Hastings & Bexhill BKK

Match Area
8 metres square

Judging
The panel of judges and the review panel shall have equal authority in judging the events, but the final decision rests with the review panel. Kumite bouts shall be limited to three minutes. Although time is limited, the chief judge may allow extra time after consultation with the chairman and vice chairman of the review panel and the assistant judges. Extension time shall be set at three minutes: one extension may be permitted except for the final bout where a second extension will be allowed if a decision cannot be reached.
Commentary
If an extension bout of three minutes is required there will be NO REST PERIOD allowed. The bout must be continued immediately the decision to extend is taken.

Kumite (Free-style fights)

1. One bout shall last three minutes.
2. The winner may be awarded one full point or one half point. Fouls or disqualifications on the part of the opponent automatically award victory to the other opponent.
3. Full point victory
   a. Excluding the techniques listed as fouls, a thrust kick, elbow strike, or other technique that connects and instantaneously downs the opponent scores a full point.
   b. When one opponent admits that he is beaten the other opponent is awarded a full point.
   c. When a contestant is knocked down and gets up within three seconds, he may proceed with the bout only with the chief judges's permission. In such cases, usually waza-ari )half point) is declared.
4. Half point victory.
   a. When no clear one point victory has been made, the judging committee after deliberation, will award a half point victory on the basis of the relative spirit and technical excellence of the contestants, Weight difference is considered an advantage. In such instances the lighter contestants shall win.
   
   Commentary
   It must be clearly realised that if a competitor breaks off fighting because he has been hit and does not continue immediately but returns to his spot without the referee calling 'yame'. he is liable to have a waaza-ari awarded against him.
   The weight difference must be a minimum of 2.5 kg (5.5lb) before a decision can be awarded on the basis of weight difference. In the situation where this criteria cannot ce met then the number of boards broken will be the deciding factor. 
                  b. When one opponent, as a result of the other contestant's kick, thrust or strike, partially falls causing him to place any part of his body on the floor for support a waza-ari is awarded.
                  c.  When one opponent temporarily loses his co-ordination, but does not fall down as a result of the other contestant's kick, thrust or declarations of waza-ari constitute a full point victory.
   
   Commentary
   Usually the chief judge will call 'yame' at this pint to avoid the fighter from being attacked and possibly injured from not being able to defend himself.
   d. When an opponent is downed with an technique, including foot sweeps and a well focused, but non-contact, tsuki is followed through, waza-ari is awarded.
   
   Commentary
   In order for a waza-ari to e awarded the judges must satisfy themselves that the 'tsuki' is followed through immediately to the 'take down'. The criteria shall be, good form, vigorous application, zanshin, proper timing and good distance, ie. the arm should be, or almost be perpendicular.
   
5. Fouls.
   a. Hitting, striking or touching the opponents face or neck with his hand, elbow or arm.
   b. Groin kicks.
   c. Head thrusts.
   d. Attacks to the front or side of knee.
   e. Striking or kicking an opponent who is already down.
   f. With the exception of the above listed fouls, all other foul practices may constitute 'gentn' (penalty minus points)Two penalty minus points will result in disqualification.
   g. Any other techniques or practices that the judges may regard as foul or unfair.
   
   Commentary 
   Fouls require immediate action either by 'chui, genten, or shikaku'. Private warnings should not be given as a foul is a serious offence. Rule 5 (g) covers a multitude of possible offences  which have  not been defined in the rules, ie. punches to the back area  where the vital organs ate located, kidneys, spleen etc., stamping on the instep, punching with Tsuki to the chest then allowing the elbow to strike the opponent's jaw. Using techniques which are foul of unfail but not clearly defined as such is no excuse and must be treated seriously by the judges as against the spirit of the competition.
   
6. Warnings.
   a. Holding the opponent.
   
   Commentary
   This includes the practice of 'tensho hooking' behind the neck with one or both hands , in short rules 6 (a) and 6 (d) forbid holding in any form any fighter infringing these rules should be given 'chui' without private warnings from the referee.
   b. Frequent retreating from the contest ring, This too is subject to the decision of the chief judge.
   c. Warnings shall be given when the chief judge considers any contestant's attitude especially bad.
   d. Contestants must not seize their opponent's clothing. If the chief judge regards such action as foul, the contestant in question will be penalised.
   
7. Disqualification.
   a. Anyone who fails to obey the chief judge's instructions during a bout shall be disqualified.
   b. Contestants who are 30 seconds late for bouts, and those who fail to appear shall be disqualified.
   
   Commentary
   This means a fighter must be ready, wearing the correct identifying sash ie. red or white.
   c. Contestants who remain facing each other without engaging in kumite for more that 30 seconds shall be regarded as lacking the will to fight and shall both be disqualified.
   d. Violence or bad attitude shall result in disqualification.
   e. Two 'genten' (penalty minus points) constitute disqualification.
   
   Commentary 
   Rule 7 (d) includes such action as spitting, swearing, making unsportsmanlike comments and shouting, other than a 'kiai'. Bad attitude includes turning one's back on your opponent or breaking off the fight without good reason.
   
8. Anyone who fails to take park in the match as scheduled without good reason shall be fined. The following circumstance is an exception:- physical disability arising during the tournament. The contestant must be examined by the tournament physician.

A kata is a set sequence of moves done in a set format and order. In a Kata competition the competitors get up one at a time and perform a Kata in front of five judges who score the Kata, taking points away for mistakes and adding them for a good performance.

The scoring is based around an average mark (7.0 for black belts & 6.0 for everyone else) simple mistakes e.g. a stance not low enough, bent back leg in Zenkutso Dachi will lose you 0.1 points, more serious mistakes e.g. punching at the wrong height, missing a movement will cost 0.2. Forgetting the Kata will result in a disqualification.

Points can be gained for precision, power and good stances, time is also a factor each Kata has been assigned an average time and competitors should aim to get as close to it as possible.

Clicker is very similar to NIhon Shobu, the main difference is that the fighting is continuous the score being kept by counters, one for each competitor held by both referees.

Because the fighting is continuous the rules for contact are stricter, no attacks to the face and only the bare minimum of contact allowed to the body.

Clicker fighting is a BKK invention designed to introduce NIhon Shobu fighters to continuous fighting in preparation for knockdown; it is usually a team event.

Nihon Shobu translates as two point fighting. In this style the competitors try to score two full points on each other with techniques that if they were thrown with full commitment would knock the opponent out.

Attacks can be made with a variety of techniques, Tettsui, Uraken, straight punches, Mawashi kicks, Mae geri, Kake geri even Ushiro and Yoko geri's. But only to specified areas and with the appropriate level of contact.

Attacks can be aimed at the head and face and to the front, sides and back of the torso it is illegal to strike to the legs, arms and the back of the head.

A bout usually lasts two minutes or until one fighter has amassed the necessary two points, if the time runs out the person with the most points is the winner, in the event of a draw sudden death over time begins. In BKK tournaments competitors are divided by sex and grade, there are no weight categories.