AUSTRALIAN MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION

The Contest Area
The Contest Area shall be not less than 8 metres by 8 metres nor more than 12 metres by 12 metres. Its boundaries shall be clearly defined and where possible surrounded by safety mate, the mats may constitute the boundaries of the contest area.
Two (2) lines approximately 1 metre long and 75 mm wide parallel to two opposite edges and equal distance from the centre of the contest area will be marked 2.5 metres apart.
These lines are the start positions for the competitors. The centre of the contest area shall also be indicated by a cross, square or circle of sides or diameter approximately 300 mm.
This shall be the start position for 'Individual Kata' or Forms.
The only people allowed in the contest area and its immediate environs (as determined by the Officials) are the competitors, officials and one manager for each competitor or team.
Anyone, other than the Manager, assisting in the preparation of a competitor must leave the area before the event commences.
Managers will not coach their competitor during the rounds. Time is provided between rounds for this purpose. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the competitor being penalised.

The Officials
The Arbitrator
The Arbitrator must be the highest ranked official present.
It is the responsibility of the Arbitrator to decide or rule on events, protocol or matters arising during the course of the Tournament where the Referee and Judges cannot agree or make a decision the Arbitrator may in conference with the said Officials or of his/her own cognisance make the decision.
The Arbitrator need not make an immediate decision he/she can postpone the decision until the post tournament Australian Martial Arts Association Meeting i.e.: where appeals or approaches are required in writing or the appellant is required to attend the meeting.
The Arbitrator has the power to dismiss or replace any other Official for misconduct or inefficiency. (This would be an extreme decision and normally would only be implemented with the agreement of the next most senior person).

The Referee
The Referee shall control the bout and be responsible for enforcing the rules of the contest.
He/she has the power to issue a warning, disqualify, stop the bout, award a mandatory eight count, call a Judges and Arbitrators conference if deemed necessary, and award extra time.
The Referee together with the Arbitrator can disqualify a Judge for misconduct, inefficiency or bias (again an extreme decision).
The Referee shall heed the Judges advice regarding infringements and penalties.
For an infringement to be valid two (2) Judges or one (1) Judge and the Referee must agree, however in the case of head contact the referees may make the decision on their own.
**He/she has the deciding vote if the Judges award a draw.

The Judges
Judges must all be of at least Black belt rank or equivalent in their chosen discipline.
The Judges shall be responsible for the fair and unbiased judging of the events be it Free Fighting, Kata (Forms) or Demonstration.
They shall draw the Referees attention to infringements and advise the Referee of the severity of the penalty.
Judges shall indicate at the conclusion of each round, via the appropriate method, their decision on the round nominating the appropriate winner stating the colour or a draw.

The Timekeeper
The Timekeeper shall be responsible for keeping accurate time after the Referee starts the bout.
In the event of a knockdown the Timekeeper shall start the count indicating to the Referee the number of seconds elapsed.
When 10 seconds has elapsed he/she shall indicate this with a sharp diagonal slash of the hand.
The Timekeeper shall signal the end of the bout.
The Timekeeper shall be responsible for the recording of Public Warnings and displaying them via lights of a corresponding colour to the Judges/Referees.
The Timekeeper shall record the number of times each competitor steps out of the contest area indicated by the Referee and shall notify the Referee when a total of 3 in any round or 5 in a bout has been reached by a contestant.

The Medical Officer and Nursing Staff
The Medical Officer and Nursing Staff shall be responsible for first aid and the arrangement or advice if they deem it necessary for hospital treatment. They can advise the Referee to stop a bout to prevent injury.
A Medical Officer must be present and situated adjacent to the fighting area during all bouts.
During the application of an 8 or 10 count medical assistance may be given at the discretion of the attending Medical Officer.

Dress Code for Competitors
1. Must be clean.
2. Must wear the uniform of their discipline with the exclusion of weapons.
3. No competitor may compete in shorts and/or singlet unless they comply with 2 and they display the badge or logo of their respective discipline or club.
4. Trousers must be at least to mid calf.
5. Grade Belts or sashes will not be worn except for Kata forms or patterns.
6. Jewellery will not be worn.
7. Footwear shall not be worn.
8. Headbands may be worn.

Protective Equipment
1. Groin guards external or worn inside pants are compulsory for senior males. They are recommended for junior males.
2. Breast guards are recommended for females.
3. Body armour for senior males is forbidden. Body armour is compulsory for junior competitors.
4. Approved shin and foot guards are allowed.
5. Approved mitts will be worn.
6. Mouth guards are not compulsory but are recommended.

Warning Definitions
Minor Warning
Warning given to the competitor by the referee after advice by Judges or in the Referee's own opinion. (No point loss)
Public Warning
After advice by judges or in the Referee's own opinion a Public Warning stating the offending competitors belt colour is announced and each Judge is informed by the Referee in an audible voice and each Judge shall note this warning. (2 point loss)
A record of Public Warnings will be kept by the Timekeeper and displayed throughout the bout.

The Eight Count
If a competitor is hurt the Referee may institute an eight count, but only if the competitor is on his/her feet.
The count shall be of eight seconds duration and shall be done as follows:
The Referee shall stop the bout and order the other competitor away.
Immediately this competitor starts towards his/her start position the Timekeeper shall start timing.
Indicating the count to the Referee by raising his/her fingers.
At the end of the eight seconds the Timekeeper shall sharply drop both hands.
Where upon the Referee shall immediately restart the match without calling the competitors to their start positions.
If the recipient of the count cannot continue after cessation of the count the Referee shall stop the bout and declare the other competitor the winner.
Each competitor will be allowed no more than two (2) eight counts in any one round and no more than four (4) in any bout regardless of the number of rounds.

The Ten Count
The 10 second or knockdown count can only be applied if a competitor is knocked down by a legitimate technique.
A competitor is ruled as down when both knees and one hand is on the floor of the contest area.
Immediately a competitor is downed the Referee shall order the other competitor away.
This competitor must return to his/her own start position. There upon the Timekeeper shall start the count.
The Referee facing the Timekeeper shall pick up the count from the Timekeeper calling the count in a clear voice and indicating with an arm movement each number.
At the tenth second the Timekeeper shall indicate to the Referee in the manner previously stated.
Should the competitor rise before 'ten' the count shall continue to eight and if the competitor is fit to continue the bout shall be restarted.

The Target Area
The areas of the anatomy shall be divided into two categories:
1. Contact
2. NON-contact
Contact
The contact areas shall be defined by an imaginary line drawn across the hip bones continued upwards over the kidney area and across the collar bones and similar position on the back.
The contact area of the legs will be midway between the knee and the hip bones and midway between the ankle and the knee to the outside of the leg only.
Exceptions to this rule are:
(a) Permitted sweeping and reaping techniques.

Note: REAPS AND SWEEPS AGAINST THE UNNATURAL MOVEMENT OF THE JOINT ARE PROHIBITED AND SHALL BE PENALISED.

(b) Legitimate techniques to the permitted contact area of legs will NOT be counted as scoring techniques.
Non-Contact
No contact to any area above the collar bones, this is to mean the entire neck and head of the competitor.
Controlled legal techniques to this area making no contact will be scored by the Judges if in their opinion the techniques if extended would have made contact.
Out of range techniques will not score.
No contact or attack by any means to any joint either offensive or defensive.

Forbidden Acts, Techniques or Practices

BLOWS TO ANY PROHIBITED AREA WILL INCUR a WARNING OR DISQUALIFICATION.

1.   Swearing or obscene remarks, gestures or other offensive acts to the audience, officials, guests or competitors.
2.   Disregarding the Referee or other Officials' instructions.
3.   Holding an opponent for more than 3 seconds.
4.   Strikes, blows or pushes with the elbows, knees or head.
5.   Throws over the hip or shoulder.
6.   Techniques against the unnatural bend of the joints.
7.   Arm, leg, head or wrist locks.
8. Techniques which contact the following areas:

Head - Throat - Kidneys - Collar Bones - Spine - Groin (see additional commentary re groin area)

9.   Techniques which deliberately result in contact to a prohibited area via a deflection from a deemed contact area. e.g. chest to head.
10. Sacrifice throws (e.g. tomeonage or stomach throw, monkey climb etc.).
11. Attacking a downed opponent, except with controlled technique and then only from the takedown technique, no follow on techniques are permitted from punch strike or kick knockdown.
12. Spinning back fist.
13. Bearhugs.
14. Strangles.
15. Chokes.
16. Wrestling opponent to the ground.
17. Open hand or finger strikes or blows etc., near the eyes.
18. Seizing or holding the hair or beard, unless the hair or beard be so long that a competitor attempting to hold the clothing in trying a technique cannot avoid tangling the hair or beard with the clothing of the person concerned.
19. Competitor continuously steps out of the contest area, e.g. 3 times in any round or 5 times per bout.
20. ANY ACT WHICH CAN BE DEEMED CONTRARY TO GOOD MARTIAL ARTS CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE.

Commentary on Groin Contact
A competitor who is apparently struck in the groin and genital area and the illegal technique is not called by at least 2 Judges or one Judge and the Referee or by direct intervention of the Arbitrator, and the competitor or manager claims a foul then the claimant shall immediately be taken to the medical area and examined.
If medical evidence supports the claim then the person who occasioned the foul technique shall be disqualified and the bout awarded to the fouled person.
If medical evidence discounts the claim then at a conference of the Judges, Referee and Arbitrator a decision will be made:
(a) To disqualify the claimant for attempting to win by 'deception' i.e. falsely claiming foul.
(b) To permit the match to continue for the unexpired portion of the match.
Should the required number of officials 'see' the foul the offender will be disqualified. No warnings will be given.
If the outlined situation occurs the tournament shall continue until such time as the medical evidence can be presented and the officials can consider the evidence.

Rules for Kata/Poomes/Form
1. Correct uniform and grade belt to be worn.
2. Competitor to announce Kata name, traditional, non traditional.
3. Shall not start until told to be Senior Judge or Deputy.
4. Shall perform a minimum of one Kata or Form. When indicated a competitor may need to demonstrate 2 Katas at different times in the Tournament and shall be marked on the aggregate of the two katas.
5. The marks awarded shall be out of ten (10), and in increments of one quarter e.g. 6¼ 6½ 6¾ 7.
6. The Judges shall take sufficient time to assess the Kata.
7. Where possible a separate category will be provided for disadvantaged people.
8. Where a Team Kata/Form category is offered the team shall comprise of not less than three competitors.

ALL PERSONS COMPETING IN AN AUSTRALIAN MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT MUST ABIDE BY THESE RULES.

The Australian Martial Arts Association reserves the right to alter, amend , delete or add to these Rules.
These Rules are the property and copyright of the Australian Martial Arts Association incorporated in South Australia and may not be produced in part or whole without the written permission of the Association.

AUSTRALIAN MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION	PUBLIC WARNING
THE CONTEST AREA	THE EIGHT COUNT
THE OFFICALS	THE TEN COUNT
ARBITRATOR	BOUT DURATION
REFERREE	THE TARGET AREA
JUDGES	CONTACT
TIMEKEEPER	NON-CONTACT
EVENT ORGANISER	FORBIDDEN ACTS, TECHNI...
MEDICAL OFFICER AND ...	COMMENTARY ON GROIN CONT...
DRESS CODE FOR OFFICALS	COMMENTARY ON RULES
DRESS CODE FOR COMPETITORS	SCORING
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT	COMMENTARY ON AIDS
WARNINGS	COMMENTARY ON DRUGS AND AL...
WARNINGS COMMENTARY	RULES FOR KATA/POOMES/FORMS
WARNINGS DEFINITIONS	APPENDAGE ONE
MINOR WARNING