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NBL vs WKU Rules Changes Highlights

 

Point Fighting

 

Uniform:

The waistline must always be visible, even if the Competitor chooses not to wear their belt

 

Ties:

If there is a tie score at the end of the Elimination or the Final match, there will be no break and

the competition shall continue with one (1) minute round to break the tie. 

If there is still a tie score after the extra one (1) minute round, there will be no break and the

competitor that scores the first point is declared the winner

 

Points:

Any hand techniques scores as 1 point

Foot Sweep scores as 1 point (a foot sweep or spinning sweep must be made in an upright

position and make contact to their opponents’ foot below the calf to the inside of the foot or

heel to heel. The opponent is swept if his/her balance is broken and at least three (3) parts of

his/her body touch the mats

Kick to the body scores as 1 point

Kick to the head scores as 2 points

Jump kick to the body scores as 2 points

Jump kick to the head scores as 3 points

 

Downed Opponent:

A Competitor who falls to the floor can get scored on with a punch only to a legal target area within the

three (3) seconds after they have fallen. If there is no exchange the Centre Referee will call “stop” and

have the opponent stand up and continue the match. While on the ground, a competitor is not allowed

to kick upwards their opponent to avoid getting punched.

 

Referees Powers:

The centre referee has the power to issue warnings and give penalty points without a majority decision to the competitor or Coach

 

Time Out:

There are no coaching time outs.

 

Injury:

If a competitor is injured and the match is over because of the injury from the offender, the injured

competitor is declared the winner. In the case of an accident, the competitor with the highest number of points is declared the winner. If the score is a draw, the uninjured Competitor is declared the winner.

 

Killing the Clock:

There is no automatic stop time during the last 30 seconds but if a competitor is trying to avoid fighting towards the last seconds of the bout the Centre Referee has the option to add ten (10) seconds to the fight.

 

Out of Bounds:

Out of bounds is when the entire foot is outside of the competition area

 

Hand Signals:

I saw the point(s) - Raise the hand and show the number of points

I could not see a point - Both hands crossed in front of the face

No point was scored - Both hands crossed in front of the legs

Competitor stepped out of bound - Point to the area line and swings the arm

Both Competitors scored - Raise both hands to show points for both competitors

Illegal techniques - Raise the arm and circle the hand

 

Penalties: Illegal technique, contact violation, unsportsmanlike conduct by player or coach

All violations, depending on how serious they are, may result in a warning, penalty point or

disqualification

Disqualification requires a majority vote except for automatic disqualification (see below)

Only one warning is allowed for breaking the rules before a minus point is issued.

After the first warning is given, a penalty point is deducted for every subsequent rule violation

If a minus point cannot be awarded (zero score) a plus point is awarded to the opponent

If a competitor receives an official warning and three minus points in one match, he/she will be automatically disqualified.

 

Penalties: Running out of the ring, avoiding the fight

A competitor can be issued three warnings for running out of the ring or avoiding the fight

Each subsequent infraction will result in a penalty point

There is no disqualification for running out of the ring or avoiding the fight.

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WKU Point Fighting Rules (Complete)

 

 

1.Competitor’s Uniform 

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  • The competitors must be wearing a clean and proper uniform 

  • The competitors‘ top must have sleeves covering at least to the mid area of the upper arm (Optionally the sleeves can reach the elbows or the wrists) 

  • The Competitors’ pants must extend to the feet; no zipper fasteners, pockets or buttons are  allowed. 

  • Traditional uniforms are permitted 

  • The waistline must always be visible, even if the Competitor chooses not to wear their belt; Ideally due to different colour top and bottom. If the waistline is difficult to identify, the Centre  Referee may instruct the corner to use a belt on the competitor as a visual aid. 

  • In the absence of a belt, the uniform top needs to be tucked into the pants.  

  • Competitors are not allowed to wear any metal objects that may cause injury to their  opponent; piercing, chains, watches or earrings are not allowed. 

  • Badges of the respective club, associations or sponsor along with names, slogans are permitted if  they do not offend public decency 

  • Headbands, hairnets, durags and scarves are optional 

  • Long hair must be tied back with an elastic band. Hairgrips are not allowed. 

  • Finger- and toenails must be trimmed and clean. 

 

2. Duration of a Bout 

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  • • Elimination rounds in all Divisions is one (1) round with two (2) minutes time limit • Final rounds in all Divisions is two (2) rounds with two (2) minutes time limit for each round  along with one (1) minute break between rounds 

  • • If there is a tie score at the end of the Elimination or the Final match, there will be no break and  the competition shall continue with one (1) minute round to break the tie 

  • • If there is still a tie score after the extra one (1) minute round, there will be no break and the  competitor that scores the first point is declared the winner

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3. Start of the Bout

 

  • The Centre Referee shall stand in the centre of the ring facing the score table 

  • Once the Competitors have been approved from the Corner Referees on their safety  equipment the match is ready to begin 

  • The Centre Referee shall check that the Coaches are seated, that the two umpires are in the  neutral corners on opposite sites and that the Scorekeeper and Timekeeper are ready and in  focus to start 

  • The Centre Referee shall ask that the Competitors to touch gloves and then back up to their  starting position 

  • During the bout both umpires are allowed to move in an L-shape opposite each other and  around the fighting area to get the best possible view  

  • The Centre Referee shall demand to start the time and immediately order the competitors to  “Fight” 

  • The clock must continue to run throughout the match until the Centre Referee requests from  the Timekeeper to “Stop the Time”. (In case the competitor needs to fix their gear or when a  warning is being issued) 

  • The clock shall keep running even when the Centre Referee asks the fighters to “stop” and is  awarding points 

 

4. Awarding Points 

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  • The Centre Referee will refer to every fighter by Red or Blue when awarding points, giving  warnings and announcing the winner of the match 

  • The Centre Referee shall ask the timekeeper to “stop” when he/she or the Referees at the  corner see a point and raise their hand while the clock is running 

  • All three (3) Referees must respond with a hand signal quickly when the Centre Referee says  “stop” during the competition. (pls. refer to section: ,Hand Signals’) 

  • If there is a delay in the signals from any of the umpires at the corner, once the Centre Referee  says “stop” he/she has the power to call off or disregard the signal

 

5. End of Competition 

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  • The match is over when the time has only when the Centre Referee says “stop” or “time”.  🖉 The Timekeeper will also throw in the bean bag close to the Competitors’ feet when the time  expires 

  • The Centre Referee is entitled to award points or give warnings after the time has expired if  the scoring or the violation happened before he/she has stopped the match 

  • A difference of ten (10) points in the Eliminations ends the match (i.e. 0-10/ 2-12) 🖉 The ’10-points difference rule’ does NOT apply in the Finals 

  • When the match is over, the Centre Referee will take the hand of each Competitor and raise  the hand of the winner

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6. What is a Point? 

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A point(s) is a Martial Art technique executed by a Competitor  

  • dynamically 

  • with control & recoil 

  • with accuracy (targeting a legal area while having that area in clear vision) 

  • with the correct attacking tool

    • A. Fist (Forefist/Front of Fist only) 

    • B. Foot (Instep, Heel, Sole, Ball of Foot) 

  • Speed 

  • Balance (if a competitor is pushed he/she can still score if executing a correct technique while  loosing balance) 

  • Appropriate Power according to the age and weight categories 

Scoring Area:  

  • 1- Entire head and face (including the face guard) 

  • 2- Front and sides of the body above the waist 

  • 3- Sweeps below the calf. 

Only light to moderate contact is allowed. 

The Competitor may still score if the Referees feel they were thrown or pushed to the floor while executing  the scoring technique. 

  • Any hand techniques scores as 1 point 

  • Foot Sweep scores as 1 point (a foot sweep or spinning sweep must be made in an upright  position and make contact to their opponents’ foot below the calf to the inside of the foot or  heel to heel. The opponent is swept if his/her balance is broken and at least three (3) parts of  his/her body touch the matts 

  • Kick to the body scores as 1 point 

  • Kick to the head scores as 2 points 

  • Jump kick to the body scores as 2 points 

  • Jump kick to the head scores as 3 points 

A Competitor who falls to the floor can get scored on with a punch only to a legal target area within the  three (3) seconds after they have fallen. If there is no exchange the Centre Referee will call “stop” and  have the opponent stand up and continue the match. While on the ground, a competitor is not allowed  to kick upwards their opponent to avoid getting punched. Doing so will result in one (1) warning to the  Competitor on the ground.

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7. Techniques 

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7.1 Legal Techniques 

  • Jab, Cross/Reverse Punch, Ridge Hand, Back Fist, Front Kick, Side Kick, Spinning Back Kick,  Roundhouse/Turning Kick, Hook Kick, Crescent Kick, Axe Kick, Sweep, Spinning Sweep and all  previously listed kicks while jumping or spinning  

 

7.2 Illegal Techniques 

  • Palm hand, spinning back fist, knife hand, elbow and knee strikes, throws, pushing with arms, low  kicks, punches below the waist or at the back of the body, head butts, using thighs, scratching, biting,  spitting, verbal attacks to the Referees or his/her opponent. UPPER CUT HOOK 

  • Hook, Upper Cut, Palm Hand, Spinning Back Fist, Knife Hand, Elbow and Knee Strikes, Throws,  Pushing with arms or gloves, Low Kicks and Punches below the waist and back of the body,  Head Butts, using thighs, Scratching, Biting, Spitting, Verbal Abuse to the Referees or his/her  opponent. Excessive Contact, Clinching, Aggressive Behaviour, Running out of the ring, Strikes  with Shins or Foot Sweeps above the calf.

 

8. Referee’s Responsibilities 

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  • The Centre Referee should be the most experienced Referee at the matt (AT LEAST 3-BLUE STAR  ACCREDITED) 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  

  • Every competition involves a Centre Referee and two (2) Corner Referees at opposing corners

  • All three (3) Referees must be constantly moving throughout the competition placing themselves in a  good position to see contact from both competitors 

  • The Centre Referee starts and stops the match, awards point, takes warning decisions, administrates  the voting of the other Referees, communicates clearly with the scorekeeper and timekeeper, and  announces the winner of each match 

  • Added Powers of the Centre Referee:  

  • Match starts and ends only with his/her command (not the command of the timekeeper)

  • Has final decision on any disputes on the score 

  • Has the power to issue warnings and give penalty points without a majority decision to the  Competitor or Coach 

  • Can automatically disqualify a Competitor who receives four (4) warning points 

  • Has the power to call time-outs; A Competitor can ask for a time-out (to fix safety gear or a possible  injury) but it is the decision of the Centre Referee to allow time out 

  • The Corner Referees must stay outside of the competing area during the competition to give space for  the Centre Referee and Competitors 

  • The Centre Referee should be the most experienced Referee in the area and is thoroughly versed in  the rules and order of competition. He/she promotes the safety of the Competitors, enforces the rules  and ensures fair play 

  • The Centre Referee is not to determine the seriousness of an injury – the judgment of the injury  will always lie with the doctor/ physician 

  • In the case of an injured competitor, the competitor him-/herself, the doctor or the coach can  request the Centre Referee to stop the bout 

  • For reasons other than injuries, only the Centre Referee and the supervisor can stop the bout

  • The disqualification of a Competitor is determined only by a majority vote of the three (3) Referees

  • Once the Centre Referee calls for a Competitor and he/she is not at the ringside and ready to compete, the four (4) minute rule applies

  • Once the Centre Referee calls for a Competitor that is not ready or is missing or not having the proper  equipment, the four (4) minutes rule applies. 

  • The four-minute rule shall be applied as per the following: 

    • After the first minute, the competitor receives the first warning 

    • After the second minute, the competitor receives a second warning 

    • After the third minute, the competitor receives a minus point 

    • After the fourth minute, the competitor shall be disqualified 

  • In the event of a strike that dazes an opponent, the Centre Referee must stop the time and then ask  the Corner Referees about what they saw in order to decide if the strike was an illegal technique or an  accident. An “illegal technique” results in a warning to the offender whereas an “accident” results in  no warning issued 

  • If a Competitor is injured and the match is over because of the injury from the offender, the injured  Competitor is declared the winner. In the case of an accident, the Competitor with the highest number of  points is declared the winner. If the score is a draw, the uninjured Competitor is declared the winner. 

  • If a Competitor is out of condition they will receive a warning, at a second time the Centre Referee shall stop the clock and consult the other two referees. The Centre referee then has the  option to stop the competition with an RSC (Referee Stopping Contest)  

  • N.B.: This rule also applies for continuing crying in the KIDS Sections 

  • If a Competitor voluntarily steps out of bounds or is refusing to engage in the fight the Centre referee will issue a warning. 

  • If a competitor is trying to avoid fighting towards the last seconds of the bout the Centre Referee has  the option to add ten (10) seconds to the fight. This is separate from other violations

  • The umpires or the Centre Referee must check the Competitors‘ safety equipment from head to  toe 

  • Competitors who don‘t allow the referee to check their equipment, will be disqualified

  • The wearing of breast and groin protection will be checked verbally 

  • If an injury occurs and it is discovered that the competitor was not wearing the correct safety  equipment, he/she will be disqualified

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9. Referee Scoring 

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9.1 Points Awarding  

  • • Points are awarded by the majority votes of all three (3) Referees. (At least two (2) Referees  must show a score) 

  • • It the majority of the referees show a score for the same competitor but do not agree on the  same technique being scored, the Centre Referee will award the lower score: 

    • Example A: If the Blue fighter receives (2) two points from a Referee and (1) one point from another Referee he will score (1) one point. 

    • Example B: If the Blue fighter receives (3) three points from a Referee and (2) two points from another Referee he will score (2) two points. 

    • Example C: If the Blue fighter receives (3) three points from a Referee and (2) two points from the second Referee and (1) one point from the third Referee he will score (2) two points • If both Competitors clash and score at the same time, they will both receive their scored  points as long as there is a majority decision by the umpires. 

  • • A Competitor cannot receive a warning and still score a point on the same call. A warning overrules a point (s). 

  • • A Competitor can receive a point from a warning issued to his/her opponent if no point can be  deducted from the offender as his/her score is still 0 points) 

  • • Referees are allowed to show point(s) on one hand and warning on the other hand to the offending fighter.  

  • Example: A referee can give the red fighter one point for a punch and the blue fighter a  warning for excessive or late contact. 

 

9.2 Out of Bounds/ Exit Rule 

  • • Out of bounds is when the entire foot is outside of the competition area 

  • • The attacking competitor can score if the defender is out of bound if he/she scores prior to  the Centre Referee calling “stop” 

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9.3 Referee Hand Signals 

  • Yes, I saw the points  - Raise the hand and show the number of points 

  • No, did not see contact made - Both hands crossed in front of the face 

  • No score - Both hands crossed in front of the legs 

  • A Competitor stepped out of bound - Point to the area line and swings the arm

  • Both Competitors scored (clash) - Raise both hands and show all points 

  • Illegal techniques - Raise the arm and circle the hand 

 

9.4 Centre Referee Hand Signals for Warnings 

  • The Centre Referee must tell the Timekeeper to “stop the time” to inform the offending Competitor why they are being warned. Then, the Referee will show him/her by the warning hand signal and then whip their finger and say “no”. 

  • Contact too strong - Punch the palm 

  • Striking in an illegal area - Show the illegal area 

  • Blind scoring - Turn the body and strike a punch or kick 

  • Holding or Grabbing - Hold your own arm and pull 

  • Turning the body or run away - similar 

  • Speaking during the fight - fingers and thumb open and close 

 

9.5 Warning Points 

  • All violations to the rules, depending on how serious they are, may result in a warning or disqualification 

  • Warnings from unsportsmanlike coaches, improper safety equipment, illegal techniques, stepping out of bound, etc. are all accumulative to the Competitor. 

  • Warnings will be carried on during the entire match 

  • Only in Team Competition, the warnings do not carry over to the next match 

  • If the Centre Referee deemed that the first time the rule is violated is too severe, a warning  point shall be issued immediately! No verbal warning will be issued prior to the Official Warning  (i.e. in the case of always falling, punching extremely late after a or excessive contact). 

  • Only one warning is allowed for breaking the rules before a warning point is deducted.  🖉 After the first warning is given, a warning point is deducted for every rule‘s violation 🖉 If a Competitor receives four (4) warnings (three minus points) in one match, he/she will be disqualified

 

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