Rules for Professional and Amateur Kickboxing and Professional Full-Contact Karate

PURPOSE: This rule sets forth the official professional regulations of professional and amateur kickboxing and professional full-contact karate including kickboxing, or any form of martial arts. (1) Gloves shall be leather and of the regular boxing type. No karate-type hand gear or any hand gear that does not fully cover the hand will be allowed. Glove weight shall be eight to sixteen (8–16) ounces. (2) All male contestants are required to wear a groin protector. All female contestants may be required to wear plastic breast protectors and a protective pelvic girdle. (3) All contestants are required to use a mouthpiece. If a contestant loses a mouthpiece during a round, the mouthpiece must be replaced when there is a lull in the action. (4) Handwraps may not exceed the following restrictions: one (1) winding of surgeon’s adhesive tape, not over one and one-half inches (1 1/2") wide, placed directly on the hand to protect the hand near the wrist. The tape may cross the back of the hand twice but shall not extend within one inch (1") of the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make a fist. Contestants shall use soft surgical bandage not over two inches (2") wide, held in place by not more than two feet (2') of surgeon’s adhesive tape for each hand. One (1) twenty- (20-) yard roll of bandage shall complete the wrappings for each hand. Bandages may be adjusted in the presence of an inspector and both contestants. Either contestant may waive the privilege of witnessing the bandaging of opponent’s hands. (5) The weigh-ins for professional and amateur combined events will be conducted within forty-eight (48) hours before the contest. The weigh-ins may be more than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the contest with special permission from the office. A contestant who fails to make the weight will be given up to two (2) hours to make weight. Any contestant who fails to make the weight may be disqualified. (6) For events that include amateur contestants only, all weighins must be scheduled no earlier than 10:00 AM on the day of the event. There shall be no weight allowances for amateurs. Amateur contestants must compete within the weight classes listed in section (7) of this rule. No substitutes may be submitted after the weigh-in has begun unless approved by the office due to special circumstances. (7) Professional contestants may only fight contestants in their own weight category unless permission is granted by the office. In no instance shall the office waive the weight category requirements, when the contestant’s weight span exceeds ten (10) pounds excluding the weight classifications in subsections (L) and (M) of this section. Following is the schedule of weight classification: (A) Flyweights 108–111 lbs. (B) Bantamweights 112–118 lbs. (C) Featherweights 119–126 lbs. (D) Jr. Lightweights 127–130 lbs. (E) Lightweights 131–135 lbs. (F) Jr. Welterweights 136–140 lbs. (G) Welterweights 141–147 lbs. (H) Jr. Middleweights 148–154 lbs. (I) Middleweights 155–160 lbs. (J) Super Middleweights 161–168 lbs. (K) Light Heavyweights 169–175 lbs. (L) Cruiserweights 176–200 lbs. (M) Heavyweights over 200 lbs. (8) The referee has general supervision of the bout. S/he enforces the rules, promotes safety of the contestants, and ensures fair play. Only the inspector may overrule the referee if the referee is not enforcing the rules. Before starting a bout the referee shall ascertain from each contestant the name of his/ her chief second responsible for the conduct of the assistant seconds during the progress of the bout. The referee may call contestants together before each bout for final instructions, at which time each contestant may be accompanied by the chief second only. (9) The three (3) judges shall be stationed at ringside, each at a separate side. The judges will score each round on a ten- (10-) point must system and turn the scorecards over to the referee after each round. The referee will then hand the scorecards to the inspector. A final decision must be made before the judges may leave the area. Any erasures or changes on the card must be approved and initialed by the judge and inspector. (10) The attending physician will have an adequate room in which to make the physical examination. Whenever a contestant, because of illness or injuries, is unable to take part in a contracted bout, s/he or his/her second must immediately report the fact to the inspector. The contestant will then submit to an examination by a physician designated by the office. Contestants who have been knocked out will be kept lying down until they have recovered. When a contestant is knocked out, no one will touch him/her except the referee who will remove his/her mouthpiece, until the ringside physician enters the ring and personally attends to the contestant and issues necessary instructions to the contestant’s second(s). (11) No professional bout may exceed twelve (12) rounds nor be less than three (3) rounds. Rounds shall be no more than three (3) minutes in length with a one (1) minute rest period in between rounds. Round lengths may be reduced to as low as one (1) minute in length with a one (1) minute rest period between rounds. The maximum number of rounds for an amateur kickboxing bout shall be five (5) rounds. (12) Any contestant guilty of foul tactics in a round will be given an immediate warning or points may be deducted from the contestant’s total score, or both, as determined by the referee. The use of foul tactics also may result in the disqualification of the contestant. The following tactics are considered fouls: (A) Headbutts or clubbing blows with the hand; (B) Striking the groin, woman’s breast, the spine, throat, collarbone or that part of the body over the kidneys; (C) Palm heel strikes; (D) Anti-joint techniques; (E) Jabbing the eye with the thumb of the glove; (F) Hitting with the glove open, or with the wrist or forearm; (G) Grabbing or holding onto an opponent’s leg or foot; (H) Holding an opponent with one hand and hitting with the other; (I) Leg checking the opponent’s leg or stepping on the opponent’s foot to prevent the opponent from moving or kicking; (J) Purposely going down without being hit; (K) Using abusive language in the ring; (L) Unsportsmanlike conduct; (M) Attacking on the break; (N) Attacking after the bell has sounded ending the round; (O) Intentionally pushing, shoving, or wrestling an opponent out of the ring; (P) Biting; (Q) Linear or thrusting kicks directed at the knee including front kicks, side kicks, and back kicks; (R) Amateur rule differences, no knee strikes to the head of any kind; and (S) Any other actions that are deemed fouls by the referee or inspector that are not described above may be called by the referee and appropriate action taken by the referee. (13) Amateur contestants may clinch in order to immediately attack with a legal knee strike to the body only. If the knee attack and/or counter attack by the opponent is continuous and in the opinion of the referee productive, the referee may allow the knee strikes to continue up to five (5) seconds and the fighters shall be directed to break the clinch by the referee. (A) Amateur contestants may wear headgear and shin pads, however, if neither device will be worn in a bout, both contestants must mutually agree to this fact in the written bout agreement. (B) Amateur contestants may not wear gloves smaller than twelve (12) ounces. (C) Kickboxing may take place in a ring or in a cage with special permission of the office. AND INSURANCE (14) A contestant who intentionally refuses to engage an opponent for a prolonged period of time may receive an immediate warning from the referee. If the contestant continues these tactics after a warning, a point will be deducted by the referee. (15) The referee shall stop the bout for any of the following reasons: (A) The referee determines that one (1) of the contestants is clearly less experienced and/or skilled than his/her opponent to the extent that allowing the bout to continue would pose a substantial risk of serious harm or injury to the less-experienced/skilled contestant; (B) The referee decides that a contestant is not making his/ her best effort; or (C) For any other reason the referee deems sufficient. (16) In the event of serious cuts or injuries, the referee shall summon the physician who decides if the bout should be stopped. (17) If a contestant fails or refuses to resume fighting when the bell sounds starting the next round, the referee will award a technical knockout to his/her opponent as of the last completed round. (18) Before a felled contestant resumes fighting after slipping, falling, or being knocked to the floor, the referee shall wipe the contestant’s gloves free of any foreign substance. (19) When a contestant is knocked down, the referee shall order the opponent to retire to a neutral corner of the ring, point to the corner, and immediately begin the count over the downed contestant. The referee will pick up the count from the timekeeper and audibly announce the passing seconds, accompanying the count with arm motions. Any time a contestant is knocked down, the referee will automatically begin a mandatory eight (8) count and then, if the contestant appears able to continue, will allow the bout to resume. If a contestant who is down, rises before the count of ten (10) is reached and goes down immediately without being struck, the referee shall resume the count where it was left off. If the contestant is still down when the referee calls the count of ten (10), the referee will wave both arms to indicate that the contestant has been knocked out and will signal that the opponent is the winner. If a round ends before the referee reaches ten (10), the contestant must still rise before the count of ten (10) to avert a knockout. A contestant will be declared knocked down when, as a result of any legal blow or strike, any portion of the contestant’s body other than the feet touches the floor. (20) The referee, at his/her discretion, may request that the attending physician examine a contestant during the bout. Should the examination occur during the course of a round, the clock shall be stopped until the examination is completed. The physician may order the referee to stop the bout. The referee will then render the appropriate decision. (21) Injuries sustained by fouls include: (A) Intentional Fouls. 1. If an intentional foul causes an injury, and the injury is severe enough to terminate a bout immediately, the contestant causing the injury may lose by disqualification. 2. If an intentional foul causes an injury and the bout is allowed to continue, the referee will notify the authorities and deduct two (2) points from the contestant who caused the foul. Point deductions for intentional fouls will be mandatory. 3. If an intentional foul causes an injury and the injury results in the bout being stopped in a later round, the injured contestant will win by technical decision if s/he is ahead on the scorecards or the bout will result in a technical draw if the injured contestant is behind or even on the scorecards. 4. If a contestant injures him/herself while attempting to intentionally foul his/her opponent, the referee will not take any action in his/her favor, and this injury will be the same as one (1) produced by a fair blow. 5. If the referee feels that a contestant has conducted him/ herself in an unsportsmanlike manner s/he may stop the bout and disqualify the contestant; (B) Accidental Fouls. 1. If an accidental foul causes an injury severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately, the bout will result in a no contest if stopped before one-half (1/2) of the rounds are completed for bouts scheduled to last four (4) rounds through eight (8) rounds. In any bouts scheduled for nine (9) or more rounds, at least four (4) rounds must be completed. A round is complete when the bell rings signifying the end of the current round. 2. If an accidental foul causes an injury severe enough for the referee to stop the bout immediately after four (4) rounds have been completed, the bout will result in a technical decision awarded to the contestant who is ahead on the scorecards at the time the bout is stopped. A partial or incomplete round will be scored. If no action has occurred, the round should be scored as an even round. This is at the discretion of the judges. 3. A contestant who is hit with an accidental low blow must continue after a reasonable amount of time but no more than five (5) minutes or s/he will lose the fight by technical knockout. (22) Before the office issues a permit for an event, the promoter shall provide the office proof of insurance providing for payment of each contestant in the amount of at least ten thousand ($10,000) dollars in case of injury or at least ten thousand ($10,000) dollars in case of death. No contestant may waive the insurance coverage. Promoter shall be responsible for deductible payments, if any. AUTHORITY: section 317.006, RSMo Supp. 2021.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 40-5.060. Original rule filed March 12, 1989, effective May 11, 1989. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Nov. 15, 2001, effective May 30, 2002. Moved to 20 CSR 2040-5.060, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed March 20, 2018, effective Sept. 30, 2018. Amended: Filed Jan. 25, 2019, effective Aug. 30, 2019. Amended: Filed July 19, 2021, effective Jan. 30, 2022. *Original authority: 317.006, RSMo 1983, amended 1996, 2007, 2018.