Rules

I. Section 1 - Overview

A. Participants

i. The tournament must have a minimum of 16 participants in order to start.

ii. All participants must be 18 years of age.

iii. All participants must disclose full medical background if asked upon signing up.

iv. All participants must undergo a physical within a maximum of 3 weeks before entering the tournament.

v. All participants must be willing to comply and follow all rules listed in the rulebook.

vi. All participants are subject to being eliminated/ evicted from the tournament at any time by the judges, referees, or any other staff if caught breaking any of the rules, with no chance of a refund.

vii. Anyone kicked out of the tournament will be barred from entering any future tournaments for at least 6 months.

viii. All participants must have entry fee submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the day of the tournament.

ix. Any participant that does not follow the rules, and as a result, causes another participant to be critically injured, waives all rights to protest charges pressed; and must comply within full affect of the law and reimburse the injured participant for any fees that the court sees fit.

x. All participants waive the right to sue or seek reimbursement from the host of any sort for any injuries attained during the tournament.

xi. All participants must willing to undergo and be able to pass a drug test.

B. Stage

i. The stage will be 15' x 8' x 2'

ii. The stage will be inspected thoroughly between each bout to ensure there are no issues with the integrity, such as, but not limited to, loose nails, jagged edges, unsupported platforms and/ or cracks.

iii. During tournament activities there will be no more than 8 people on the stage at any given time.

iv. During rounds there will be no more than 3 people on the stage at one time. (2 fighters, 1 ref)

v. During rounds there will be no-one within 10 feet of the perimeter of the stage (excluding those mentioned in rule 1.B.iv).

C. Schools

i. Each school is entitled to enter up to a maximum of 8 members

ii. Each school must appoint one person to be the "controller."

iii. The controller may not be participating in the tournament.

iv. In the event that 2 people of the same school are pitted against each other, the controller of that school may choose one of them to advance and to eliminate the other one. This decision must be made prior to the start of the round. Once the decision has been made, it can not be undone.

v. In the event that the controller must leave, s/he must appoint another person to take his/ her place. The controller may not appoint anyone who is or has taken part in the tournament.

vi. Should a school be without a controller, at the start of the next round with that school, the fighter will be disqualified.

II. Section 2 - Rounds

A. Structure

i. Each fight consists of only one round

ii. Each round lasts for 8 minutes.

iii. The referee can stop the round at anytime.

Iv. The victor of each round moves on to the next bout.

B. Winning

i. There are 5 ways a fighter can win: ring out, points, knock-out, surrender, or ref's decision.

ii. Ring out: any fighter thrown out of the ring will instantly lose the match, regardless of how many points ahead he or she was.

iii. Points: if no victor was declared by the end of the 8 minute round, then the decision will be passed on to the judges, and whoever has the most points, will be the winner.

iv. Knock-out: if a fighter is knocked down and remains down for 10 seconds, or if there is a countdown active and it reaches at least 7 seconds and the round ends, the fighter loses.

v. Surrender: if a fighter taps out or surrenders during a fight, he or she loses.

vi. Ref's decision: at any point the ref may stop the fight if he suspects a fighter can no longer continue, but has not been knocked out or surrendered. In this case, the ref will declare the other fighter victorious.

vii. Ref's decision: at any point the ref may stop the fight if he suspects that a fighter has broken the "rules of disqualification." During this time the clock will be stopped and the ref will consult with the judges and watch the replay. If it has been proven that the fighter did break the rules, then that fighter will be disqualified and the other fighter will advance.

viii. Double knock-out: in the event that both fighters knock each other out and 10 seconds have gone by, 30 seconds will be added to the "revival clock." The first fighter to stand and declare that he or she is victorious, will be granted the win. If neither fighter stands within this grace period, both will be disqualified.

ix. In the event that both fighters fall out of the ring, the clock will be stopped and both fighters will reset in the ring, then continue the fight.

C. Gaining Points

i. During the 8 minute round each fighter is awarded points for different categories.

ii. Striking

a. Clean strikes (the fighter lands a blow that was not countered, blocked, or resulted in being hit him or herself) - 1 point

b. Clean succession of punches (the fighter lands continuous blows that were not countered, blocked, or resulted in being hit him or herself) - 5 points/ 2 sec

c. Knockdown (the fighter delivers a blow that knocks their opponent to the ring) - 5 points

iii. Kicks

a. Clean kicks (the fighter lands a blow that was not countered, blocked, or resulted in being hit him or herself) - 1 point

b. Knockdown (the fighter delivers a blow that knocks their opponent to the ring) - 5 points

c. Counter kick (the fighter counters an incoming kick and cleanly lands one of their own) - 10 points

iv. Grappling

a. Successful takedown (the fighter takes his or her opponent to the stage on either their back, side, front or knees) - 5 points

b. Successful joint lock (the fighter takes or gains control of opponent using pressure on a joint) - 5 points

c. Gaining an advantageous position while both fighters are on the ground (gaining back control, freeing from a lock and moving into a lock of their own, getting on top) - 1 point

d. Holds/ Chokeholds (having a position where it prevents the opponent from breathing or escaping and being able to maintain position without taking any hits for a minimum of 5 seconds) - 1 point

D. Losing points

i.During the 8 minute round each fighter can be deducted points for different categories.

a.Low blows - Any shot intentionally (as decided by the referee) to the groin area of the opponent

first offense (-15 points)

second offense (-25 points)

third offense (disqualification)

b. Vertical elbows - any straight elbows to the top of the back of the skull,

neck, spine, ribs or temple will result in disqualification.

c. Joint strikes - Any direct shot to the joints of the opponent, in an attempt to disable or hurt them (instead of controlling them) will result in loss of points

first offense (-15 points)

second offense (disqualification)

d. Kicks to the ground - Any kicks directed at an opponent who is on the ground, including stomps, will result in loss of points

first offense (-15 points)

second offense (-25 points)

third offense (disqualification)

e. Stalling - If you are in an advantageous position but do not seek to improve your position or advance with the match, and you have clear means to do so, and the ref gives you a warning and you still do not move, you will begin to lose points over time

Every 5 seconds (-1 point)

f. Unsportsmanlike Conduct - Gloating, boasting, showboating, name

calling, rude gestures or any other action that the refs or judges deem

as inappropriate will result in loss of points.

Additional offenses are spitting, attacking a downed opponent or

attacking an opponent under ref/ medical care and attacking during

stopped time.

first offense (-5 points)

second offense (-10 points)

third offense (disqualification)

g. Eye gouging, hair pulling, headbutting, fish-hooking, clawing, pinching,

no limb insertion into an opponent, faking injuries or intentionally losing

mouthguard will result in loss of points

first offense (-5 points)

second offense (-10 points)

third offense (disqualification)

III. Section 3 - Gear

1. Allowed gear

i. All fighters must wear a mouthguard

ii. All fighters are permitted to wear cups and neck protectors

iii. All fighters are allowed to wear whatever form of clothing they feel most comfortable

Fighting in, as long as it adheres to the following guidelines

1. No loose or frayed edges

2. No metal (buttons, zippers, belt buckles, etc)

3. No hard material (plastic, glass,etc)

iv. All fighters are permitted to wear whatever fighting gear they see fit, as long as it

adheres to the following guidelines

1. No sharp objects

2. No weapons

3. No protective gear other than previously mentioned objects

v. The following is a list of approved gear

1. Boxing gloves

2. Gi’s

3. Muay Thai gloves

4. MMA/ Grappling gloves

5. Soft shoes (kung fu, wrestling, etc)

6. Hand wraps

vi. All gear will be inspected by the ref at the start of each match to ensure no tampering

has been done

vii. Gear may not be substituted in the middle of a fight, but can be switched out

Between fights

viii. If a fighter was to lose a piece of his gear in the middle of a match, he or she may try

to put it back on, however the match will not be stopped to allow this (with the

exception of mouthguards)