Weapon Sparring

SHORT STICKS SPARRING

Rules, Regulations & Safety Precautions

Rules & Regulations:

The Short Sticks will be provided to the competitors at the tournament.
There is no age limit for Short Stick Sparring competitors.
Competitors are categorized by age, not by weight classes.

Mandatory Safety Equipment:

1. Headgear with face protector

2. Groin protector for men

3. Chest protector for women

4. Safety gloves

No Contact Areas:

1. Back of the head

2. Neck

3. Spine

4. Groin

Prohibited Techniques:

1. Punching

2. Kicking

3. Takedowns

Competitor should demonstrate

1. Control

2. Accuracy

3. Speed

4. Good defense

The referee stops and restarts the fight if one or both competitors fall on the ground, or one or both weapons fall on the ground.
The only strikes that will score are strikes made with the Short Sticks.

See Mandatory Safety Equipment for additional safety equipment.

Time of Rounds

Each bout is 1 round of 2 minutes.

Scoring Points

2 points for strikes to the head or body and opponent cannot retaliate in a short time with the Short Sticks.
1 point for strikes to the arm, hand or leg and opponent cannot retaliate in a short time with the Short Sticks.
No points will be scored if strikes are made at the same time between competitors.
Points can only be scored by striking with the Short Sticks.

Ring Officials:

1 Referee
2 Judges
Timekeeper & Scorekeeper

Beginner Level:
- Contact is not continuous

Intermediate Level:
- Contact is continuous
- The winner is determined by both competitors’ effectiveness in executing their techniques during attacks and defenses.

Advanced Level & Black Belt:
- Contact is continuous
- The winner is determined by both competitors’ effectiveness in executing their techniques during attacks and defenses.
- A competitor can also win the bout by taking over his/her opponent’s weapons, through grabbing the handle of his/her opponent’s weapon and takes over the weapon. The time limit for executing this technique is 3 seconds.

Warning

Attacking with excessive force.
Attacking the “No Contact” areas.
Using “Prohibited Techniques” against the opponent.
Disrespecting the referee, judges, or the opponent.
Disregards the instructions of the referee and the judges.
The referee has the right to disqualify a competitor from the bout or competition if:
- The competitor receives 3 or more warnings from the referee.
- The competitor engages in unsportsmanlike conduct. (Language or Behavior)
- The competitor injures his/her opponent using prohibited techniques.
The referee has the right to stop the contest if:
- The skill level is mismatched between the 2 competitors. The competitor with the skill advantage wins the bout (See 7 Point Lead Rule).
- Competitor A is injured as a result of a legal technique, depending on the seriousness and cause of the injury. Competitor B wins the bout.

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LONG STICK SPARRING

Rules, Regulations, and Safety Precautions

Rules & Regulations:

Long Sticks will be provided to the competitors at the tournament.
There Is No Age Limit for Long Stick Sparring Competitors.
Competitors are categorized by age, not by weight classes.

Mandatory Safety Equipment:

1. Headgear with face protector

2. Neck protector

3. Groin protector for men

4. Safety gloves

No Contact Areas:

1. Back of the head

2. Spine

3. Groin

Prohibited Techniques:

1. Punching

2. Kicking

3. Takedowns

Fighters should demonstrate

1. Control

2. Accuracy

3. Speed

4. Good defense

The referee stops and restarts the fight if one or both competitors fall on the ground, or one or both Long Sticks fall on the ground.
The only strikes that will score are strikes made with the Long Sticks.

See Mandatory Safety Equipment for additional safety equipment.

Time of Rounds

Each bout is 1 round of 2 minutes.

Scoring Points

2 points for strikes to the head or body and opponent cannot retaliate in a short time with the Long Stick.
1 point for strikes to the arm and/or hand or leg and opponent cannot retaliate in a short time with the Long Stick.
No points will be scored if strikes are made at the same time between competitors.
Points can only be scored by striking with the Long Sticks.

Ring Officials:

1 Referee
2 Judges
Timekeeper & Scorekeeper

Beginner Level:
- Contact is not continuous.

Intermediate Level:
- Contact is not continuous.
- The winner is determined by both the competitor's effectiveness in executing their techniques during attacks and defenses.
Advanced Level & Black Belt:
- Contact is continuous.
- The winner is determined by both the competitor's effectiveness in executing their techniques during attacks and defenses.
- A competitor can also win the bout by taking over his/her opponent’s weapon, through grabbing the handle of his/her opponent’s weapon and takes over the weapon. The time limit for executing this technique is 3 seconds.

Warning

Attacking with excessive force
Attacking to the “No Contact” areas
Using “Prohibited Techniques” against the opponent
Disrespecting the referee, judges, or the opponent
Disregards the instructions of the referee and the judges
The referee has the right to disqualify a competitor from the bout or competition if:
- The competitor receives 3 or more warnings from the referee.
- The competitor engages in unsportsmanlike conduct. (Language or Behavior)
- The competitor injures his/her opponent using prohibited techniques.
The referee has the right to stop the contest if:
- The skill level is mismatched between the 2 competitors. The competitor with the skill advantage wins the bout (See 7 Point Lead Rule).
- Competitor A is injured as a result of a legal technique, depending on the seriousness and cause of the injury. Competitor B wins the bout.

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SHURIKEN THROWING (THROWING STARS)

Optional event, check tournament listing

A Shuriken is literally translated as a “hidden hand held blade”. It is a Japanese concealed weapon. Shurikens are commonly known in the West as throwing stars although they were originally designed in many different shapes.

RULES, REGULATIONS, AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Safety Precautions:

The American Martial Arts Association takes the safety of all tournament personnel, throwers, and spectators very seriously. There will be no horse playing with these weapons (throwing stars) allowed. Strict penalties apply, such as disqualifications and removal from tournament grounds with no refund for any registered events.

Examples of horseplay include but are not limited to;

1. No unauthorized contest (No throwing outside of the designated area).

2. No participating in unsafe acts. (Control your weapon in and out of competition).

3. No harassment or social pressure allowed.

Competitor’s Responsibilities:

1. The safety of everyone at the tournament.

2. Controlling your weapons at all times. Throwers will be responsible for any damage to all walls and floors.

3. Obeying and understanding all judges’ commands.

4. Thrower must be 14 years and older with no physical disability that will impede them from throwing a star.

5. It is mandatory for all throwers to wear a T-shirt during competition. Long sleeves can be dangerous to the throwers as well as the spectators.

6. If a thrower leaves the competition area after the event had started without the Judge’s permission, he or she will be disqualified.

7. No jewelry or any other objects that the Judge may feel that might endanger anyone will be worn during competition.

8. No thrower may be replaced by another person.

9. The Throwers cannot choose whom they want to throw against.

10. No foul language.

11. If a thrower is found to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs he/she will be immediately removed from the tournament grounds.

12. Be respectful to other throwers by being silent and no distractive gestures between throws. If found guilty of this you will be disqualified.

13. After the shuriken competition, all shurikens must be put in a secure place. If under 14 shurikens must be given to an adult.

Shurikens that qualify for the competition:

Shurikens (throwing stars) must pass an inspection by judges.

1. The size of the throwing star must be from 3 ½ inches to 5 ½ inches.

2. All throwing stars must be solid metal or stainless steel with no retractable points or removable parts.

3. All Shurikens must have at least 3 points, but no more than 10.

4. No darts, flying discs, throwing knives or retractable point weapons.

Shuriken Competition Scoring:

1. Bulls-eye is worth 10 points. Points decrease as shurikens move away from the bulls-eye.

2. If a shuriken misses the target completely, the thrower will be disqualified for safety reasons.

3. To score the shuriken must stick in the target.

4. If a shuriken that was previously thrown is hit by another shuriken or falls out during the remaining throws, that score will still count.

5. If the shuriken should hit a boundary line on the target, the thrower will receive a lower score.

6. If any part of the thrower’s body goes over the boundary line, that throw will not count.

7. You are allowed 6 throws, 2 times. The best score of both sets of throws will be recorded as your final score.

Shuriken Competition:

1. There will be between 3 and 5 throwers competing at once. You will receive a number in which turn you will throw.

2. With each throw, a judge will announce the proper time when you may pick up your shuriken by saying “thrower ready” (you can only have one shuriken in your hand at a time).

3. The judge will call for each thrower to throw individually by his or her number by saying “thrower 1, thrower 2, and thrower 3”.

4. Throwers must follow all judge's commands or be immediately disqualified.

Shuriken Lane Lengths:

1. Preliminary rounds will throw 12 feet to the target.

2. Championship rounds if any, will throw 15 feet to the target.

3. Tiebreaker in preliminary rounds will throw 14 feet to the target, there will be only three shurikens thrown.

4. Tiebreaker in championship rounds will throw 16 feet to the target. There will be 6 shurikens thrown.

Throwing your shuriken:

1. For safety purposes, there will be no spinning of your body or hand coming from behind the back. You must stand straight forward; your throwing arm can either be the front or the back. Your throw can be horizontal or vertical. From the time of pick-up to release, you must control your weapon.

2. Dropping your shuriken once, you will receive a warning and 1 point penalty deducted from your final score. Dropping twice results in disqualification. You must control your weapon at all times.

Age & Gender

14 - 17 Juniors Division

18 – 35 Adult Division Male and Female will compete together.

36 – up Senior Division

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________NUNCHUCK SPARRING

Optional event, check tournament listings

The Nunchaku is a traditional Okinawan martial arts weapon consisting of

two sticks connected at one end by a short chain or rope.

Rules Regulations & Safety Precautions

Rules & Regulations:

Nunchucks will be provided to the competitors at the tournament.
There Is No Age Limit for Nunchuck Weapon Sparring Competitors.
Competitors are categorized by age, not by weight classes.

Mandatory Safety Equipment:

1. Headgear with face protector

2. Neck protector

3. Groin protector for men

4. Safety gloves

No Contact Areas:

1. Back of the head

2. Spine

3. Groin

Prohibited Techniques:

1. Punching

2. Kicking

3. Takedowns

Fighters should demonstrate

1. Control

2. Accuracy

3. Speed

4. Good defense

The referee stops and restarts the fight if one or both competitors fall on the ground, or one or both Nunchucks fall on the ground.
The only strikes that will score are strikes made with the Nunchucks.

Nunchucks will be provided to the competitors at the competition.

Competitors can only have 1 pair of Nunchucks.
Age limits are:

10 - 13 Junior

14 - 17 Young Adults

18 - 35 Adult

36 - + Senior

If there are less than 2 competitors in an age group,

the tournament official reserve the right to combine age groups.

Competitors are categorized by age, not by weight classes.
Time of Round

Each bout is 1 round of 2 minutes.

Scoring Points

2 points for strikes to the head or body of your opponent.
1 point for strikes to the arm and/or hand or leg of your opponent.
No points scored if strikes are made at the same time between competitors.

See Mandatory Safety Equipment for additional safety equipment.

Warning

Attacking with excessive force.
Attacking the “No Contact” areas.
Using “Prohibited Techniques” against the opponent.
Disrespecting the referee, judges, or the opponent.
Disregards the instructions of the referee and the judges.
The referee has the right to disqualify a competitor from the bout or competition if:
- The competitor receives 3 or more warnings from the referee.
- The competitor engages in unsportsmanlike conduct. (Language or Behavior)
- The competitor injures his/her opponent using prohibited techniques.
The referee has the right to stop the contest if:
- The skill level is mismatched between the 2 competitors. The competitor with the skill advantage wins the bout (See 7 Point Lead Rule).
- Competitor A is injured as a result of a legal technique, depending on the seriousness and cause of the injury. Competitor B wins the bout.

All AMA’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.