Light-Contact Sparring Rules

We reserve the right to disqualify competitors for violations of any rule.

• Mandatory Equipment

- Protective headgear - must cover the back, forehead, and sides of the head.

- Groin protector

- Light Contact Sparring gloves (foam or vinyl)

- Mouthpiece

- Footgear

• Optional Equipment

We strongly recommend the use of a face shields/protectors, along with chest, thigh, arm, and shin protectors.

For participant safety, referees will scrutinize all equipment. Unsafe equipment will not be allowed.

• Scoring/Time Limit

Beginner

- (1) 1.5 min. point sparring. Referees or Judges will call points on scoring technique with majority of two or more judges needed.

-Competitor scoring three point first or the competitor with the most points at the end of time will be declared the winner. Additional 30 second rounds for ties.

- Judges and Referees will stop matches for warnings, safety concerns, falls, or discretion of judges.

Intermediate

- (1) 1.5 min. continuous round. Judges will stop matches for warnings, safety concerns, falls, or discretion of judges.

- At the end of the round, the referee will call for the judges’ votes. The winner will be determined by majority vote. Additional 30 second rounds for ties.

- Competitors will be judged on the execution of techniques, skill, conduct, and control of each match.

Advanced

- (1) 3 min. continuous round. Judges will stop matches for warnings, safety concerns, falls, or discretion of judges.

- At the end of the round, the referee will call for the judges’ votes. The winner will be determined by majority vote. Additional 30 second rounds for ties.

- Competitors will be judged on the execution of techniques, skill, conduct, and control of each match.

• Legal Targets & Techniques (LIGHT CONTACT)

We strongly recommend face shields/protectors.

THIS IS NOT FULL CONTACT.

1. Hand Strikes and Kicks to the Front and Sides of the Body (below neck & above waist)

2. Kicks to the Legs (outside thigh & calf) Intermediate and Advanced Divisions Only

3. Sweeps to the front leg to disrupt the balance of the opponent (mid-calf or below).

4. Grabbing: A competitor may grab their opponent for only one second in an effort to follow up with a technique.

• Illegal Targets & Techniques

- No contact/strikes to neck, groin, back, spine, knees, shins, back of head, side of head or face.

- No throws/wrestling, takedowns, biting, headlocks, holding more than one second, head butting, scratching, pressure point attacks, elbow or knee strikes.

- No sweeps to back leg.

• Excessive Force, Warnings, and Disqualification

Excessive Force: Force that a reasonable person would consider unrestrained, uncontrolled, unrestricted or reasonably exceeding the safety limits. Force causing the head to snap backwards will be considered one example of “excessive force”.

- At the discretion of judges & following a vote, participants may be disqualified for abusive language, disrespectful behavior, and/or malicious behavior.

- Participants may receive warnings for:

- Leaving the ring excessively.

- Excessive force

- Conduct

- Use of illegal techniques or targets.

- 3 warnings will result in automatic disqualification.

- Bleeding or any injury caused by an illegal technique or “excessive force” will result in automatic disqualification.

• Forfeiture of Match

Competitors shall forfeit matches if they do not continue for the following reasons:

- An illness or injury NOT caused by his or her opponent.

- An injury NOT considered a result of “excessive force”.

- Competitors who are NOT present or ready to compete at the time of their match.

Referee & Judges

- Each ring will have (1) Referee to control & coordinate the matches and (3) Judges for voting. Only JUDGES can decide matches.

- Judges may stop a match at their discretion, however control & coordination of the ring should be considered the responsibility of the Referee.

- Warnings or disqualifications MUST be determined by a unanimous vote between the Referee and Judges.

• Ring Procedure

After the competitor has been checked, he/she will wait for the referee to indicate for the competitors to bow (to the referee first).

On the command of the referee, the competitors will bow to each other and after assuming ready position, wait for the command, “Start” from the referee.

NOTE: This procedure is reversed at the end of the bout. i.e. on the command of the referee the competitors bow to each other and then bow to the Referee.

Prior to the referee starting the bout he/she checks that the judges and the timekeeper are ready to commence.

NOTE: The Referee checks the readiness of the other judges before starting.

During a bout, the timekeeper does not suspend the time when the referee calls “Stop”. However, the referee or another official may specifically call for time to be suspended in certain circumstances e.g. due to injury or equipment replacement. Time recording is resumed on the command “Start”.

NOTE: Under normal circumstances only the referee may ask time to be stopped. However, the judges may call for time to be stopped if they observe an injury or other incident likely to cause a discontinuity of the time and the referee has not signaled the timekeeper to suspend time.

• Coaches

- During a match only One (1) coach per competitor and/or team may be present on the floor/ring.

- Coaches must stay in the allotted area.

- Coaches may appeal, protest or ask questions of the Referee. The Referee is responsible for resolving issues in the ring. The Referee may call the assistance of an Arbiter. The Arbiter will only intervene in order to assist the Referee or make decisions when the Referee cannot do so.

- Coaches may not interfere with the referees conducting of the match or the progress of the tournament. Competitors may be disqualified for inappropriate behavior of Coaches.

• Blood Rules

Contaminated Gear and uniform/clothing must be changed or decontaminated to ensure no possible contamination to any other person results.

Form Rules

• Competitors must perform traditional kung fu forms.

The intent of requiring traditional forms is to help perpetuate and preserve the original essence and strength of the art. Even though many individuals may study the same style, there may be minor differences in the way they perform a form/set due to different lineage or philosophy, but the majority will agree that each system has a core principle it follows (example: Hung Gar - Strong low stances, powerful connection to Earth, Wing Chun – Trapping hands, inside fighting).

All traditional forms must descend from a specific lineage to distinguish them from modified Wushu changquan and animal styles (ie. Wudang changquan, Hung Gar Tiger, Seven Star Praying Mantis). All competition in a Form Division will maintain and reinforce the core principles and signature move(s) that are recognized as the trademark of the system. Competitors with any movement in a form that breaks the core principle of the style it is intended to represent will be subject to reduction in their score and possible disqualification.

- No aerial movements beyond flying kicks. No flying kicks beyond 360 degrees.

- Only two steps are permitted before any flying kick.

- No movements that are strictly gymnastic.

• Weapons

- Judges may inspect weapons for safety and weight.

- Weapon Standards here

- Unsafe weapons will not be used.

• Repeating Forms / False Starts

- Competitors will be allowed one repeat if they forgot their form. Half point will be deducted.

- Repeats will be allowed due to uncontrollable interruptions or malfunctions without penalty.

• Other Regulations

- Ring boundaries will be marked. If you expect your form to extend outside of the ring area, you must inform judges before beginning your form or you will loose 0.5 pts.

- If a competitor has more than one division in progress, it is their responsibility to notify the ring officials so that they can readjust the competition order.

- Ties will be decided by repeats

• Time limits

- Beginners 30 sec. minimum & 2 minute max.

- Intermediate 45 sec. minimum & 2 minute max.

- Advanced 60 sec. minimum & 2 minute max.

- 0.5 pt. will be deducted for time limit violations.

• Score Ranges

- Beginners 6.00 – 7.00

- Intermediate 7.00 – 8.00

- Advanced 8.00 –9.00

• Procedures

- Salute before entering the ring & salute again when you approach the judges.

- Stand at attention until judges signal to begin.

- Time starts during first move from attention.

- Upon completion of form stand at attention until dismissal or scoring.

- Once scored or dismissed, present a salute to judges again and then leave the ring.

Seven-Star Cup Rules

Advanced Competitors Only (4 or more years experience)

• Seven Star Cup Champion Events

Competitors signed up for this competition must participate in ALL four of the following events:

- Sparring (all weights)*

- Empty hand forms (all styles)**

- Long weapon (all styles)**

- Short Weapon (all styles)**

• Seven Star Cup Champion Divisions

Seven Star cups will be awarded for each of the following divisions:

- Men’s Adult (18 & over)

- Women’s Adult (18 & over)

- Male Teen (13 to 17)

- Female Teen (13 to 17)

Competitors will only compete against others in their division.

• Scoring

In each event, points will be given for placing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th.

- 1st place = 11 points

- 2nd place = 8 points

- 3rd place = 6 points

The Seven Star cup will be awarded to the competitor with the most combined points in his or her division AFTER ALL FOUR EVENTS. Medals will be awarded to a first runner up and second runner up in each division. Medals will not be awarded for individual events.

* Rules for other sparring divisions will apply. Divisions WILL NOT be broken down by weight classes. A “Seven Star Cup” competitor will be required to test their sparring skills against any competitor regardless of size.

**Rules for empty hand and weapon form divisions will apply.

Tai Chi Division Rules

Internal Divisions Only:

Beginner – under 2 year

Intermediate – 2-4 years

Advance – over 4 years

Max Performance Time: 2.5 minutes

Judges will judge on principle and not style.

Push Hand Division Rules

Time will be continuous with the exception of a 30 sec. Break. Competitors will begin with the right foot forward, push for 1 minute, rest switch to the left foot forward and continue for an additional minute. Judges will raise their hand towards the competitor they feel demonstrated the best principles of Tai Chi Chuan. A competitor, who shows yielding, neutralizing, and rooting, could win over someone who relies on pushing alone.

Da Saam Sing Rules

Competition Structure

The competition will follow a multiple elimination format. Each competitor will engage each other in one 120-second round. The round will be judged at its completion and the winner announced. Competitors will be directed to their positions by the Referee and upon the command READY POSITION will begin with their right arm down at their right side in preparation. The Referee will then give the command TOUCH, whereupon the competitors will complete three (3) preparatory cycles of da saam sing (that is, three sets of three strikes with each arm), lightly touching each other's arms. Immediately upon completion of the preparatory cycles the Referee will give the command GO! upon which the competitors will commence at full power until time is called for the round, or the Referee gives the command STOP. When the command STOP is given both competitors will immediately stop and stand at attention. Shifting of stances is allowed, provided that the feet remain in the same space. No stepping/sliding, etc. from side to side will be allowed.

Judging/Scoring

There will be 3 judges, each will judge the competitors using a scale of 8.0-9.9 on the following 3 criteria:

• POWER-Defined by visible transference of force from one competitor to the other; naturally the competitor that receives more force than he gives will be scored less than his opponent.

• FOCUS-Defined as Fighting Spirit and willingness to engage, the lack of which will result in diminished power and ability to protect oneself in the competition, and an escalating danger of injury.

• TECHNIQUE-Defined by stance-work, and coordination of stance, waist and arm movement. Naturally, a competitor with hard arms but poor technique runs a greater risk of being injured by an opponent with better technique, hence more focused power. Further, sloppy technique increases the risk of accidental injury to either competitor (see STRIKE AREAS).

Pace Count

Competitors will be compelled to follow a specific hitting pace; this will keep competitors from racing too fast, losing form/allowing for striking in illegal areas.

Line Judge

There will be line directly in between the competitors, and this line will mark the point of legal contact between arms. There will be a judge on that line to watch, and will raise their hand when any competitor's striking arm does NOT make contact directly above the line.

Strike Areas

All areas of the forearm higher than the wrist and lower than the elbow (with the exception of the inner arm) are legal, as long as the three areas of the bridge (inner corner, outer, outer corner) are all contacted. No other parts of the body may be contacted during the competition. Hands must be open; NO CLOSED FISTS.

Knockouts

Forfeit by the competitor (willful or otherwise)-If willful the competitor will be given a "Standing 8" count and asked if he wishes to continue. Continuance is at the discretion of the referee.

Technical Knockout (at the discretion of the referee)

• Indications by competitor that he is unable to optimally continue (to include significant decrease in power, focus and/or technique)

• Indication of impending injury

• Blatant injury

Illegalities

1. Contact, intentional or otherwise, with any part of the body not specified as a strike area

2. Stepping or sliding both feet side to side to change the point of contact (1st Offense-.1 point deducted, 2nd Offense-Disqualification)

3. "Pulling," characterized as moving very fast to "touch" and pull back from the contact, thereby avoiding the full power of the opponent (1st Offense-warning, 2nd Offense-.1 point deducted, 3rd Offense-TKO).

4. Willful moving of the feet from their specified space, or willful withdrawal from the competition area (1st Offense-warning, 2nd Offense-.1 point deducted, 3rd Offense-TKO)

5. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: This includes, but does not limit, inappropriate language, taunting, gesturing or overt attempts to intimidate opponent (1st Offense-warning, 2nd Offense-Disqualification)

Divisions

• Women

• Men