Tournament Guidelines

​​Categories

• Traditional Open Hand Forms: These forms must capture the essence of classic martial arts movements, displaying the traditional techniques, stances and footwork. Emphasis is placed on execution of technique, application of technique, balance, speed, power, solid stances, and focus. The following techniques are not allowed:
      - Movements that involve more than a 360-degree spin;
      - Require the body to be inverted more than parallel to the floor;
      - More than two kicks with the same leg without putting the foot down in between;
      - Front or back flips;
      - Cartwheels;
      - Front or side leg splits;
      - Any other gymnastic movements or extreme exhibitions of flexibility or agility with the body 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.) 
  
  
• Traditional Weapon Forms: 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. 
  Sharpened weapons are not allowed.
  The following techniques are not allowed:
   - Movements that involve more than a 360-degree spin
   - Require the body to be inverted more than parallel to the floor
   - More than two kicks with the same leg without putting the foot down in between
   - Front or back flips
   - Cartwheels
   - Front or side leg splits
   - Releases of the weapon other than simple hand switches
   - 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.)
   
  
• Point Sparring: Full gear including mouth, shin and groin protection required.
   - 1 point for legal hand technique to headgear, chest, stomach or sides.
   - 2 points for kick to headgear
   - 1 point for kick to the body.
  First to 5 points or student with most points in 2 minutes wins.
  Double eliminations possible.
  No techniques to the back, below the belt or to the open face of the headgear.
  Light contact for Gups and medium contact for Dans. 
  
  
• Padded Weapon Sparring: Mouth, head and hand protection required.
   - 1 point for strike to headgear, chest, stomach, sides or legs.
  First to 5 points or student with most points in 2 minutes wins.
  Double eliminations possible.
  No strikes to the back, groin area or to the open face of the headgear.
  Light contact for Gups and medium contact for Dans.
  
  
• Breaking: Wood only.
  To maintain a level playing field, wood must be purchased through the Tournament host.
  Two stations for Gups, 3 attempts per station and a time limit of 2 minutes.
  Three stations for Dans, 2 attempts per station and a time limit of 2 minutes.
  1 station for Pee Wees. 
  
  
• Power Breaking: All boards must be purchased through the tournament committee
    - All stations must be with spacers (no board stacks without spacers) 
    - Competitors supply their own spacers.
    - Technique = (downward strike) palm heel, elbow, fist, chop
    - Only one attempt
    - Only one station
    - 5 minutes to set and execute break 
    - Winner is highest percentage of boards broken (% of boards attempted).
  
  Example: Competitor A broke 10 out of 10 and Competitor B broke 10 out of 12 then Competitor A wins.  If there is a tie, then judges break using energy, discipline, and technique as considerations. 
  
  
• Creative/Musical/Extreme Open Hand or Weapons Forms: No restriction on techniques but majority must be martial arts based. Scoring will include technical proficiency, spirit and flow of the routine. Performances are restricted to two minutes. Music is allowed. Weapon, open hand or a combo.  
  
  

General

• PeeWee Division Classification: A student participating in a program designed for younger students ages 5 and under (i.e. Kid Tigers, Lil Ninjas, Lil Samurai...) and does not teach full traditional forms or participate in point sparring.  
  
  
• First Timers Division Classification: Competitors who have been training less than one year (not counting PeeWee Programs) and have competed in no more than 3 tournaments during that year. Forms division will not be scored and all participants will receive medals. 
   
  
• Divisions will be created based on similar ages and ranks and are dependent on the number and diversity of registered competitors.
   
  
• Registration fees are not refundable.
  
  
• Forms/Weapons Scoring - The first three competitors will perform then the judges will bring them back to score them. Afterwards, they will score each additional competitor as they perform.
  
  
• Grand Champion Divisions: Color Belt and Black Belt Grand Champions will be awarded.
  
  * Grand Champion competition will directly follow all corresponding competitions. There will be two grand champion divisions (youth 12 and under, Teen and Adult). All competitors receiving 1st place in forms traditional forms, traditional weapons or CMX forms will compete for grand champion performing the form in which they placed 1st. If the competitor placed 1st in forms and weapons for their division they must choose which form they want to use for grand champion.  
   
• Registration Deadlines:
  
  * Early Registration by February 5th
   
  * Regular Registration by February 26th 
  
  * Late Registration by March 5th
  
  
• For questions please email SSBNPotter@bhammartialarts.com or call 205.909.3720