Sparring

  1. Eligibility
    • Yellow/orange belts and higher of any age.
  2. Format
    • Random seeding
    • Single elimination
  3. All sparring gear must be worn
    • Mouth guard is mandatory
    • Protective cup must be worn under uniform
    • Summer uniform may not be worn for sparring
  4. Points
    • 1 point—valid punch on chest protector
    • 2 points—valid round house kick on chest protector
    • 4 points—valid turning kick on chest protector
    • 3 points—valid kick to the head
    • 5 points—valid turning kick to the head
    • At the end of the second round, the 20 point difference rule will be in effect for black belts only.
  5. Application of head contact safety rules
    • NO HEAD CONTACT:
      • ALL color belts of any age
      • Black belts ages 10 and under
    • LIGHT HEAD CONTACT — Black belts ages 11-15
    • HEAD CONTACT — Black belts ages 16 and up
  6. Rounds and duration
    • 2 - one minute rounds with 30 second rest time
  7. Weight Divisions: See weight chart below

Black Belt Sparring

  1. Eligibility
    • All black belts ages 11 and up.
    • Age will be determined as of December 31, 2023. It may or may not correspond with your current age.
  2. Ages 11-15 will follow the Junior Safety Rules:
    • Competitors will be allowed to kick to the facial area: however, the kick must be light contact with appropriate control without causing injury or excessive contact, or the appropriate penalty shall be invoked.
    • The competitor who executes a successful kick (light contact without causing any injury—even with a turn kick) shall be awarded 5 points at most.
    • The competitor who executes a kick to the face which results in a minor injury shall receive a 1- point (Gam-jeom) penalty. A minor injury is defined as abrasion or bleeding caused by non excessive contact. The referee, with or without consultation with the tournament physical, shall determine if the abrasion or bleeding is a minor injury, and if the attack is a non-excessive one.
    • The competitor who executes a kick to the face which results in the inability of the opponent to continue sparring because of injury shall be disqualified. The referee, with or without consultation with the tournament physician, shall determine if the attack is an excessive contact, and if the injury is a major one.
  3. Ages 16 and up will use Adult Rules-- Light head contact will be allowed.
  4. Competitors must provide their own safety/sparring equipment: head gear, mouth guard, forearm guards, chest protector, groin protector, shin and instep protector.
  5. Rounds and duration
    • 2 - 1 minute 30 second rounds with 30 second rest time
  6. Weight Divisions, please see Tournament Sparring Weight Divisions.

Tournament Sparring Weight Divisions

Ages 4-5 - No weight divisions
Ages 6-7 - All belts
lbs Weight Class
< 42 Fin
42 - 51 Light
51.1 - 59 Middle
> 59 Heavy
Ages 8-9 - All belts
lbs Weight Class
< 46 Fin
46.1 - 55 Light
55.1 - 66 Middle
> 66 Heavy
Ages 10-11 - All belts
lbs Weight Class
< 66 Fin
66.1 - 77 Light
77.1 - 88 Middle
> 88 Heavy
Ages 12-14 - All belts
Male
lbs Weight Class
< 72.8 Fin
72.9 - 81.6 Fly
81.7 - 90.4 Bantam
90.5 - 99.2 Feather
99.3 - 108.0 Light
108.1 - 116.8 Welter
116.9 - 125.7 L. Middle
125.8 - 134.4 Middle
134.5 - 143.3 L. Heavy
> 143.3 Heavy
Female
lbs Weight Class
< 63.9 Fin
63.9 - 72.8 Fly
72.9 - 81.5 Bantam
81.6 - 90.4 Feather
90.5 - 97.0 Light
97.1 - 103.6 Welter
103.7 - 112.4 L. Middle
112.5 - 121.3 Middle
121.4 - 130.1 L. Heavy
> 130.2 Heavy
Ages 15-17 - Color belts
Male
lbs Weight Class
< 106 Fin / Fly
106.1 - 121 Bantam / Feather
121.1 - 139 Light / Welter
139.1 - 161 L. Middle / Middle
> 161 L. Heavy / Heavy
Female
lbs Weight Class
< 97 Fin / Fly
97.1 - 108 Bantam / Feather
108.1 - 121 Light / Welter
121.1 - 139 L. Middle / Middle
> 139 L. Heavy / Heavy
Ages 15-17 - Black Belts
Male
lbs Weight Class
< 99.2 Fin
99.2 - 105.8 Fly
105.9 - 112.4 Bantam
112.5 - 121.3 Feather
121.4 - 130 Light
130.1 - 138.9 Welter
139.1 - 149.9 L. Middle
150.1 - 160.9/td> Middle
161.0 - 172.0 L. Heavy
> 172 Heavy
Female
lbs Weight Class
< 92.6 Fin
92.6 - 97.0 Fly
97.1 - 101.4 Bantam
101.5 - 108.0 Feather
108.1 - 114.6 Light
114.7 - 121.3 Welter
121.4 - 130 L. Middle
130.1 - 138.9 Middle
139.0 - 149.9 L. Heavy
> 149.9 Heavy
Ages 18-32 - Color Belts
Male
lbs Weight Class
< 128 Fin / Fly
128 - 150 Bantam / Feather
150.1 - 176 Light / Welter
> 176 L. Heavy / Heavy
Female
lbs Weight Class
< 108 Fin / Fly
108 - 126 Bantam / Feather
126.1 - 148 Light / Welter
> 148 L. Heavy / Heavy
Ages 18-32 - Black Belts
Male
lbs Weight Class
< 112 Fin
112 - 128 Fly
128.1 - 139 Bantam
139.1 - 150 Feather
150.1 - 163 Light
163.1 - 176 Welter
176.1 - 192 Middle
> 192 Heavy
Female
lbs Weight Class
< 101 Fin
101 - 108 Fly
108.1 - 117 Bantam
117.1 - 126 Feather
126.1 - 137 Light
137.1 - 148 Welter
148.1 - 161 Middle
> 161 Heavy
Ages 33-40, 41-50, 51+ - AllBelts
Male
lbs Weight Class
< 128 Fly
128 - 150 Feather
150.1 - 176 Welter
> 176 Heavy
Female
lbs Weight Class
< 108 Fly
108 - 126 Feather
126.1 - 148 Welter
> 148 Heavy