(A complete set of rules for all divisions available online www.PKCregion7.org)

UNIFORM: All contestants must wear a complete (top and bottom) traditional or professional sport karate (kung fu, tae kwon do, etc.) uniform in a state of good repair. A contestant with offensive words or art work on the uniform may be denied the privilege of participation. The appropriate color belt or sash must be worn in competition.

RANK RULE: All competitors must compete at the highest belt level they have earned in the martial arts. A contestant can never compete in a division of which he/she has not earned. Once a competitor competes as a Black Belt, he/she must always compete as a Black Belt.

PROOF OF AGE RULE: All contestants must have proof of age. If there is a legitimate reason to question a contestant’s age, he/she must present a birth certificate to prove their age. If proof of age cannot be presented and contestant wins a division, his/her award(s) and rating points will be held until proof of age is furnished. Proof of age must be furnished within (7) days of event.

JUDGE/REFEREE ATTIRE: We ask that all Triple Crown judges wear either a Martial Arts Uniform or Black Slacks/Paints, PKC Officials Shirt, or one of our event provided Triple Crown Polo Shirts if you are judging. This will help those in attendace determine who is staff. This will also help us met our objective of presenting a more Professional event.

SPECTATOR VIEWING POLICY: Spectators are not allowed on the competition floor at any time, spectators include black belts that are not judging. Spectators may be fined or ejected from tournament site or both for unsportsmanlike conduct, foul language, standing behind the scorekeepers, illegal protests, or being in competition area.

CODE OF CODUCT: Prefessional Karate Commission values sportsmanship, fair play, skill development, and mutual respect among all competitors, coaches, officials and spectators. This Code of Conduct has been established and adopted to ensure the guiding principles of the PKC Regional Tournament Series are understood and met by all individuals associated with this organization. To meet these responsibilities, each Competitor/Coach/Parent is expected to:

A) Know the rules and abide by them.

B) Respect the officials, referee's. coaches and players of the opposing team. Demonstrate appropriate gestures of sportsmanship at the conclusion of each match. Be humble and generous in victory and proud and courteous in defeat.

C) Maintain control of his/her emotions, avoiding the use of abusive language or profanity, humiliating remarks and gestures of ill temper upon another competitor at any time.

D) Realize, accept, and practice the principle that a team’s reputation is built not only on its playing ability but also on the sportsmanship, courtesy and manners of each individual player.

OFFENSIVE ACTIONS: A Competitor, Parent or Black Belt can be disqualified/ejected from event or suspended from tournament competition for unsportsmanlike conduct, depending on the severity of the infraction due to there behavior. Disqualification may include the following violations: Foul Language, Disrespect to Officials/Referee, The use of Excessive Contact, Throwing Equipment, Excessive Coaching or Uncontrolled Temper, If a Competitor is Disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct, they will receive: NO PKC POINTS OR AWARDS for that day. This decision may be made by the Arbitrator, Tournament Promoter, Regional Director or any of his officers.

WEAPONS - FORMS - SELF DEFENSE - CMX RULES

LATE ENTRIES AND ORDER OF PERFOMANCE: It is the responsibility of the contestant to be at the ring prior to the time that the division starts. Once the division is organized and the first competitor begins, there will be no additional entries. If a contestant comes late but the first contestant has not started, he/she can compete but must compete first and immediately. The order of performance will be by ran-dom draw of selection, shuffling of cards or computer matrix. Competitors competing in Self-Defense divisions must were a helmet.

TIME LIMIT - SCORING RANGE - DEDUCTIONS: All weapons/forms/self-defense contestants have a maximum of three (3) minutes to present and perform their routine. The time starts once they enter the competition area. Contestants in the grand championship runoff will receive (4) minutes. Scoring Range: 9.70 Low, 9.85 Average, 10.00 High. If a competitor drops their weapon, forgets their form and starts over, presents a form with CMX elements (competitors with creative forms and weapons MUST compete in CMX division. See CMX rules below), performance exceeds time limit, then violations will have a 0.30 (3/10) point deduction of their total score by the time/scorekeeper.

STYLE DIVISIONS (JAPANESE/OKINAWAN/CHINESE/KOREAN): Competitors in these divisions must exhibit a form that reflects the essence and traditional values of the division name in which they are competing. The form does not have to be a classical form handed down over the years, but should not deviate too far in form and content from the style’s classical form.

CMX (Creative/Musical/Extreme) FORMS & WEAPONS DIVISION: Competitors in the CMX Division exhibit forms that are comprised of elements from more than one style, have gymnastics or include music with presentation.

POINT SPARRING & OPEN WEIGHT SPARRING RULES

SCORING POINTS: A point is a controlled legal sport karate/kung fu technique scored by a player in bounds that strikes an oppo-nent with the allowable amount of focused touch contact or focused control to a legal target area. All punching & kicking techniques to a legal target area will be awarded one (1) point.

TIME LIMIT: All contestants have a maximum of two (2) minutes per match. The first to score 5 points or has the high score at the end of regulation wins match. Adult Black Belt Grand Championship contestants have two (2) minutes Total Points at the end of regulation determine match winner. The time starts once each competitor bows into competition area.

SAFETY GEAR: Helmet, Mouthpiece, Hand Pads, Feet Pads/Ringstars, and Groin Cup (men only). Face shields are not required but are highly recommended for youth 17yrs and under.

LEGAL TARGET AREAS: Chest, Stomach, Head (Helmet/Head Gear Area and Face), Side Ribs & Kidneys

ILLEGAL TARGET AREAS: Spine, Back of Neck, Throat, Groin, Legs, Knees and Back. PLEASE NOTE - Light face contact ONLY is allowed in sparring divisions. Any strike to an illegal target area will result in a penalty point or contact deemed excessive/malicious will lead to disqualification.

SWEEPS, TAKE DOWNS and GRABS: Sweeps not to take down an opponent, but only to obstruct the balance can be executed to the back of the front leg and mid-calf or below. Ground fighting is not allowed. A competitor may grab an opponent to off set balance or set for a strike, but MUST let go to opponent before they strike.

SECOND PUNCHING: Executing a technique after the center referee has said stop will result in a penalty point given to the opponent whether the infraction takes place in or out of bounds.

OUT OF BOUNDS: Any time a competitor touches the out of bounds line and or steps out of bounds a penalty point will be awarded to the opponent, provided he or she is not pushed, shoved, propelled, or fighting out of the ring.

PENALTY POINTS: Every verified rules infraction will result in a penalty point awarded to the opponent. This excludes those rules infractions that are considered flagrant and result in disqualification. (NO WARNINGS)

WEIGHT DIVISION: It is mandatory for all adult fighting competitors who fight in a weighed division, to weigh-in before engaging in competition. Only one official weigh-in is required. All adult fighting competitors must fight in their weight division. A contestant cannot go up a heavier weight or down to a lower weight division. If the weight official feels a contestant is trying to weigh heavier by wearing unrea-sonable clothes or equipment, he/she will be asked to take off those articles before weighing in. The weight in pounds must be recorded on the competitor’s competition card and arm band. Lightweight 179 – Under, Heavyweight 180 – Over.

CONTINUOUS SPARRING RULES

Continuous Sparring is defined as an event involving (2) individuals engaged in one 1:30 min Round Light Contact continuous  match.

REQUIRED SAFETY GEAR: All competitors must wear a mouth guard. Males- cup and supporter. All competitors must wear a helmet with a face shield. Gloves that cover the knuckles and backside of fingers (must be soft foam). Foot pads that cover the complete top of the foot and be soft foam. Shin pads are optional, but recommended

Chest protectors for ages 11 and below highly recommended.

TRIPLE CROWN reserves the right to add or eliminate divisions. If only one competitor, then may go up to next skill level if division isn’t already in session. If not exhibition match is the default.

TARGET AREAS: Ages 17 & Below & Adult Under Black Belts: The entire front of the torso from front of shoulder to the waist. No front leg sweeps or leg contact allowed. Adult Black Belts: The entire front of the torso from front shoulder to waist, head contact only allowed to side of the head. NO face contact.

MATCH DURATION: Each match will be one round of 1:30 minute each.

SCORING: Center Refs will separate competitors after 3-5 hand strikes to encourage kicks to legal target areas.

Athletes will be judged on:

1 – Ring Generalship. 2 – A good balance of punching and kicking, scored equally. 3 – Good, clean quality technique. 4 – If all 3 areas above are even then we will look at who connected more which is the quality & quantity of the techniques

In the event one athlete wins the first 2 rounds then the match is over. If tied after 2 rounds then a 3rd sudden victory round will take place.

MATCH WINNER: The end of each match, The Center referee will yell “CALL” and each of the Corner Referees will hold up the flag or point in direction of the athlete winning that round at a 45% angle in the air immediately. The Center Referee will hold up their hand in the same manner. If round becomes one sided or non-competitive a Center Referee can stop match and award winner. For the safety of the competitors, the Referee reserves right to stop match at any time.

WARNINGS: Attacking illegal targets including but not limited to the head

Stepping out of bounds (unless pushed by the opponent or both fighting). Both feet are required to be in-bounds during match

Falling down, intentionally or as a result of a technique-referee discretion

Holding, grabbing, sweeping, pushing, pulling the opponent

Boundary Warning: Fleeing from your opponent to avoid sparring.

1st warning – Verbal reprimand

2nd Warning – Loss of Round

3rd Warning Match Forfeit

Disqualification – Referee can escalate to this if blatant issues occur.

Ignoring the referees, judges or any PKC officials

Excessive Contact

Committing 3 Fouls

Injuries: Whether intentional or unintentional

During an injury, the center referee will stop time and diagnose the athlete.

If the athlete can not continue because of the injury, he/she is the winner if the opponent is responsible.

If the athlete can not continue because of the injury, he/she is the loser if the opponent is not responsible.

If you can not continue during your event, due to injury, you must not compete anymore that day.