UNITED KARATE ALLIANCE

OFFICIAL RULES

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All events sanctioned by the United Karate Alliance will follow these rules.

AGE AND RANK RULES

LEGAL AGE RULE:  All competitors have the option of competing in the same division all year for rating purposes, by establishing a legal competition age for the year.  The age that a competitor is on June 30th of the current competition year is their legal age for that year.  They can compete all year at that age so he/she can earn rating points in on age division.  A competitor can always choose to compete in hi/her chronological age and will be awarded points in that division.  All points stay in the division the competitor earned them in and they do not go with the competitor if they change divisions.  The legal age is developed for rating purpose only.

PROOF OF AGE RULE: All competitors must be able to provide proof of age.  If there is a legitimate reason to question a competitor’s age, he/she must be able to present proof of age (birth certificate, driver’s license or other acceptable document) to prove his/her age.

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 lower belt division.  All competitors have the option to compete in the same division all year for rating purposes by establishing a legal competition rank for the year.  If, because of a projected rank promotion during the year, a competitor can move up a rank division in order to earn rating points in that division all year.  A competitor can also choose to compete at his/her current rank and will be awarded points in that division.  All points stay in the division they were earned and do not go with the competitor if he/she changes divisions.  Once a competitor competes at the Black Belt level, he/she must always compete as a Black Belt.

RANKS IN 3 BELT DIVISIONS                RANKS IN 2 BELT DIVISIONS

Beginner: White/Yellow/Orange            Advanced: Black/Brown/Red and

Intermediate: Purple/Blue/Green            the belt before

Advanced: Red/Brown/Black                   Beginner: All belts below

FORMS COMPETITION

       1.All forms competitors must be ready to compete by the “final call” for that division.  Once competition has begun, no competitor will be allowed in the division.

      2.Forms competitors must wear a traditional karate/kungfu uniform.  An official school T-shirt (martial arts only) may be worn.  Shoes with non-marking soles may be worn.

     3.Forms competitors will receive a score within the of range of 9.5 to 10.0 in all divisions.  Scoring is based on multiple factors including: execution of the form, degree of difficulty and effectiveness of the techniques.  Three judges are required for all divisions below Black belt.  Five judges are required in all UKA rated Black belt divisions (three can be used in non-rated divisions if necessary.)

     4.In case of a tie for first place in a division with 3 judges, competitors will perform the same form or another form if they so choose.  If the new score fails to break the tie, the majority of high scores will determine the winner.

In a division with 5 judges, the high and low score are removed and the remaining 3 scores are added.  In the event of a tie, the high & low score are added back in to determine the winner.

In the event of a tie for all other places, the majority of high scores will be used first.  If this does not determine the winner, competitors will perform the form again and a show of hands will determine the winner.

     5.If a competitor forget the form and informs the judges, the competitor may start the form again.  The center judge will deduct ½ point from the official score and the scorekeeper make the adjustment on the score sheet.  A competitor who forgets twice is disqualified and receives “no score”.  Black Belts are not allowed to start over and receive a “no score”.

WEAPONS COMPETITION

    The same rules for forms apply plus the following:

     Competitors must compete with an authentic martial arts weapon.

     Weapon must be in safe condition and may be inspected by the judges.

     If the weapon is dropped during the form, competitor will receive “no score”.

SPARRING COMPETITION

Our goal is to provide a fair and safe environment for the competitors.  In order to achieve this goal, the following rules will govern all sparring divisions.

Sparring competitors must be ready to compete at the “final call” for their division.  Once competition begins, no competitor will be allowed in the division.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Competitor must arrive at the ring with all required equipment foam-dipped gloves and feet-gear, helmet and mouthpiece, (all male competitors must have protective groin cup).  Ringstar shoes are allowed (not Flex).  An official martial arts uniform must be worn.  A competitor will not be allowed to compete without the required equipment.

WHAT A “POINT”IS

A point is awarded for any legitimate legal martial art techniques delivered to a legal target by a competitor who is in bounds of the ring.  Technique must strike the opponent with light to moderate contact.  Competitor must demonstrate control of the technique and be in proper balance when executing the technique.

LEG TECHNIQUES & TARGETS

Legal techniques are any legitimate martial art technique delivered with proper control.  Techniques must strike the opponent with the padded glove or foot.

GRABS: Competitor may grab the uniform, arm/leg of the opponent in for the opportunity to score a legal technique.  Competitor must release after 1 second and before the technique is executed.

SWEEPS: Competitor may use a sweep in an attempt to score.  Sweep must be executed front leg to front leg, below the calf and to the back of the leg only.  The sweep MUST BE followed with an immediate attempt to score a legal point.

LEGAL TARGET AREAS: (1) head (2) ribs (3) stomach (4) chest (5) kidneys.  Light controlled contact to the face is allowed in Adult Brown and Black belt divisions.

NON-TARGET AREAS: arms, legs, throat, hips, back (except kidneys).

POINTS: 1 point is awarded for all hand techniques to targeted areas.  2 points are awarded for kicks to the targeted areas.

OUT OF BOUNDS RULE:Both feet out of ring, penalty point to the opponent.  2 feet must be in the ring to score.  (revised 2012)

PENALTY POINTS:

No warnings are given for violations of rules that are observed by the Center Referee or the majority of corner judges.  For each rule violation (determined by the center referee and /or majority of corner judges), 1 point is awarded to the opponent.  If a competitor commits 3 violations in one match, he/she is disqualified.

FACE CONTACT RULE: A competitor who strikes the face of an opponent two times in one match is disqualified.  The opponent receives 1 point for each infraction.  This does not apply to the Adult Brown & Black belt divisions were face contact is allowed.

BLOOD RULE: If a competitor’s contact causes flowing blood or immediate swelling to the opponent AND the contact is seen by the official, the competitor who executed the technique is disqualified.

DISRESPECT RULE: DISRESPECT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.  A competitor (or their instructor or parent) who show disrespect to the official will be disqualified.

VIOLATIONS

Sparring competitors cannot: 1) strike to the face (except in sanctioned divisions); 2) intentionally strike any non-target areas as defined above; 3) receive coaching from anyone;  4) run out of bounds or fall to avoid contact; 5) deliver a technique with malicious intent or excessive force (to be determined by majority of judges); 6) demonstrate unsportsmanlike conduct; 7) perform an illegal sweep/throw; 8) hold and strike an opponent.

1. COACHING RULE: If deemed excessive by the Center Judge, 1 warning will be given to the coach/parent.  2nd time, 1 point to the opponent.  (New 2012)

OFFICIALS

The tournament Promoter determines officials for forms and sparring divisions.  In case of suitability issues, the Promoter and Arbitrator’s decision is final.

Three judges are required for all divisions below black belt.  Five judges are required in all UKA rated Black Belt divisions ( three can be use in non-rated divisions if necessary).

Center Referee is in charge of running each match.  Center Referee can award Penalty points or violations that he clearly sees (without confirmation from corner judges).  Center Referee can overrule corner judges in cases where he sees the violation and they call a point.

As a matter of persona honor,  an official should remove himself anytime hi/her student is competing in the match.  Center Referee may ask a corner judge to step out of the ring during a match when his/her students are competing.  Center Referees should never officiate a match with his/her student.

MATCHES

Each sparring match is 2 running minutes OR first competitor to score 7 points.

Time is stopped only by the center referee for violations or in the event a competitor is injured.  Time continues when Center referee determines both competitors are fit to continue.

In the event of a tie at the end of 2 minutes, the first competitor to score a legal technique wins the match.

WEIGHT DIVISIONS

In all UKA sparring divisions that are divided into weight classes, sparring competitors must weigh in at the tournament site.  Competitors must compete in appropriate weight class.  Promoters will provide an accurate scale and record the competitor’s weight.  Official weight at the time of weigh –in will be considered final.

BLACK BELT WEIGHT DIVISIONS

LIGHT WEIGHT:  165 AND UNDER

MIDDLE WEIGHT: 166-189 lbs.

HEAVY WEIGHT: 190 AND OVER

UNDER BLACK BELT DIVISIONS:

LIGHT WEIGHT: 179 AND UNDER

HEAVY WEIGHT: 180 AND OVER

NEW IN 2012:

NEW IN 2011:

Black Belts may compete in multiple age divisions up to their current age if the tournament promoter offers this option for their event.  Additional charges will be incurred to compete.

Junior Weapons Divisions:

10 & under        Beginner/Advanced

11-14            Beginner/Advanced

15-17            Beginner/Advanced