Sparring Divisions

SPARRING DIVISION’S RULES AND REGULATIONS

Point Fighting

Featured Event at all Tournaments

WHAT IS A POINT?

A point is a technique that is scored by a competitor in-bounds and up-right (not considered down) to a legal target area, without time being called that strikes a competitor with the allowable amount of contact. Point fighting considers the first touch and nothing else beyond that.

Point Values:

All jump spinning kicks to the head that score = 3 points.
All legal kicking techniques that score = 2 points.
All legal hand techniques that score = 1 point.
Take-downs, Legal sweeps and follow-ups 2 points (if rules permit the previously named techniques, check rules before the competition).

LEGAL TARGET AREAS:

1. Sides of head

2. Front & Sides of body

3. Abdomen

4. Sweeps below mid calves

Prohibited areas of contact (Non-scoring attacks):

1. No facial contact with open hand techniques. Open hand techniques to the face are forbidden due to the danger to the competitor's eyes.

2. No throat contact. The throat is a particularly vulnerable area and even the slightest contact will be warned or penalized unless it is the recipient’s own fault

3. No kicking to the knees or striking to any joint areas.

4. No scoring on a downed opponent after five seconds.

5. Techniques that land below the belt may score, as long as it is not the hip or groin area.

6. If two competitors hit at the same time, the highest-scoring technique will score. If both techniques score in the same area and time no point will be awarded.

7. Techniques, by their nature that cannot be controlled for the safety of the opponent, should not be used.

8. No clinching, wrestling, pushing or standing chest to chest without attempting a scoring technique or takedown.

9. No attacks with knees or elbows.

10. Competitors who over-react to light contact, in an effort to have the Referee penalize their opponent, such as holding the face and staggering about or falling unnecessarily, (faking) will be immediately penalized and if this conduct continues you will be disqualified from the entire tournament and all awards forfeited.

11. Competitors who fake or exaggerate injuries will be warned, if this action persists, the competitor will be taken to the Emergency Medical Personnel for evaluation of presumed injury. If no evidence of injury is found, the competitor will be disqualified from the entire tournament.

12. An effective technique delivered at the same time at the end of the round is considered valid. A technique even if effective, delivered after an order to suspend or stop the bout shall not be scored and may result in a penalty being imposed on the offender.

ILLEGAL TARGET AREAS:

1. No direct face contact

2. No attacks to the eyes or joints

3. No attacks to the throat or side of the neck

4. No attacks to the groin, legs, knees, or back

NON-SCORING TARGET AREAS:

1. Hips or Shoulders

2. Buttocks, arms or feet

3. Elbows or knees

ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES:

1. Head butts or hair pulls

2. Bites or scratches

3. Take-downs on the hard surface floor

4. Ground fighting on the hard surface floor

5. Any stomps to the head of a downed competitor

6. Any uncontrolled throws, take-downs or sweeps

7. Any uncontrolled or blind techniques that are unsafe in a point tournament

8. Shoving and/or pushing a competitor down or out of bounds are not allowed

A score is awarded when a technique is performed according to the following criteria to a scoring area:

Good form
Sporting attitude
Vigorous (but controlled) application
Awareness
Good timing
Correct distance

SWEEPS, TAKE-DOWNS, GRABS AND GROUND FIGHTING:

A competitor may grab the uniform top of his/her opponent in an attempt to score with a legal technique for only 5 seconds, after which time he/she must immediately release the uniform. Likewise, the uniform pants may be grabbed for 5 seconds to an upright opponent in an attempt to score.

Sweeps not to take down an opponent, but only to obstruct the balance to follow up with a legal technique can only be executed to the back of the front leg at mid-calf or below. A sweep cannot be a low kick to be legal. Controlled Take-downs and sweeps that are meant to take down an opponent may be legal, consult sparring rules for that particular tournament. A point is awarded only when the legal sweep or take-down is done with control and can immediately be followed by a legal technique for an additional point.

Downed Competitor: A downed competitor is when a competitor is knocked out or knocked off his/her feet where he/she has three points of contact to the ground (example; one hand, two feet). If the competitor is unconscious the match will be stopped. For reasons of safety, throws where the opponent is grabbed below the waist, thrown without being held onto or thrown dangerously will be warned or penalized. Exceptions are conventional leg sweeping techniques, which do not require the opponent to be held while executing the sweep. After a throw has been executed the Referee will allow the competitor ( seconds) to immediately attempt a scoring technique.

The Competition Ring:

Ring dimensions for the competition will be square and should measure in the range of 14-20 feet per side depending on the division (Little Dragon, Junior or Adult Division).

-Each Ring will have

Clearly marked boundary lines.
Starting lines that are five feet apart for sparring competitions.
Each ring must be numbered visible to competitors, officials, and medical personnel.
The rings must be marked by tape or a puzzle mat will be used.

Time of Rounds:

Age

13-under 1 round, 1 ½ or 2 minutes

14-17 1 or 2 rounds, 2 minutes

18-35 1 or 2 rounds, 2 minutes

36-up 1 or 2 rounds, 2 minutes

1 - Minute rest period (Time and number of rounds will be determined by the Tournament Director).

All championship rounds (Grand/State Championships)

Time of Rounds:

Age

13-under 2 rounds, 1 ½ or 2 minutes

14-17 2 rounds, 3 minutes

18-35 2 rounds, 3 minutes

36-up 2 rounds, 3 minutes

1- Minute rest period

All Championship matches must win by two points.

All Championship matches will have a 10 point spread rule. (see, Match Time/7-10 Point Lead Rule)

Preliminary matches require two judges. Championship matches require 4 judges.

Round time is subjected to change due to the tournament director.

Point fighting is a sport, for that reason some of the most dangerous techniques are banned and all techniques must be controlled, but the fact remains that the head, face, neck, groin and joints are particularly susceptible to injury. Therefore any technique that results in injury, will be penalized unless caused by the recipient. The competitor must perform all techniques with control and good form. If they cannot, then regardless of the technique misused, a warning or penalty must be imposed. Particular care must be exercised in junior and little dragon divisions.

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Rules for Continuous Sparring

Continuous Sparring is when points will be scored without stopping the bout. Point scores will be added up at the end of the round.

General Rules

You must be at least 8 years old to participate in continuous sparring.
Striking Areas: Padded area of headgear, chest, stomach, thigh and lower leg.
No Contact Area: Front of face, back of the head, eyes, neck, spine, groin, and knees.
Prohibited Techniques: elbows, knees, head-butt, chokes, joint locks, sweeps or throws, take-downs, body slams, and knockout punches or kicks. When the opponent is standing on one leg, no kicking or sweeping to the standing leg. Once the opponent is down on the ground, no more attacking will be permitted.
Contact is continuous; punching and kicking must be thrown with light force only.
Competitors who over-react to light contact, in an effort to have the Referee penalize their opponent, such as holding the face and staggering about or falling unnecessarily, (faking) will be immediately penalized and if this conduct continues you will be disqualified from the entire tournament and all awards forfeited.

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Extreme Sparring Division

The Extreme Sparring Division combines some elements of Point, Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA style competitions. There are 3 main aspects to extreme sparring, stand-up (punching and kicking), Take-downs and Ground Control.

Extreme Sparring is for Advanced Level competitors only.

General Rules

You must be at least 14 years old (with parental permission) to participate in extreme sparring.
Competitors must have at least 1 year of experience in Martial Arts.
Competitors will compete with someone at a similar or same experience level. If no fighter is found at the same competition level, the entry fee will be refunded.

Age

14 - 17 Juniors Division

18 - 35 Adults Division

36 – up Senior Division

Striking Areas:

1. Padded area of headgear

2. chest & stomach

3. thigh & lower leg

Legal Techniques: Punches to the head and body while standing. Kicks to the head, body, and legs while standing. No downed competitor can kick. Throws and take-downs; Joint-lock or Jujitsu style techniques while on the ground.

No Contact Areas:

1. Front of face

2. Back of the head

3. Eyes

4. Neck

5. Spine

6. Groin

7. Knees

Prohibited Techniques: elbows, knees, head-butt, no small joint techniques (fingers and toes), body slam or spiking, (which is defined as throwing a competitor directly down on his head). Once the opponent is down on the ground, no more striking will be permitted.
Contact is continuous; punching and kicking.

Time of Rounds

3 rounds, each round 2 minutes.
1-minute rest between rounds.
If a competitor wins the first two rounds, he or she does not have to fight the third round.

Scoring Points by Striking

1 point strike landed clean to legal striking areas.

3 judges will score each competitor based on landed strikes (punches or kicks).
2 points for any knockdown from a strike (punch or kick) to a legal striking area

as long as the striker remains standing and this is done with a clean technique.

1 point if you grab and hold an opponent’s kicking leg for 3 seconds while making a clean strike to a legal striking area.

Scoring Points by Take-downs

2 points if a competitor throws his/her opponent on the ground while he/she remains standing.
2 points if a competitor throws his/her opponent on the ground by falling down himself deliberately and immediately stands up in a flowing motion, 1 point if he/she does not get back up.
1 point If a competitor being thrown uses a throwing counter technique and reverses the first thrower and ends up in the controlling position.

Ground Control

After a takedown or sweep, the match will continue for 10 seconds on the ground to attempt a joint-lock or jujitsu style technique.
If no submission is achieved once on the ground, the action will be judged based on the dominant position and the threat of submission.
The threat of submission is defined as where an attempted submission shows a clear threat.
The Judges Scoring, at the end of each round, one competitor shall receive 10 points, the other less than 10. After the initial score is written, fouls, as indicated by the referee, shall be calculated.

FORFEIT PROCEDURES

A competitor can forfeit a match by a verbal statement or any gesture representing submission.
Turning your back, and leaving the ring while the match is in session.
Anyone entering the ring without permission.
The referee will ask if he or she sees one of these gestures (are you forfeiting?), based on the competitor's answer the referee will stop or continue the match. False signals of forfeiture will lead to immediate disqualification.

Faking

Competitors who over-react to light contact, in an effort to have the Referee penalize their opponent, such as holding the face and staggering about or falling unnecessarily, (faking) will be immediately penalized and if this conduct continues you will be disqualified from the entire tournament and all awards forfeited.

The referee has the right to stop the contest if:

Not following the referee’s command.

If there is a mismatch in the skill level between the two competitors. The competitor with the skill advantage wins the bout.
If competitor A is injured as a result of a legal maneuver, depending on the seriousness of the injury competitor B wins the bout.
Only the referee can issue a time out.

Weight Classes

Featherweight (145 lbs & Under)
Lightweight (146 – 155 lbs)
Welterweight (156 – 170 lbs) It’s mandatory for all competitors to be weighted in
Middleweight (171 – 185 lbs)
Light Heavyweight (186 – 205 lbs)
Heavyweight (206 lbs & Above)

Ring Sizes

This division is fought within a boxing ring between the sizes of 16 to 20 feet.

Dress Code

This division requires sweats pants, shorts, martial arts uniform pants, and T-shirts with only school logo, AMA logo or plain.

All UMA’s competition divisions shall be governed by the above rules and regulations. All competitions will be supervised by trained AMA tournament officials. The rules listed above must be respected, applied and adhered to. The Competitors, Instructors or any other agents must follow all rules and regulations pertaining to their conduct at the tournament or event. Failure to do so will result in immediate expulsion from the event and all awards forfeited.