KARATE MAYNIA TOURNAMENT RULES

GENERAL

• Competitors compete at the age they were as of January 1 of the competition year.
• All competitors must compete at the highest belt rank they have achieved.
• Anyone found not competing in their correct age or belt division (highest belt rank achieved) will be automatically disqualified, and no points will be awarded.
• Rings are run with 3 or 5 judges per ring.
• Judges will score based on spirit, performance, technique, and basics, not according to their personal version of the form.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

• If you are disqualified due to any form of unsportsmanlike behaviour, you will receive no awards or points for the tournament and may be banned from future events (this includes non-competitors).

ADDITIONAL RULES

• Competitors may compete only once in any one division.
• To win a trophy, a competitor must finish first in any division with 4 or more competitors registered.
• If any competitor wins a total of 3 FIRST PLACE TROPHIES in Weapons, Forms, and Sparring divisions for their age and belt level group (Traditional division for black belts), the competitor is considered a Grand Champion and will receive a Grand Champion BIG TROPHY.

MUSICAL & CREATIVE

• The following are only allowed in Creative/Musical divisions: flips, aerials, and acrobatics. All other forms divisions must have traditional stances and techniques.
• Creative/Musical competitors may compete in one division only: open hand OR weapons (not both).
• Musical competitors must bring their own sound box or share with someone in the same division.
• No words or lyrics in the music.
• All adult (18+) black belt competitors will participate in the same Creative/Musical division.

KATA & WEAPONS

• All traditional forms and weapons divisions must use traditional stances and techniques. No flips, aerials, or acrobatics allowed.
• Kyu belts are scored on a scale of 8.90 to 8.99.
• Black belts are scored on a scale of 9.90 to 9.99.

Ties

1. Judges’ winner comparison
2. Highest middle score
3. Remove high score only
4. Remove low score only
5. Re-do performance if necessary

Order of Competition

• Ring coordinators will collect competitor cards, shuffle them, then announce the order and place competitors around the ring.
• Late entries are allowed only if the third competitor has not yet completed their kata.
• Late entry competitors must compete immediately, and this change must be noted on the score sheet.

Scoring Procedure

• All competitors perform their kata before scoring begins.
• Competitors will then stand again, in order, to be scored.

Restarts

• A competitor who forgets their form or drops their weapon may request one restart with a 0.05 deduction (kyu belts only).
• No restarts for black belts.

SPARRING

• NO COACHING
• NO WARNINGS for any penalty
• Approved safety equipment is mandatory in all divisions

Required Safety Equipment

• Head gear
• Hand gear
• Foot gear
• Shin guards
• Mouth guard
• Groin cup

• Jewellery or other objects that might endanger a competitor may not be worn.

Match Format

• First to 5 points OR 2-minute time limit
• All techniques = 1 point
• No mercy rule

• 1 round, 2 minutes total points
• 10-point mercy rule
• Must win by minimum 2 points
• All techniques = 1 point, EXCEPT:
  • Kick to head OR jumping kick to body = 2 points
  • Jumping head kick = 3 points
• If score difference is less than 2 points after 2 minutes, match continues until a 2-point differential is achieved.

TARGET AREAS

• Chest, ribs, abdominal area
• Head: light contact (touch)
• Face mask area:
  • No contact for kyu belts
  • Black belts light touch only

CONTACT & CONTROL

• Excessive contact anywhere:
  • First offence: penalty point awarded to opponent OR disqualification
• Heavy contact anywhere: automatic disqualification
• Swelling, redness, or bleeding may result in automatic disqualification of the offending competitor
• Reckless or uncontrolled technique may result in disqualification, even if no contact is made

PROHIBITED ACTIONS

• Grabbing, holding, or throwing — automatic disqualification
• Ground fighting — not allowed
• Sweeps — not allowed (including leg checking)

BYES

• All byes are assigned in the first round only.
• No competitor is exempt from the bye draw.

PROTESTS

• Competitors, parents, or instructors may NOT protest judgement calls.
• Rule violations may be protested respectfully.
• Protests must be made during or immediately after the match, and before the next match begins.
• The Arbitrator has final authority.

OUT OF BOUNDS

• A competitor is out of bounds when one foot is outside the ring area.
• Running out of bounds may result in a penalty point to the opponent.
• Fighting out of bounds requires a restart.

SAME SCHOOL MATCHUPS

• Two competitors from the same school should not fight each other in the first round unless unavoidable.
• If random bye selection results in same-school competitors facing each other, it is considered unavoidable.
• No competitor may be exempt from the bye draw.

FINAL AUTHORITY