competes as a black belt legally, he/she must always compete as a black belt. A competitor can never compete in a lower belt division than the level of belt he/she has earned in the Martial Arts.

RANK RATINGS RULEs: For end of the year points ratings. Points cannot be transferred from amateur to semi-pro nor from semi-pro to pro. If you qualify for the end of the year championship, you must compete at the highest rank in which you competed during the qualifying tournaments for that year.

PROOF OF AGE RULE: All competitors must have proof of age. If there is a legitimate reason to question a competitor's age, he/she must present a proof of age (birth certificate, driver's license, or other acceptable documents to prove his/her age.

COMPETITION AGE RULE: All competitors have the option of competing in the same division all year long for rating purposes, by establishing a competition age for the year. The age a competitor is on December 31 of the current competition year may may be considered their competition age for that year. They can compete all year at that age so they can earn rating points in one age division all year. Alternately, A competitor can always compete in his/her legal chronological age. The age rule is developed for rating purposes only.

UNIFORM: All competitors must wear a uniform in a good state of repair. The appropriate color belt or sash must be worn in competition. Sparring: All sparring uniforms must have sleeves that reach at least to the middle of the forearm. No T-shirts, sweats, tank tops or shoes are allowed in the sparring divisions. Forms & Weapons: T-shirts, tank tops and sweats shirts are allowed in the forms & Weapons divisions if they are part of the competitor's official school uniform. Uniforms in the forms and weapons divisions are allowed more liberties because forms are not a one-on-one competition where the uniform could cause a decisive disadvantage or advantage to a competitor. Removal of the uniform top is allowed if the removal is considered relevant to the artistic expression or safety of the competitor. Shoes may be worn in forms competition if they do not damage or mark the competition floor.

COMPETITOR RESPONSIBILITIES: It is the responsibility of the competitor to know the rules and be ready for competition when called to do so. They must be suitably attired, when competition begins. Three calls will be made for competition at ring side. If the competitor is not at their ring ready to compete when competition begins, they will not be able to compete. If a competitor leaves the ring after the competition begins and is not present when their name is called to compete, they will be disqualified. No late competitors will be allowed to join the division once it has begun.


REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT: MARRS approved head gear, hand pads, foot pads, rib/chest protector, mouthpieces and groin cups (for male competitors only) are mandatory for all competitors in sparring divisions. The competitor's equipment will be checked and if it is deemed unsafe, he/she will be asked to change the equipment before he/she can compete. Hand Pads: A soft padded surface must cover the fingers, wrist and any striking surface of the hand. Foot Pads: A soft padded surface must cover the instep, sides, toes, ankle and back of the heel of the foot. The bottom of the foot does not have to be padded. Head Gear: The front, sides and back of the head must be covered by a soft padded surface. Insufficiently-padded gloves, foot and head gear will not be allowed. Rib Guard/Chest Protector: Rib/Chest protection must cover ribs from side to side and minimum height from waist line to center of chest. Equipment must be in a good state of repair and must be free of heavy taping, tears or any other repairs that may cause injury. The approval or denial of the equipment is ultimately determined by the tournaments head rules arbitrator. Shin pads and a face shield are highly recommended for additional safety to all sparring competitors but not required.

REFEREE'S: The referee is the most experienced official in the ring and is thoroughly versed on the rules and order of competition. He/she promotes the safety of the competitors, enforces the rules and ensures fair play. To this end, he/she starts and stops the match, awards points, makes penalty decisions, administrates the voting of the other judges, communicates clearly with the scorekeeper and timekeeper, and announces the winner of each match. Added Powers of the Referee: 1) Match starts and ends only with his/her command (not the command of the timekeeper); 2) Has final decision on any disputes on score; 3) Has the power to issue warnings and award penalty points without a majority decision: 4) Can overrule a majority call only to issue a warning or a penalty point: 5) Automatically has power to disqualify a competitor who receives (3) penalty points; 6) Has power to issue time-outs. A competitor can ask for a time-out, but it is the determination of the referee to issue one. The disqualification of a competitor, where disqualification is not automatic, is determined only by a majority vote of the judges.

JUDGES: The judges call points as they see them. They may be consulted by the center referee to help in determining penalties or warnings, although the referee alone has the power to issue them. They will be asked to vote on disqualification rulings. It is the majority vote of the judges and referee that determines a scoring point.

CALLS AN OFFICIAL MAY MAKE: When the referee believes there has been a significant exchange of techniques, or when signaled to do so by a corner judge, he/she shall call out the word, "STOP!" in a loud voice. The referee shall then returns the competitors to their starting marks and addresses the judges by saying "JUDGES CALL!" . All judges and the center referee cast their votes simultaneously and assertively. Here is a list of common calls:

LATE CALLS: All officials should make their calls at the same time. If, in the opinion of the center referee, a corner judge is making a late call intentionally, the referee can disqualify the call (noise not allowing the judges to hear the referee and the honest mistake of raising the wrong color or pointing at the wrong competitor should be taken into consideration not to disqualify the call).

NUMBER OF OFFICIALS: At least three officials are required in all divisions.

PROTEST: A competitor has the right to protest an infraction of the rules or if a possible mistake was made (not a judgment call). If a competitor wishes to protest they should first let the referee know they believe there has been an infraction of the rules or a mistake has been made. The referee will summon the arbitrator to the ring to render a decision if the referee cannot settle the protest to the competitor's satisfaction. All protest must be made in an orderly, proper and sportsmanlike manner. All protest must be made immediately. Protest are not allowed once competition has resumed. A competitor may be penalized if he/she is protesting improperly or without proper cause.

LATE ENTRIES: Once a division has started (the first competitor has started his/her form/weapon routine or the first fight divisional fight has started) no competitor/s can be added to that division. BE ON TIME!

THE RING: Each ring will be posted with a ring number visible to competitors, officials, and medical personnel from across the floor. All youth and adult rings shall be approximately 16' x 16'.

WEIGHING-IN: It is mandatory for all adult fighting competitors - who are in weighted divisions - to weigh in before competition. Only one official weigh-in is required. All competitors must fight in his/her weight division. A competitor cannot fight up or down in another weight division that he/she has not made the proper weight. It is the responsibility of a tournament official to weigh and properly record the competitors weight.

ORDER OF COMPETITION: Forms/Weapons: Competitor cards will be shuffled and drawn randomly for order of competition. Sparring: Once the final call for the sparring division has been made at ring side and the cards have been shuffled then cards will be selected by random, but certain allowances may be given to competitors from the same school who are match up in the first round of competition. They may be separated randomly from each other in the first round if possible. Competitors cannot pick who they want or do not want to fight.

SEEDING: First to register gets the bye.

SPARRING RULES

ILLEGAL TARGET AREAS: Spine, back of neck, throat, sides of the neck, groin, legs, knees, back and face of all youth and under black belt adult competitors.

NON-TARGET AREAS: Hips, shoulders, buttocks, arms, and feet.

LEGAL TECHNIQUES: Legal techniques are all controlled sport martial arts techniques involving the hands or feet, except those listed as illegal.

ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES: Head butts, hair pulls, bites, scratches, elbows, knees, eye attacks of any kind, take downs, ground fighting, any stomps or kicks to the head of a downed competitor, slapping, grabbing for more than one second, uncontrolled blind techniques, any sweeps and any other uncontrolled dangerous techniques that are deemed unsafe in sport martial arts. If a competitors hands touch the floor during the execution of a legal technique, it will be deemed no-point and a warning may be issued.

GRABBING: A competitor may grab the uniform top of his/he opponent in an attempt to score with a sport martial arts technique for only one second (immediately) , after which time he/she must release the uniform. Likewise, the uniform pants may be grabbed for one second to an upright opponent in an attempt to score.

SWEEPS, TAKEDOWNS, GROUND FIGHTING: Sweeps not to take down an opponent, but only to obstruct the balance so as to follow up with a sport martial arts technique can only be executed to the back of the front leg at mid-calf or below. A sweep must be deemed a proper sweep and not a kick, to be legal. No takedowns or ground fighting is allowed. The match will be stopped the moment any body part other than the feet are touching the ground.

LIGHT TOUCH CONTACT: Means there is no penetration or visible movement of the competitor as a result of the contact. Light touch is allowed to all legal target areas except to the face of all youth and under black belt adult competitors. Contact is not required in order to score. If a judge feels that the technique was pulled in an effort to control the movement then he/she will be awarded a point providing 1) The person doing the technique could have successfully made contact with the intended target. 2) The technique was not clearly blocked by the opponent.

MODERATE TOUCH CONTACT: Means slight penetration or slight target movement. Moderate touch contact may be made to all legal target areas except the face. Contact is not required in order to score. If a judge feels that the technique was pulled in an effort to control the movement then he/she will be awarded a point providing 1) The person doing the technique could have successfully made contact with the intended target. 2) The technique was not clearly blocked by the opponent.

WARNINGS AND PENALTIES: One and only one warning is allowed for breaking the rules before a penalty point is awarded. After the first warning is given, a penalty point is awarded to the opponent of the offending participant. If a competitor receives four warning (three penalty points) in any one match, he/she will be disqualified. If the severity of the rules violation is deemed by the referee to be severe, a competitor may be disqualified.

Other Penalty Rules: A competitor cannot be penalized and still receive a point on the same call. A competitor can receive a point for a proper technique and another point from a penalty call against his/her apponent (two points awarded). If, in the opinion of the referee and/or the medical personnel, a competitor cannot continue because of an injury caused by an illegal penalized attack executed by his/her competitor, the offending competitor shall be automatically disqualified immediately.

Other Cause for Penalization: Attacking illegal and non-target areas, using illegal techniques, running out of the ring to avoid fighting, falling to the floor to avoid fighting, continuing after being ordered to stop, excessive stalling, blind, negligent or reckless attacks, uncontrolled techniques, showing unsportsmanlike behavior from the competitors coaches, friends, etc., excessive contact, and delay of time are examples of possible penalization.

DISQUALIFICATION: Requires a majority vote by all officials, unless it is an automatic disqualification.

Non-Competing Penalty: If, in the majority opinion of the officials, it is considered that the competitors are not making an obvious attempt to fight in the true spirit of competition, both competitors will be warned and if it continues he/she may be disqualified.

Wrong Division: If any competitors competes in a division he/she does not qualify to compete in due to age, weight, rank, gender, style, etc., they will be disqualified.

COACHING: Coaches and parents must stay out of the designated competition area. Any violation to this rule may result in point deductions, warning points or disqualification. 1. Never, at any time, can a coach enter the ring without the referee's permission; 2. No abusive, violent, unsportsmanlike or overzealous coaching; 3. Coaches cannot ask for a time out (only the competitor may ask for a time out); 4. Coaches can never, at any time, interfere with the proper running of the ring or the decisions of the judges.

OUT-OF-BOUNDS: A competitor is out-of-bounds when he/she no longer has both feet touching inside or on the boundary line. An out of bounds competitor cannot score a point while out of bounds. An in bounds competitor can score on an out of bounds competitor if the center referee has not called a stop to the match.

WEAPONS AND FORMS RULES

TIES: Ties for 5th through 8th place are never run off. If there is a tie for 1st through 4th place, then the majority judges scores will determine the winner. If this does not break the tie, then the tie will remain and both competitors will earn the same award.

INTRODUCTIONS: No introductions will be used in any divisions. When a competitor is called to perform they will simply walk to the center of the ring, make eye contact with the center official, bow and begin their routine.

OPEN FORMS: An empty hand martial arts kata/form. May, but is not required to include tricks, jumps or spins. May be self created or instructor taught.

TRADITIONAL FORMS(if offered): These forms must capture the essence of classic martial arts movements, displaying the traditional techniques, stances, and footwork.(no Weapons)  Emphasis is placed on execution of technique, application of technique, balance, speed, power, solid stances, and focus. Forms may be unmodified or modified from what a system or school considers to be the original version of the form; however, performance of the following movements will result in a downgrade of the form, or upon unanimous vote of the judges, a “no score” as a form inappropriate for the division: Movements that involve more than a 360 degree spin, require the body to be inverted more than parallel to the floor, more than two kicks with the same leg without putting the foot down in between; front or back flips; cartwheels; front or side leg splits; or any other gymnastic movements or extreme exhibitions of flexibility or agility with the body that are deemed in the opinion of the judges to be inappropriate for the division pursuant to the general guidelines set forth here. (**Forward Roll is a legal Traditional Technique.)

WEAPON INSPECTION: The center referee may ask to inspect your weapon to determine if it is safe for competition use. If it is deemed unsafe then the competitor will have 2 miniutes to find an alternate weapon or forfeit the division.

DROPPING YOUR WEAPON: For safety, a competitor who unintentionally drops his/her weapon, will be automatically disqualified. If a competitor recklessly or carelessly misused his/her weapon, he/she may be penalized of disqualified.

BROKEN WEAPON: If for any reason a competitors weapon were to break during competition, he/she will be allowed one (1) minute to find a replacement weapon. Each judge will automatically deduct one full point from their score. It is the competitors responsibility to insure their weapons are clear of defects and are in safe working order.

STARTING A FORM OVER: If a competitor starts his/her form over because of a memory lapse or any other reason due to his/her own negligence, he/she may perform the form again. Each judge will automatically deduct one full point from their score. The two minute time limit will start over. A competitor can only start over one time. If a competitor has to start over not due to his/her negligence, he/she will not be penalized on the start over.