New York’s Liberty Kung Fu Cup Championship

Rules for Full-Contact Sanda

General Rules

• Full-Contact Sparring is for Advanced Level competitors only; Age Limit: 18 – 45 yrs.
• If there are less than 2 competitors in an age group, the judges reserve the right to combine age groups.
• Mandatory Safety Equipment: Headgear without Face Shield, boxing gloves (10-12 oz), mouthpiece, groin cup, shin guard, and foot protector (No Shoes). Shorts are MANDATORY – NO Long Pants.
• Striking Areas: Padded area of headgear, front of the face, chest, stomach, thigh, and lower leg.
• No Contact Areas: Back of the head, eyes, neck, spine, groin, and knees.
• Legal Techniques: Punches to the head and body; Kicks to the head, body, and legs; Throws and takedowns.
• Prohibited Techniques: Biting, elbows, knees, headbutt, choke, joint locks, knockout punches or kicks, body slam, and spiking (Spiking is defined as throwing a competitor directly down on their head in a linear fashion). Once the opponent is down on the ground, no more attacking permitted.
• Takedowns are allowed with a maximum of 2 seconds to execute.
• Weigh-in time is 8a.m. to 9:30a.m. at the Full-Contact Sanda ring. If a competitor missed the weigh-in time,  weigh-in will take place at the time when the competitor is called to compete.

Duration of Bout

• Each bout is 3 rounds; each round is 2 minutes with 1 minute rest in between each round. A competitor winning the first 2 rounds wins the bout, without going into the third round.

Scoring Points

• There are 2 aspects in Full-Contact Sanda scoring: Stand Up and Takedown scores.
• Stand Up: Three Judges will score each competitor based on landed strikes (Punch or Kick).
  • No Point: Glove to glove contact, clash of kicks, and slap punches while in a clinch do not count as points.
  • No Point: A kick that lands but is caught by the receiving competitor and the receiving competitor follows with a counter that lands effectively, or a throw/sweep that is executed effectively, the kick does not count as a scoring.
  • 1 Point: Strike landed clean to legal striking areas.
  • 2 points: Any knockdown from a strike (Punch or Kick) to the legal striking areas will award 2 points to the striker as long as the technique is clean and while the striker remains standing.
• Takedowns: After each throw, takedown, sweep, etc., the referee will stop the action and restart the competitors.
  • No Point: If a competitor attempts a throw and his/her opponent pulls the competitor down with them, and neither shows control.
  • 1 Point: If a competitor throws his/her opponent on the ground by falling down himself or herself deliberately and does not immediately stand up in a flowing motion.
  • 1 Point: If a competitor being thrown uses a throw counter technique and reverses the beginning thrower and ends up in the controlling position after both competitors hit the floor shall award 1 point. If both competitors end up side by side, no points shall be awarded.
  • 2 Points: If a competitor throws his/her opponent on the ground while remain standing.
  • 2 Points: If a competitor throws his/her opponent on the ground by falling down himself or herself deliberately and immediately stands up in a flowing motion.
• Judges Scoring: At the end of each round, one competitor shall receive 10 points, the other less then 10. After initial score is written, fouls as indicated by referee shall be calculated in.

The Winner of the Bout is Determined By

• At the end of the bout, unless the bout was stopped prior to the end of the scheduled rounds (TKO, DQ, etc.), the competitor with the highest score wins.
• If the competitor becomes disqualified by the judge, his/her opponent wins the bout.
• Forfeit by a competitor or his/her coach results in an automatic win for the competitor’s opponent.
  • To forfeit, the competitor has to raise one hand and then verbally tell the referee that he/she is forfeiting this bout.
  • The competitor’s coach can also make the decision to forfeit by throwing in a white towel.

Warning

• Striking with excessive force with the intention to knockout the opponent.
• Punching and kicking with heavy force.
• Punching and kicking to the “No Contact” areas.
• Using “Prohibited Techniques” against the opponent.
• Using performance-enhancing drugs prior to or during the bout.
• Disrespecting the referee, judges, or the opponent.
• Disregards the instructions of the referee and the judges.
• The referee has the right to disqualify a competitor from the bout or competition if:
  • The competitor receives 3 or more warnings from the referee.
  • The competitor engages in unsportsmanlike conducts.
  • The competitor injures his/her opponent using prohibited techniques or attacks the no contact area, depending on the seriousness of the injury.
• The referee has the right to stop the contest if:
  • There is a big gap in the skill level between the 2 competitors. The competitor with the skill advantage wins the bout.
  • A competitor is injured as a result of a legal maneuver, depending on the seriousness of the injury. The opponent wins the bout.
• Courtesy Rule: Salute to the judges first and then competitors salute to each other before the bout begins. After the bout finishes, salute to the judges again and then competitors salute to each other.
• Weight Classes
  • Men’s Featherweight: (145 lbs & Under)
  • Men’s Lightweight: (146 – 155 lbs)
  • Men’s Welterweight: (156 – 170 lbs)
  • Men’s Middleweight: (171 – 185 lbs)
  • Men’s Light Heavyweight: (186 – 205 lbs)
  • Men’s Heavyweight: (206 lbs & Above)
  • Women’s Lightweight: (125 lbs & Under)
  • Women’s Welterweight: (126 – 135 lbs)
  • Women’s Middleweight: (136 – 145 lbs)
  • Women’s Light Heavyweight: (146 lbs & above)
  • If there are less than 2 competitors in a weight class, the judge reserves the right to combine weight classes.