Events
2026
Hall of Fame Johnson CIty, TN
More Information pending
USMAA Tournament Rules
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BASIC USMAA RULES 4
I.1. COMPETITOR RESPONSIBILITIES 4
I.2. LEGAL AGE RULE 4
I.3. PROOF OF AGE RULE 5
I.4. RANK RULE 5
I.5. LATE ENTRIES 5
I.6. WEIGHING-IN 5
I.7. RING REQUIREMENTS 6
I.8. FAIRNESS RULE 6
I.9. DIVISIONAL, TOURNAMENT, AND ORGANIZATIONAL
DISQUALIFICATION 6
I.10. SPLITTING A DIVISION 6
I.11. CONCUSSION PROTOCOL 6
EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS 7
II.1. UNIFORM 7
II.2. REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED SAFETY EQUIPMENT 7
III. PROTESTS 8
III.1. WHO MAY LODGE A PROTEST 8
III.2. MATTERS THAT MAY BE PROTESTED 8
III.3. LODGING A PROTEST 9
III.4. REMOVAL OF OFFICIALS 9
III.5. PROTEST PENALTIES 9
SPARRING 9
IV.1. ORDER OF COMPETITION 9
IV.2. LENGTH OF MATCH – DIVISION / INDIVIDUAL 10
IV.3. WHAT IS A SPARRING POINT? 10
IV.4. NO-FAULT CONTACT 11
IV.5. GENERAL RULES 11
IV.6. CONSECUTIVE MATCHES 11
IV.7. DOWNED COMPETITOR 11
IV.8. POINT VALUES AND WINNER DETERMINATION 12
IV.9. MAJORITY OF VOTES 12
IV.10. LEGAL, ILLEGAL, AND NON-TARGET AREAS 12
IV.11. LEGAL & ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES 12
IV.12. GRABBING 13
IV.13. SWEEPS 13
IV.14. LIGHT TOUCH CONTACT 13
IV.15. MODERATE TOUCH CONTACT 13
IV.16. OUT-OF-BOUNDS 13
IV.17. DELAY OF COMPETITION 13
IV.18. SPARRING PENALTIES 14
IV.19. OTHER CAUSES OF PENALIZATION 16
IV.20. DISQUALIFICATION 16
IV.21. COACHING 16
IV.22. INJURED COMPETITOR 17
IV.23. EXCESSIVE INJURIES 19
IV.24. TIME-OUTS 19
IV.25. CONTINUOUS SPARRING 19
FORMS AND WEAPONS 20
V.1. MAXIMUM DEVIATION RULE 20
V.2. DELAY OF TIME PENALTY 20
V.3. TIME LIMIT 20
V.4. ORDER OF COMPETITION 21
V.5. SCORING RANGES OF FORMS AND WEAPONS 21
V.6. PROPS 21
V.7. EQUIPMENT ABUSE 21
V.8. DROPPING A WEAPON 22
V.9. WEAPONS / FORMS BOUNDARY PENALTY 22
V.10. STARTING A FORM OVER 22
V.11. FORMS AND WEAPONS PENALTIES 23
RELATIVE RANKING 24
VI.1. RELATIVE RANKING RULE 24
VI.2. HOW IT WORKS 24
VII. MAXIMUM DEVIATION RULE 25
VIII. USMAA FORMS AND WEAPONS DIVISIONS 25
VIII.1. TRADITIONAL 25
VIII.2. CREATIVE / MUSICAL (CMX) 26
VIII.3. GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS AND OVERALL GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS 27
BASIC USMAA RULES
I.1. COMPETITOR RESPONSIBILITIES
It is the responsibility of the competitor to know the rules and be ready for competition when called to do so. He/she must be suitably attired, weighed-in (sparring) and at the appropriate ring when competition begins. If the competitor is not at his/her ring ready to compete when competition begins, he/she will not be able to compete (see delay of time rule). If a competitor leaves the ring after the competition begins and is not present when they are up next to compete, he/she will be disqualified (see delay of time rule in penalty section of Sparring or Forms and Weapons).
I.2. LEGAL AGE RULE
The age a competitor is on August 1st of the current competition year is their legal competition age for that year since the USMAA tournament season begins in August and ends in July of the following year. A competitor can always compete in his/her chronological age if they choose. Competitors MUST be able to produce legal proof of age immediately upon request from the event promoter or the event arbitrator. Failure to do so may result in disqualification from the event.
Competitors Turning 18 Years of Age AFTER August 1st
A competitor who turns 18 years of age after August 1st may compete the entire season in the 1617 forms and weapons divisions. This competitor can only compete in the 16-17 point sparring divisions until he/she turns 18 years of age. Once a competitor turns 18 years of age, he/she CANNOT continue to compete in the 16-17 sparring divisions but will be allowed to compete in the 18+ sparring divisions while continuing to compete in the 16-17 forms and weapons divisions.
Competitors always have the option of moving to all 18+ divisions for forms, weapons, and sparring upon obtaining the age of 18.
Senior Competitors (40 and over)
All senior adult competitors have the option to compete down in age. (Example: A 40+ year old competitor can compete in any younger adult division.) A competitor cannot compete up in an age division.
An adult competitor can choose to compete down in age, but they must then move to that same age division for all events (i.e. Forms, sparring, weapons….). If they choose to do this, they may move back up to the Senior division at the next event.
I.3. PROOF OF AGE RULE
All competitors must have proof of age document. If there is a legitimate reason to question a competitor’s age, he/she must present proof of age (birth certificate, driver’s license, passport, or other acceptable documents) to prove his/her age.
I.4. RANK RULE
A competitor must compete at the highest belt level they have earned in the martial arts. A competitor can never compete in a division of which he/she has not rightfully earned that rank. Once a competitor competes as a black belt, he/she must always compete as a black belt. A competitor can never compete in a lower belt division than the level of belt he/she has earned in the Martial Arts.
I.5. LATE ENTRIES
If a competitor arrives late (the division is ready to start, but the 1st competitor has not started), the late entry must compete first.
Once a division has started (the first competitor has started his/her form/weapon routine, or the first divisional sparring match has started) no competitor/s can be added to that division. BE ON TIME!
The only exception to this rule is the “Fairness Rule” at the end of this rules summary.
Late Entry Definition: a competitor arrives at the ring after the last call for the division has been made, the shuffle has been made, the order of competition has been determined, and the 1st competitor has not started.
I.6. WEIGHING-IN
It is mandatory for all adult sparring competitors – who are in weighed divisions – to weigh in before competition. Only one official weigh-in is required. All competitors must compete in his/her weight division. A competitor cannot compete up or down in another weight division for which he/she has not made the proper weight. It is the responsibility of the tournament personnel to weigh and properly record the competitor’s weight. If a competitor is caught falsifying their weight, they will be disqualified.
If a competitor fails to weigh-in, prior to their division competition starting, he/she is subject to the Delay of Time Penalty. It is the responsibility of the competitor to be officially weighed in prior to their division.
I.7. RING REQUIREMENTS
The size of the rings shall be approximately 20’x20’.
a) Starting lines should be marked approximately six feet apart in the middle of the ring.
b) Additionally, each ring should be posted with a ring number visible to competitors, officials, and medical personnel from across the floor.
c) Under black belt rings can be a minimum of 16’x16’ to a maximum of approximately 20’x20’.
I.8. FAIRNESS RULE
If a question arises that is not completely covered by this rule book, the official rules arbitrator may at his/her discretion, overrule, modify, or change a delineated rule if he/she believes that enforcing such a rule would result in an inherent unfair outcome to a competitor. However, the rules arbitrator should overrule, modify, or change a delineated rule only in extreme cases.
I.9. DIVISIONAL, TOURNAMENT, AND ORGANIZATIONAL ISQUALIFICATION
These disqualifications go from the least severe to the most severe. The severity of the infraction is the basis of which disqualification is warranted. What is warranted is voted upon by the USMAA Board of Directors. Play by the rules and always show good sportsmanship.
I.10. SPLITTING A DIVISION
Any forms/weapons division with 24 or more competitors will be split into 2 divisions. An elimination division and a final division. The top 10 rated competitors present will be split into a group and will not compete in the elimination round. If less than 10 rated competitors are present, use only the rated competitors that are present. The remaining competitors will compete in an elimination round. The order of competition for the elimination round will be done by random draw. The top 4 finishers in the elimination round advance to compete against the rated competitors in the final round. USMAA seeding will apply to the final round per USMAA seeding rules.
I.11. CONCUSSION PROTOCOL
For any competitor that suffers or is diagnosed with a concussion at a USMAA tournament, there will be a mandatory 30-day minimum time for that athlete to return to competition and or register, enter and compete at any USMAA tournament.
EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS
II.1. UNIFORM
All competitors must wear a complete (top and bottom) traditional or professional sport karate (Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, etc.) uniform in a good state of repair. The appropriate color belt or sash must be worn in competition.
a) Sparring: All sparring uniforms must have sleeves that reach at least the middle of the biceps. No sweats, tank tops or unapproved shoes are allowed in the sparring divisions (see sparring footpads).
b) Forms & Weapons: T-shirts are allowed in forms if they are part of the competitor’s official school uniform. Shoes may be worn in forms competition if they do not damage or mark the competition floor.
II.2. REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Required Equipment for all sparring divisions
a) Hand Pads: A soft padded surface must cover the fingers, wrist and any striking surface of the hand.
b) Foot Pads: A soft padded surface must cover the instep, sides, toes, ankle and back of the heel of the foot. The bottom of the foot does not have to be padded. (Note:
Sparring shoes are NOT allowed)
c) Headgear: The front, sides, and back of the head must be covered by a soft padded surface.
d) Mouthpiece: A properly fitted mouthpiece is required.
e) Soft Shin Guards: Required for all competitors.
f) Groin Protectors: Required for male competitors only.
NOTE: This is the minimum equipment required. Chest, face, and elbow protection are optional.
The competitor’s equipment will be checked and if it is deemed unsafe or does not fit properly, he/she will be asked to change the equipment before he/she can compete. Insufficiently padded gloves, foot, and head gear will not be allowed. The equipment must be in a good state of repair and must be free of heavy taping, tears or any other repairs that may cause injury.
If a competitor is missing any required equipment or the equipment does not meet USMAA requirements, he/she will be given a chance to acquire the correct gear, but they will be subject to the Delay of Time Penalty and may be disqualified. It is the responsibility of the competitors to have the proper equipment.
The tournament’s official rules arbitrator ultimately determines the approval or denial of the equipment.
III. PROTESTS
III.1. WHO MAY LODGE A PROTEST
Prior to each sparring match or forms/weapons division, each player may assign a Coach, as his/her Player Rep. A Player Rep is defined as someone who can lodge a protest for participants before, during, or after the competition. For 18+ competitors only, if a player does not designate a Player Rep, that player will act as his own representative. Only the Player Rep or the players themselves may lodge protests. A Player Rep or Coach may not change during a sparring match in order to participate in or address a protest.
III.2. MATTERS THAT MAY BE PROTESTED
a) If the protest is lodged immediately before the match begins:
The composition of the judges, based only upon a fact-based conflict of interest. For example, coaches or team members of a competitor.
An improper matching of competitors according to the scorekeeper’s bracket sheet. If the protest is lodged during the match. Protests above that are not made before the match or forms division begins are deemed void.
b) If the protest is lodged during the match:
An improper application of the rules by an official or Player Representative.
An injury to a player not noticed by the Center Official.
III. A fact-based concern that the score, as posted, by the scorekeeper is incorrect. Protests above that are not made before the next action segment of a match or before the next form is run, are deemed void.
c) If the protest is lodged after the match ends, before the next match/form’s competitor begins, or prior to the awards.
An improper application of the rules by an official or Player
Representative during the last activity segment of the match.
A fact-based concern that the final score as posted by the scorekeeper is incorrect. Protests above that are not made immediately after a match or form ends and before the next match or form begins are deemed void.
“Fact-based” as used above means that the protest will be ruled invalid unless there are facts, as opposed to opinions or beliefs, presented to support the protesting party’s position. (E.g – Judge #2 never scores my player very high or rarely calls his/her points is an invalid protest and will be penalized for delay of the contest.)
NOTE: – Video and/or audio recordings CANNOT be used in the presentation or evaluation of a protest.
III.3. LODGING A PROTEST
a) A Player Rep may lodge a protest immediately before or immediately after a form is over, directed only toward the Center Official of the ring.
b) A Player Rep may lodge a protest immediately before, during, or immediately after a sparring match is over, directed only toward the Center Official of the ring.
c) Protests may only be lodged during a sparring match when the Center Official has brought both players to their starting positions for point calls or any other reason.
III.4. REMOVAL OF OFFICIALS
If a competitor feels that an official should be removed from a form or weapon division for good reason, he/she must file a protest before the division begins. If a competitor feels that an official should be removed from a sparring division, he/she may file a protest prior to the start of the division only. It is totally up to the center official and the rules arbitrator to determine if an official should be removed. The Head Rules Arbitrator will make the final determination if there is “Fact-Based Reason” to remove the judge.
III.5. PROTEST PENALTIES
If the protest does not clearly fit into one of the above categories, the protest will be ruled
“invalid” and will not be heard or decided upon, all parties will return to their positions,
The player on whose behalf the protest conference was requested, will be penalized a penalty point for Delay of Contest with a 1-point deduction for sparring. (See Penalties)
SPARRING
IV.1. ORDER OF COMPETITION
Once the final call for the sparring division is made at ringside the division is ready to be set up. If byes are needed, they will be picked randomly.
a) Competitors / Teams cannot pick whom they want or do not want to fight.
b) Matches are always selected by random draw.
c) Allowances may be given to competitors from the same physical school or team that are matched up in the first round of competition. They should be separated from each other in the first round ONLY and moved to the upper and lower bracket.
d) Promoters may elect to split or not split UBB Boys and/or Girls into short and tall divisions.
e) Determining tall and short divisions is for safety reasons, not to split the division equally.
f) A true break in size should be found to determine the taller competitors from the shorter competitors.
g) Once the tall and short divisions are determined by height, determine who fights whom by random draw.
h) The winner of the small and tall divisions will compete in a single round 2-minute match to determine the overall champion for that age group and gender.
IV.2. LENGTH OF MATCH – DIVISION / INDIVIDUAL
The length of a match will be two minutes running-time unless a competitor is ten points ahead (Ten Point Spread Rule) before time has expired.
a) If a match is tied at the end of two minutes, a sudden victory (first person to score a point) overtime period will determine the winner.
b) All Grand Championship matches are 1 two-minute round and win by 1.
IV.3. WHAT IS A SPARRING POINT?
A point is a sport karate technique that is scored by a competitor in-bounds and up-right (not considered down) without time being called that strikes a competitor with the allowable amount of focused touch contact and focused control to a legal target area.
a) Focused Touch Contact: the legal amount of contact allowed to certain scoring areas.
b) Focused Control: an amount of controlled force that would have incapacitated the opponent, at least momentarily, if the technique had not been controlled.
Therefore, only sport karate techniques that would have incapacitated the opponent, at least momentarily, if the technique had not been controlled, are considered points.
NOTE: A front punch to the body that does not have “focused control” and a back fist to the body are NOT considered a proper sport karate scoring technique and so they are not a point in USMAA events.
Any contact that incapacitates the opponent (Example: knockout, causes a concussion, or the opponent cannot continue), will be deemed Hard Contact and will be a disqualification, unless it is deemed a No-Fault contact by the officials.
IV.4. NO-FAULT CONTACT
Unintentional contact can occur that injures a competitor, which can be classified as no-fault on any competitor’s part. The injury can be declared No-Fault, by the majority vote of the judges.
IV.5. GENERAL RULES
a) All regular USMAA Light touch point calling rules will apply.
b) Out of bounds, falling, or excessive running (as determined by the head official) around the ring will be considered an attempt to avoid competition and the other competitor will be awarded a point. No warning will be given.
c) A competitor is considered out of bound when they have one foot off the sparring area (mat). If the competitor is out of bounds to avoid contact without being kicked out or physically pushed out of bounds, their opponent will receive 1 point.
d) If a fighter touches the ground/mat with any part of their body, except their feet or 1 hand, they are considered down.
e) A point cannot be scored on a downed competitor, and a downed competitor cannot score a point. If an upright competitor strikes a downed competitor, they can be penalized.
IV.6. CONSECUTIVE MATCHES
Any competitor who must engage in consecutive (back-to-back) matches has the option to receive a two (2) minute rest between matches.
IV.7. DOWNED COMPETITOR
A competitor is considered down when they have any part of their body touching the sparring surface or outside the sparring surface except the bottom of their feet or 1 hand.
a) If an upright competitor strikes a downed competitor, the upright competitor can be penalized.
b) A downed competitor can be penalized, if they strike an upright competitor.
IV.8. POINT VALUES AND WINNER DETERMINATION
a) All legal hand techniques that score will be awarded one (1) point.
b) All legal kicking techniques that score will be awarded two (2) points.
c) All penalty points will be awarded one (1) point.
d) The winner is the competitor that
is ahead by 10 points (10 point spread rule) before the end of the two minute time period is automatically declared the winner.
is ahead at the end of the two-minute time period.
e) In the event of a tie at the end of the two-minute time period, the winner will be determined by whichever competitor scores the next point.
IV.9. MAJORITY OF VOTES
Points are awarded by a majority vote of all judges. Judges do not have to confirm the technique that scored the point, however, if the judges call for different point totals (i.e.. one judge awards 1 point for a hand technique and the other awards 2 points for a kick) no point will be awarded.
.
IV.10. LEGAL, ILLEGAL, AND NON-TARGET AREAS
a) Legal Target Areas: Entire head and face, ribs, chest, abdomen, collarbone, and kidneys.
b) Illegal Target Areas: Spine, back of neck, throat, sides of the neck, groin, legs, knees, and back.
c) Non-Target Areas: Hips, shoulders, buttocks, arms, and feet.
IV.11. LEGAL & ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES
a) Legal Techniques: are all controlled martial art techniques, except those listed as illegal.
b) Illegal Techniques: Head butts, hair pulls, bites, scratches, elbows, knees, eye attacks of any kind, take downs, ground fighting, any stomps or kicks to the head of a downed competitor, slapping, grabbing for more than one second, uncontrolled blind techniques, any throws, takedowns, or any other uncontrolled dangerous techniques that are deemed unsafe in martial arts competition.
IV.12. GRABBING
A competitor may grab the uniform top of his/her opponent to score with a sport karate technique for only one second (immediately), after which time he/she must release the uniform. Likewise, the uniform pants may be grabbed for one second to an upright opponent to score.
IV.13. SWEEPS
Sweeps are not meant to take down an opponent, but only to obstruct the balance to follow up with an immediate attempt at a scoring technique and can only be executed to the back of the front leg at mid-calf or below.
a) A sweep must be deemed a proper sweep and not a kick, to be legal.
b) Controlled Takedowns and sweeps that are meant to take down an opponent are NOT allowed.
IV.14. LIGHT TOUCH CONTACT
Light Touch Contact means there is no penetration or visible movement of the competitor because of the contact. A light touch is required to the face or face shield of a headgear along with all parts of the headgear in all sparring divisions.
IV.15. MODERATE TOUCH CONTACT
Moderate Touch Contact is defined as slight penetration or slight target movement. Moderate touch contact may be made to all legal target areas except the headgear, face shield, and face.
IV.16. OUT-OF-BOUNDS
Out-of-bounds is defined as an area outside the designated competition area. A competitor is outof-bounds as soon as he/she has one foot completely out-of-bounds(not just touching a line). An out of bounds competitor cannot score a point or be scored on while out of bounds. Once a competitor is determined to be out of bounds, a point will be awarded to his/her opponent. No warnings will be given.
IV.17. DELAY OF COMPETITION
A competitor will be determined to be delaying the competition for any of the following:
a) A competitor arrives at the ring without the proper equipment.
b) A sparring match is ready to start, and the competitor is delaying his/her entry into the ring.
c) A competitor is not present when the match is called to the ring.
The center official will declare a one-minute warning for the competitor to comply with the competition rules. The center official may keep the time him/herself or request that the time be kept by the scorekeeper. If the competitor fails to comply within one-minute time a one-point penalty will be awarded. Additional penalty points will be assessed for each additional minute until a total of three penalty points are attained at which time the competitor will be disqualified from the competition.
IV.18. SPARRING PENALTIES
a) NO WARNINGS are issued in point sparring for ages 12 and above. Penalty points are issued immediately for breaking the rules.
b) In 11 and under divisions, one (1) warning will be issued. Penalty points will be awarded after that.
c) A competitor cannot be penalized and still receive a point on the same call. A competitor can receive a point for a proper technique and another point from a penalty call against his/her competitor.
d) If, in the opinion of the medical personnel, a competitor cannot continue because of an injury caused by an illegal penalized attack, executed by the opponent, the offending competitor shall be automatically disqualified.
e) The injured competitor cannot continue to compete.
f) A penalty point(s) will be issued if a competitor does any of the following – Note: 3 penalty points is a disqualification:
Missing or improper equipment
Goes out of bounds (unless forced out or kicked out).
III. Falling down to avoid competition.
Runs around the ring to avoid competition.
Stalling and/or not attempting to engage the other competitor.
Excessive contact, as deemed by the center official.
VII. Pushing a competitor out of bound, as deemed by the center official.
VIII. Attacking illegal and non-target areas.
Using illegal techniques.
Blind, negligent or reckless attacks.
Uncontrolled techniques.
XII. Unsportsmanlike behavior by the competitor, his/her coaches, friends, etc.
XIII. A coach stands up or leaves the coach’s chair during the match.
XIV. If a coach(s) and/or team member(s) enters the ring, during a match.
Competitor refuses to leave the immediate sparring area an additional penalty point may be issued.
XVI. Late strikes after call to stop.
XVII. Retaliation strike from a competitor.
XVIII. Competitor’s equipment that is incorrectly fitted or improperly secured and continues to fall off or requires adjustment. This penalty will be awarded on the 2nd occurrence of the equipment failure. In other words, there is only one warning for equipment failure.
XIX. At the discretion of the center official, a penalty point may be issued immediately if the center official believes the competitor is delaying without a valid reason.
Delay of Time – Sparring
XXI. A competitor purposely removes their equipment.
XXII. A competitor, coach, or team member uses profanity.
XXIII.More than 1 coach or maximum team members are represented at the start of a match.
XXIV. Punching a downed competitor in the head or face.
XXV.Kicking a downed competitor, to the body, will result in a 1-point penalty or a disqualification for kicking the downed competitor in the head or face. Disqualification requires a majority vote.
XXVI. A downed competitor kicks an upright competitor to the body.
XXVII. A downed competitor kicks an upright competitor will result in a 1-point penalty or a disqualification for kicking the upright competitor. Disqualification requires a majority vote.
XXVIII. A one (1) point, per minute, penalty if a competitor fails to weigh-in prior to the division being called.
XXIX. Protest penalty – losing the protest.
XXX. Continuing to protest, after decision has been made; and
XXXI. No competitor, team member or coach may make physical contact with officials.
Once a competitor receives 3 penalty points, they are disqualified.
If a penalty is called on one or both competitors, the penalty point(s) must be issued to the competitor(s). This ensures the penalties are counted to determine an automatic disqualification.
For example, both competitors continue to spar after STOP is called. The Center Official calls a penalty on both competitors, a one-point penalty should be issued to both competitors.
IV.19. OTHER CAUSES OF PENALIZATION
Any grabbing or pushing an official will cause the competitor to be disqualified. Striking an official will cause the competitor, coaches(s) or team member(s) to be disqualified and suspended from future USMAA events. Disrespecting an official in any way by a competitor, coach or spectator will result in a penalty, disqualification, and possible suspension from future USMAA events.
IV.20. DISQUALIFICATION
Requires a majority vote by all officials unless it is an automatic disqualification.
a) Non-Competing Penalty: If in the majority opinion of the officials, it is considered that one or both competitors are not making an obvious attempt to compete in the sparring match in the true spirit of competition, one or both competitors will be penalized and if it continues, will be disqualified.
b) Wrong Division: If any competitor competes in a division, he/she does not qualify to compete in due to age, weight, rank, gender, style, etc., he/she will be disqualified.
IV.21. COACHING
The luxury of having a coach is something that most competitors do not have access to. Therefore, it sometimes can become an unfair advantage over a competitor who does not have a coach. The rules are made and enforced so no competitor has an advantage or disadvantage over another competitor. Therefore, coaching is allowed but only under the following guidelines:
a) A Coach is defined as anyone who is trying to help one competitor in any way. A coach could be but is not limited to a friend, parent, teammate, or an official coach. Competitors or teams may have a coach or coaches but only one designated coach at a time
b) Only the designated coach at the time of a protest and arbitration can speak on behalf of the player.
c) Coaches may be changed from one fight to another but if a change is made the Center Official must be notified of the change for it to be official.
d) The designated coach must stay seated in the designated coaching chair anytime a match is in progress. It is the responsibility of the promoter to provide two chairs at each ring during sparring.
e) A coach may stand before a match is started, between rounds, during timeouts and once the sparring match is over.
f) Coaching Penalty: If a coach leaves his/her chair during a sparring match, a penalty point will be awarded to the opposing competitor/team for the first, second and third time it occurs. A flag or other tool will be provided, at the coach’s chair, to throw into the ring to call for a judgment or protest. However, if the center official has ruled a judge’s call was late and therefore not considered, arbitration cannot be requested. On the 3rd occurrence in any one round the coach and coach’s competitor will be disqualified.
g) Penalty points on coaches are issued on the coach’s player. In team events, the penalty point does not continue to the next team member.
h) Since the coach and player are considered the same as far as penalties go, if a player already has a penalty point and the coach receives 2 penalty points for standing, etc. the player is automatically disqualified because 3 penalty points were received in one round.
i) Just like a player, coaches can be penalized or disqualified for unsportsmanlike behavior. If a coach is disqualified, they CANNOT be replaced.
j) Never, at any time, can a coach enter the ring without the referee’s permission.
k) No abusive, violent, unsportsmanlike, or overzealous coaching.
l) Coaches can never, at any time, interfere with the proper running of the ring or the decisions of the judges. The center official can issue a penalty to a competitor for each time his/her coach is interfering with a match or disrupting fair play between contestants. A referee can ask for a disqualification of a competitor but requires a majority vote of all judges.
m) A coach’s chair must be provided. The coach must stay in the chair during the match. A coach’s player can be penalized during a match if they leave the chair without permission of the head judge. (1 point penalty each infraction )The head judge determines the severity of the penalty based on the coach’s conduct.
n) There are no coaches allowed in the ring for forms or weapons.
IV.22. INJURED COMPETITOR
a) The promoter or his/her designee has the final determination if a competitor may NOT continue, with NO exceptions.
b) Everyone except the medic, competitor, the center official and one coach will be removed from the immediate area to allow the medic to determine the extent of the injury.
c) No one may discuss the injury with the medic, except the competitor and parent/legal guardian. It is the responsibility of the center official to control the other/outside conversation and may issue a penalty if:
Team member(s) or coach(s) will not leave the immediate area.
Attempts to discuss the competitors’ injury or ability to continue, with the medic, unless the input is requested by the medic.
d) If a medic determines a competition cannot continue; either immediately or in a postinjury review, the following steps are mandatory:
Competitor and Coach is informed the competitor cannot continue.
Tournament Promoter and staff are notified competitor cannot continue and why; and
III. If an online system capability is available, competitor entry into other events at the tournament is pulled or flagged / indicator in the system set. Once the indicator is set, the competitor cannot continue at the event or register for future events until the competitor has submitted documentation that has been cleared by a medical individual.
If a manual system is being used, all rings, where the competitor can compete, must be notified the competitor is eligible to compete.
If it is deemed by the medic, promoter, or his/her designee that a competitor cannot continue in competition for any reason, the competitor is not permitted to compete in any other divisions or events for the duration of the tournament.
If a competitor is knocked out or there is suspicion of a concussion, the promoter or his/her designee has the right to disqualify the competitor from competition for the duration of the tournament.
e) A competitor is injured, not due to a penalty, they are allowed 4 minutes to determine if they can continue, the time starts immediately. The time may be extended two additional minutes, once the medic reaches the competitor. It is the center official’s responsibility to communicate with the medic and determine if additional time will be allowed. The center official must then inform the scorekeeper who is keeping up with the time of the delay. A medic can always request an extension time to properly determine if the competitor can continue.
The maximum time that can be allocated to determine if a competitor can continue is 8 minutes. If the medic requests an extended length of time, due to an injury and is officially allowed, it is recommended, if possible, to move to the next match while the injured competitor is recuperating.
After the next match is complete, if the competitor is not able to continue as deemed by the medical personnel he or she is finished for that division. The timekeeper must record the score and time remaining to properly restart the match.
f) If it is determined the injured competitor cannot continue, due to a penalty, as determined by center referee and judges, the following applies I. The uninjured competitor is disqualified.
The injured competitor is declared the winner
g) If a competitor cannot continue because of an injury, where there is no penalty call, the uninjured competitor will be declared the winner.
If something happens in any USMAA sparring competition that cannot be answered by the rules stated, the “USMAA Fairness Rule” will come into play. As an example – the failure of a tournament medic to arrive prior to the expiration of the 4-minute rule.
IV.23. EXCESSIVE INJURIES
On the third request for an injury timeout, the competitor will NOT be allowed to continue. The Referee and Judges will follow normal protocol to see if the injury was the result of an illegal technique.
IV.24. TIME-OUTS
A request to stop the time can only be requested by the competitor in the ring, in 12 and older divisions. A coach may NOT request the timeout and can be penalized. In the 11 and under divisions a coach can call the timeout for the competitor.
The center official, at their discretion, may allow a timeout or elect to disregard the request.
Each competitor is only allowed to call (1) 10 second timeout per match.
IV.25. CONTINUOUS SPARRING
Continuous sparring will have all the same rules, regulations, and penalties as point sparring listed in the section. There will be only the below listed changes:
a) Match time – Each match will consist of (2) 1-minute rounds with a 30 second break in between.
b) Scoring – Matches will not be stopped to award points; they will run the entire duration. At the end of the second round the center judge will call for all judges to score and they will point to the fighter that they believe won the fight based off ring control, scoring techniques landed, and variation of techniques used.
c) Kicks – Each competitor is required to throw a minimum of 10 kicks in the match. One judge will be responsible for watching and counting each competitor’s kicks. If a competitor fails to throw 10 kicks in the match, they will not be eligible to win the match.
FORMS AND WEAPONS
V.1. MAXIMUM DEVIATION RULE
Since the high and low scores are not dropped when three officials are used in forms and weapons, the Maximum Deviation Rule (See Article VII) limits the impact of a single judge’s score to control with his/her high or low score the outcome of placement. The judge’s score that is between the other two judges’ scores (middle score) is considered the middle score. Once that score has been determined, the other two judges cannot be higher or lower than .02 points of that middle score. If their score is higher or lower than .02, they must adjust their score up or down accordingly to that .02 maximum deviation. See complete Maximum Deviation Rule (See Article VII) for more details.
V.2. DELAY OF TIME PENALTY
A .01 point, per judge, will be deducted from the offending competitor’s final score each minute the competitor is not ready to compete. If a competitor is still not ready to compete after 3 minutes, he/she will be disqualified.
V.3. TIME LIMIT
Time starts with the competitor’s first step, in the ring. Competitors have used two initial launch points; 1) the corner of the ring; or 2) just outside of the corner. In either case, once a competitor takes their first step, time will start. Should a competitor delay their start, the following will occur:
a) The Center Referee shall issue a First Verbal Warning to the Competitor by stating:
“PLEASE BEGIN YOUR PERFORMANCE.”
b) If Competitor fails to comply with the Center Official’s First Verbal Warning, a Second Verbal Warning shall be given by the Center Official stating: “SECOND
WARNING, PLEASE BEGIN YOUR PERFORMANCE.” A Second Verbal Warning may result in a .05 deduction, per judge.
c) All Referees must reach a unanimous decision that the Competitor’s failure to enter the Competition Ring unreasonably delayed his/her performance prior to any penalty being assessed.
Each divisional form or weapon routine must be four (4) minutes or less. Four (4) minutes is allowed for each form or weapon routine in the runoff grands and or the daytime overall grands. Competitors who exceed the 4 minutes will be disqualified, regardless of warnings given by any officials, judges or scorekeepers.
V.4. ORDER OF COMPETITION
Once the final call for the form and weapon divisions has been made at ring side and the divisional seeds have been taken out (see seeding rules) the competition cards will be collected and shuffled thoroughly or, if electronic scoring is used, checked in. The competitor cards will then be drawn sorted randomly (in the case electronic scoring is used, the competitors are checked and sorted) for the order of competition. As per the Relative Ranking Rule, the judges will look at all the competitors before they give their final scores. This rule allows judges to adjust their scores if they feel other competitors that come later are better or worse than the competitors who came first (See Relative Ranking Rule Sheet). If a competitor arrives late (the division is ready to start, but the 1st competitor has not started), the late entry must compete first, including seeds.
V.5. SCORING RANGES OF FORMS AND WEAPONS
The Scoring range should always be discussed by the center referee and judges before the division starts.
a) TIES: If there is a tie for 1st thru 3rd place, the competitors will do the same form again. This time for scoring the judges will simply point to the competitor they believe had the better performance once the center judge calls for the decision.
b) Ties beyond 3rd place are never broken.
V.6. PROPS
Props are only allowed in demo divisions.
V.7. EQUIPMENT ABUSE
It is the competitor’s responsibility to not abuse the tournament supplied equipment. Abuse can happen during the normal flow of a match or form routine and is acceptable, i.e. being pushed into a score table. Intentional actions may be penalized. Intentional action may include, but are not limited to the following examples:
a) Driving/striking downwards with a sword that penetrates the mat.
b) Throwing any weapon on the mat (placing is acceptable); and
c) Forcibly pushing a bow into a mat.
V.8. DROPPING A WEAPON
If a competitor in an underfelt division drops his/her weapon, they will be allowed to continue their form, but will be penalized a 0.05 deduction from each judge (score should not go lower than (9.94)
In Black Belt divisions if a competitor drops his/her weapon, they will not be scored and will be disqualified. They are encouraged to complete their form but are not required to continue.
If a competitor drops their weapons during the finals, they are not disqualified unless they drop twice or do not finish their weapons form.
Throwing a Weapon down will be scored, as if the Weapon was dropped.
Competitors who use multiple Weapons may place/toss one of the weapons, or part of the weapon, to the mat, to separate it from the competitor. An example includes a Swords’ Sheath. Likewise, a competitor can place their Weapon(s) on the mat at the end of their routine.
Should the tossed weapon leave the competition area (Mat), the competitor can be penalized or disqualified, if the weapon(s) hits another competitor, spectator or the judges.
V.9. WEAPONS / FORMS BOUNDARY PENALTY
A weapon(s) or any portion of a weapon should not exceed the boundary of the ring, including an imaginary line that goes vertically from the boundary floor line upward. Further, a competitor (weapons and forms competitors) should not exceed the imaginary line.
The intent of this rule is the safety of competitors, spectators, and the judges; also, known as the group. It is not intended to be applied unilaterally; rather in situations where the exceeding of the imaginary boundary could bring a risk to any of the group. For example, the weapon’s competitor exceeds the boundary:
a) The weapon’s competitor goes between or over the group’s body or head; or
b) The weapon’s competitor hits anyone in the group, who is outside of the ring.
V.10. STARTING A FORM OVER
If a competitor starts his/her form over because of a memory lapse or any other reason due to his/her own negligence, he/she may perform the form again.
a) The officials will score as though there was not a mistake, but a penalty applies – See Penalty section.
b) The three-minute time limit will start over.
c) A competitor can only start over one time for scoring.
d) If a competitor must start over, not due to his/her negligence, he/she will not be penalized on the start over.
V.11. FORMS AND WEAPONS PENALTIES
In the Form and Weapon Divisions, all penalties, non-disqualification, are per judge and will be deducted from the offending competitor’s final score
The group is defined as – Another Competitor, Spectator, or Judge that is outside the ring area.
Penalties:
a) Delay of Time – .05 deduction from each judge.
b) Exceeds time limit – Disqualification
c) Props in divisions – Disqualification.
d) Equipment abuse – .05 deduction from each judge.
e) Protest penalty – losing the protest.
f) Continuing to protest, after decision has been made; and
g) Dropping or throwing a Weapon down (See V.8. DROPPING A WEAPON)
h) Weapon strikes the Group – Disqualification.
i) A portion of a Weapon leaves the ring area (Sword’s Sheath or second Weapon); I. Leave the ring area – .05 from each judge.
Strikes anyone in Group – Disqualification
j) Boundary Rule – without the request to exceed ring boundary:
The weapon goes between or over the group’s body or head – .05 from each judge
The weapon hits anyone, in the group, who is outside of the ring – Disqualification.
k) Starting a Form or Weapon routine over – .05.
l) Moves that are illegal for the type of routine (Traditional, Creative, Musical, Extreme) – a downgrade of the form or weapon routine, or upon unanimous vote of the judges, a “no score” as a form inappropriate for the division.
m) Routine is incorrect for the division – Extreme moves in Creative or traditional forms or traditional weapons routines in the musical forms and musical weapons divisions – a downgrade of the form or weapon routine, or upon majority vote of the judges, a “no score” as a form inappropriate for the division.
n) Weapon Breaks – separates into 2 or more sections – Disqualification
o) Weapons Cracks – Does Not separate into 2 or more pieces – NOT a penalty. The competitor may have their score lowered, if, in the opinion of the judges, the Crack impacted the execution of the form or the effectiveness of the weapon.
p) Music must NOT contain any cursing, explicit content, and/or racially or culturally insensitive lyrics -Disqualification
RELATIVE RANKING
VI.1. RELATIVE RANKING RULE
The Relative Ranking Rule has replaced the old “score-as-you-go” system in all divisions at all USMAA tournaments. Since all competitors run their forms before anyone is scored, this system eliminates the possible disadvantage early-running competitors were subject to, and the scoring advantage last-running seeds may have enjoyed. In addition, it prevents judges from getting “boxed-in” by giving scores too high early on, and eliminates “scoring creep” where judges who start with very low scores gradually increase his/her scores as the divisions progress.
VI.2. HOW IT WORKS
For the Relative Ranking Rule to operate properly, all judges must use the scoring worksheets provided in the ring boxes. As each competitor runs their form, they are given a place number relative to the competitor who has already run. (For example, each judge gives the first competitor up a “1” next to his/her name on the worksheet.) The next competitor gets a “2” if their form is not as good; or if their form is better, they get a “1” and the first competitor gets his “1” changed to a “2”. The third competitor then gets a number that grades his form relative to the first two, and so on down the division. When all competitors have run, each judge’s Worksheet will have all the competitor’s names listed in the order they ran, but with numbers next to their names that reflect their place relative to one another.
EXAMPLE IF THREE COMPETITORS ARE IN DIVISION
JOHN DOE II 9.98 2nd
JOE SMITH III 9.97 3rd
TIM JONES I 9.99 1st
The Center Judge will then allow up to two minutes for the judges to assign decimal scores to each competitor based on their relative ranking. Each judge will give their “1” competitor – a 9.99. The number “2” competitor will be scored one-hundredth lower at 9.98. Number “3” will get a score of 9.97. Number “4” will get a score of 9.96 and so on. The lowest score that will be given out no matter how many competitors there are in the division is a 9.94. This is done until all the competitors are ranked relative to each other. None of the top four competitors ever receives the same score, and the top four scores a judge gives are only given once. A judge may give the same score to competitors he/she has ranked as “5” or lower, though it is discouraged unless there are many competitors in the division and giving incrementally lower scores would take the lower rank competitors to scores that were undeservedly low. (Judges may prefer to use slash marks rather than numbers to rank each competitor: I, II, III, IIII and so on. By using this method, you do not have to mark out or erase as often, you only add slashes.) Once all judges are ready, the Center Judge will have each competitor step forward as his or her scores are announced, using the Maximum Deviation Rule.
VII. MAXIMUM DEVIATION RULE
All forms divisions will us the Maximum Deviation Rule. This prevents a single score from being so high or so low that it controls the placing order.
The center official will then look at the 3 scores to determine which one is the middle score (for example, a 9.92, 9.96 and a 9.95 – the 9.95 is the middle score. The other 2 scores must be .02 from the middle score. So, in the example, the 9.92 must be upgraded to 9.93.
Other than this mandatory adjustment, a judge may not change his score. If no score is more than .02 higher or lower than the middle score, then there is no adjustment.
After assuring that any necessary adjustment has been made, the Center Official then says, “Judges Score”, and all judges show the scores to the audience, the competitors, and the scorekeeper as usual.
VIII USMAA FORMS AND WEAPONS DIVISIONS
VIII.1. TRADITIONAL
These forms must capture the essence of classic martial arts movements, displaying the traditional techniques, stances, footwork, and weapons. Emphasis is placed on execution of technique, application of technique, balance, speed, power, solid stances, and focus.
Forms may be unmodified or modified from what a system or school considers to be the original version of the form; however, the performance of the following movements will result in a downgrade of the form, or upon unanimous vote of the judges, a “no score” as a form inappropriate for the division:
a) Movements that involve more than a 360-degree spin.
b) Require the body to be inverted more than parallel to the floor.
c) More than two kicks with the same leg without putting the foot down in between. d) Front or back flips.
e)
f) Front or side leg splits.
g) Releases of the weapon other than simple hand switches.
h) or any other gymnastic movements or extreme exhibitions of flexibility or agility with the body or weapon that are deemed in the opinion of the judges to be inappropriate for the division pursuant to the general guidelines set forth here. (EXCEPTION – A Forward Roll is a legal Traditional Technique.)