www.cmaa.co.uk
Semi Contact Points
Light Continuous Kickboxing
Submission Grappling
Kata & Forms
Rules and Guidelines
1st Edition
The rules and guidelines set out in this booklet are used within the Cobra Martial Arts
Association and although similar do not reflect on those used by other groups. Therefore
it is advised that all Competitors, Coaches and any person representing a Competitor
read them in full.
CONTENTS
Licences
Medical Care
Dress Codes
Sections / Categories
Bye Chart
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Referee Classes & Courses
Controlling the area
Rules for Points & Light Continuous Kickboxing
Scoring
Competitor Ages
Rules for Submission Grappling
Spectators Around the Area
Injury Stoppages
Referee Hand Signals
Rules for Kata and Forms
Draws
LICENCES
Only Competitors with up to date C.M.A.A. or Affiliate Body licences may enter C.M.A.A.
Competitions. For Affiliate Body clarification contact the C.M.A.A. now.
In the event of a Competitor with an out of date licence winning a medal or national title, that
medal or title will automatically become forfeit and handed to the next in line on the draw
sheet and may not be handed back once the licence has been renewed.
It is the Competitor’s own responsibility to ensure their licence is up to date.
NOTE: Licences can’t be renewed on the day of the competition if they have already expired.
MEDICAL CARE
While the C.M.A.A. will make every effort to ensure the well being of Competitors by
providing Medical Care at our competitions, it is the responsibility of the Competitor to report
any injuries or medical conditions that may hinder performance to the Medics on arrival.
DRESS CODES
Competitors
Competitors must wear their own Club colours be it a Gi or simply a T-shirt and trousers /
shorts.
NOTE: Sports branded non Martial Arts clothing will not be permitted.
Referees
It is requested that all Referees wear a white Tie, black or grey trousers and soft sole shoes.
Ties can be ordered direct from the C.M.A.A. website.
SECTIONS / CATEGORIES
The following are the standard sections / categories used at C.M.A.A. National Competitions
and interclub competitions.
NOTE: The Under 10 Categories will be split into 3 groups on the mat based on height.
Competitors are handed a “fight ticket” upon entry listing the following. It is then their own
responsibility to listen for the section to be called.
Each section will be called 3 times. The fight tickets will be handed to the area desk who will
then record the names onto the draw sheet.
NOTE: If a competitor does not go to the area after the 3rd call they will forfeit their place in
that section. Individual names will NOT be called.
Points
Boys 10 years & under
Boys 11 to 13
Boys 14 to 15
Girls 10 years & under
Girls 11 - 13 years
Girls 14 – 15
Ladies Open - All grades
Men’s up to 4th KYU
Men’s 3rd KYU and over
Light Continuous Kickboxing (Adults checked by weigh in)
Boys 11 - 13 years
Boys 14 - 15 years
Girls 11 - 13 years
Girls 14 - 15 years
Men Under 70kg
70kg - under 80kg
80kg - 88.9kg (14 stone)
Over 14 stone
Ladies Under 70kg
70kg - under 80kg
80kg - 88.9kg (14 stone)
Over 14 stone
Grappling/Submission Fighting
(Adults checked by weigh in)
Cadets
Boys under 10 years
Boys 11 - 13 years
Boys 14 - 15 years
Girls under 10 years
Girls 11 - 13 years
Girls 14 - 15 years
Adults
Men Under 70kg
70kg - under 80kg
80kg - 88.9kg (14 stone)
Over 14 stone
Ladies open all grades
Kata & Forms
Cadets under 3rd KYU
Cadets over 3rd KYU
Adults mixed all grades
Cadet weapons / creative
Adult weapons / creative
BYE CHART
The following chart can be used to decide how many first round byes to give. The use of this
chart results in 2 x 3rd place who will then fight off to decide the true 3rd place winner.
C.M.A.A. Bye Chart
Number of
Competitors
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Number of
Number of
1st round fights Byes
3
1
4
0
1
7
2
6
3
5
4
4
5
3
6
2
7
1
8
0
1
15
2
14
3
13
4
12
5
11
6
10
7
9
8
8
9
7
10
6
11
5
12
4
13
3
14
2
15
1
16
0
1
31
2
30
3
29
4
28
5
27
6
26
7
25
8
24
In events with less than 7 competitors there is a high probability of ending up with 3.
In these cases it is suggested that a round robin is used as the fairest means of deciding 1st, 2nd
and 3rd.
The C.M.A.A. Draw Sheets have a section at the bottom for this very reason.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
The following list the PPE to be worn and must be in good condition. Optional PPE is shown
by * although these are advised.
Points PPE
Head Guard (*Over 18)
Gloves, open palm must cover finger and thumb.
Boots, must cover heal and all toes.
Shin Pads
Gum Shield
Groin Guard for males
Chest Guard for females*
Light Continuous Kickboxing PPE
Same as Points apart from the gloves, which must be:
10 oz closed palm boxing gloves. 12 oz may be accepted at the discretion of the Centre
Referee.
Submission Grappling PPE
Though not compulsory Gum Shields, Knee and Elbow pads are advised.
REFEREE CLASSES & COURSES
The C.M.A.A. will run regular courses for potential Referees and Area Managers.
NOTE: Any one may become a Referee including non Martial Artists.
After attending a course candidates will then be assessed and certified by working the mats at
the National Championships over a length of active service / time. The same applies to any
other competition where a C.M.A.A. Class A Referee is present.
Once certified, at all classes, Referees must continue to attend the courses and work the mats
in order to progress up further through the classes and also to retain qualification.
The 3 Classes are:
Class C
Entitled to act as a Corner Referee in the Art stated at
all C.M.A.A. Local or National Events
Class B
Entitled to act as a Centre Referee in the Art stated at
all C.M.A.A. Local or National Events
Class A
Entitled to act as a Head Referee / Area Manager in the
Art stated at all C.M.A.A. Local or National Events
CONTROLING THE AREA
The Centre Referee (Class B) controls the area at all times and will be assisted on the mat by
up to 2 Corner Referees (Class C). Scores and wins will be decided by a majority decision.
Only an Area Manager / Head Referee (Class A) can over rule the decision of a Centre
Referee and then only after a discussion has taken place. The Area Manager / Head Referees
decision is final.
Each fight will last between 1 and 2 minutes dependant on time and the number of
Competitors. 3 minutes for Submission Grappling. This will be at the discretion of the Centre
Referee.
The Centre Referee may also disqualify a competitor in the event of comments deemed to be
derogatory being passed by a coach, member of the crowd or any other person. In these cases
the Centre Referee will first, openly and politely, warn the offender explaining fully what will
happen if they repeat their behaviour. The Centre Referee will then disqualify whomever they
are supporting immediately upon repeat offence during the competition and report to a Class
A Referee who may then ask the offender to leave the venue.
The Centre Referee may replace any Corner Referee (Class C) or table official at any time
and without explanation.
The Centre Referee may instantly disqualify a Competitor who fails to provide the correct
PPE when asked and after being given a 2-minute warning to do so. The same applies to a
serious breach of any other rule.
The Centre Referee may instantly disqualify a Competitor who argues with him / her or
passes any derogatory comment of any kind to any person during the fight. The same applies
to leaving the area and refusing to fight or showing un-sportsman like behaviour of any kind.
The Area Manager / Head Referee may also impose a competition ban for a given to time to a
Competitor if he / she deems the infringement of the rules to be serious enough.
RULES FOR POINTS & LIGHT CONTINUOUS KICKBOXING
Scoring areas
Head, front side and back only
Body, front and side only
Scoring techniques (Competitor must remain standing to score)
Jab and reverse punch
Hook and uppercut punch (Light Continuous only)
Backfist
Ridge hand (Points only)
All kicks with control to the body and head only
Sweeps below the calf only
Prohibited Actions
Arguing with a Referee or showing deliberate aggression
Passing comments deemed as derogatory to any person
Sweeps above the calf / Kicks below the waist
Spinning Sweeps / Spinning Back Fist / Elbow & Knee Strikes
Groin Strikes / Open hand Strikes / Throws
Strikes to the back of the body
Striking after the Referee calls stop
Excessive contact
Exiting the area (one foot out is an exit)
Evasion / Running away
Turning away from opponent
Dropping head while defending
Penalties
1st offence – Warning
2nd offence of the same – Warning / Point deducted
3rd offence of the same – Disqualification
(This is different to WKA rules, which disqualify on the 4th offence)
SCORING
NOTE: For a Competitor to score he / she must remain standing and with both feet on the
area. If he / she scores and then goes to the ground for any reason the score will be invalid. He
/she may score to an opponent who has 1 foot out of the area or who has been downed by a
legal sweep.
In the event that a Competitor reaches 10 points the fight will be stopped and that person
declared the winner. The scoring system is: Punch to the body = 1 point
Punch to the head = 1 point
Sweep
= 1 point
Follow to sweep = 1 point
Kick to body
= 1 point (jumping 2 points)
Kick to head
= 2 points (jumping 3 points)
In Light Continuous Kickboxing the 8 kick rule within each round will apply and the winner
will be decided by the Competitor who has shown: Dominance
Better technique
Thrown more successful technique
Shown more variety of technique
Received the least warnings
In the event that a strike injures a Competitor the Medic will be called.
If the Medic withdraws the injured party the winner will be the Competitor with highest score,
unless the Centre and Corner Referees’ deem the strike to have been deliberate and excessive
in which case the innocent Competitor will be declared as the winner. No one can over rule
the Medics decision including a Class A Referee.
In the event that a Competitor stops due to exhaustion then he / she will be given a standing 8
count. If a Competitor repeats this 3 times during the same competition then he / she will be
disqualified for safety reason.
COMPETITOR AGES
Cadet categories are 15 years and under, Adults are 16 years and over.
Points & Submission Grappling
The minimum age for Competitors in the point’s categories is 5 years of age.
The maximum age is 65.
Light Continuous Kickboxing
The minimum age for Competitors in the light continuous kickboxing categories is 11 years
of age.
The maximum age is 65.
RULES FOR SUBMISSION GRAPPLING
Each fight will consist of 1 x 3 minute round, this may be reduced at the Referees discretion
based on time and the number of Competitors.
The Referee controls all aspects of the fight aided by a "mirror" Judge. The Referee will start
the fight by giving the command "fight" and stop it by giving the command "break". In the
interest of safety the Judge may also stop the fight at any time.
In the event of a pin down the Referee will stop and restart the fight after several attempts to
escape have failed. In the event of a "tap out" or submission the fight will end there with the
fighter who submitted announced as the loser.
If a fighter(s) has 50% of their body out of the area (off the mat) the fight will be stopped at
the Referees discretion. Please note being on top does not always mean you are in a dominant
position.
In the event of the fight ending with no submission, the winner will be the most dominant
fighter based on the number of hold down, pins & techniques attempted. Both Referee and
Judge will decide this.
Scoring
Immobilising pin down or hold that results in the match being stopped and re-started will
show dominance. The Referees will only stop the fight in this case after several attempts to
escape the pin or hold have failed.
Technique resulting in tap out or submission – out right win
Prohibited Actions
Cadets only
No chokes, Locks are at the discretion of the Coaches.
All
Any technique which hyper extends the neck or back
Gauging
Deliberate strikes of any kind
Not breaking when the Referee or Judge gives the command
Standing up at any time, although 1 foot may be on the floor with the other knee
Finger or toe locks
Striking or grabbing to the groin area
Kneeling on the chest or back at any time
Striking with fists, elbows etc.
Penalties
1st offence – Warning
2nd offence of the same – Warning / Point deducted
3rd offence of the same – Disqualification
SPECTATORS AROUND THE AREA
Spectators must be kept at least two to three feet away from the edge of each area at all times.
The fight will be stopped each time this is not adhered to for safety reasons.
Only one Coach per Competitor is permitted at the mat edge.
Other Competitors waiting to fight in the same category must sit either to the left or right of
the mat in relation to the area desk.
INJURY STOPPAGES
In the event of a Competitor being injured and treated by the Medics the area desk will stop
time.
The other Competitor must return to their line and kneel down facing away from the injured
party.
NOTE: No coaching must take place during this time and may result in warnings if this rule
is breached.
REFEREE HAND SIGNALS
1 Point scores = Raise the hand with one finger showing in the direction of the scoring
Competitor
2 Point scores = as above but with 2 fingers showing
3 Point scores = as above but with 3 fingers showing
Scored together = both hands up showing 1 finger on each
Technique did not land / fell short = raise both hands with palms facing in but not touching
Technique missed = close fist and brush across stomach
I did not see = both hands crossed in front of the face
No score = both hands crossed & waved in front of the legs
Competitor stepped out of area = point to area line and move arm
Warning = raise up the hand on the side of the offender with index finger prominent and
circle
Competitors clash = place fists together
Excessive contact = punch fist into other hand
Strike to forbid of non scoring area = tap the are with the hand
Grappling = hold own arm and pull
Disqualification = face the Competitor with both arms crossed in front of your face
Summon Medic = Hold arm straight up with hand open
RULES FOR KATA & FORMS
Men and Women will be placed together and split into 2 sections based on grade, as will Boys
and Girls (Cadets).
Each will perform their Kata / Form in front of the Kata Referees and will be scored from 1 to
10 including up to 1 decimal point.
At the end of the section the winner will be the Competitor with the highest score.
In the event of 2 or more scores being the same, another Kata will be performed different to
the 1st. This will continue if required until clear 1st, 2nd & 3rd place have been awarded.
In the case of musical Kata / Forms there is no time limit set as to the length of the Kata /
Form. However common sense is requested. The Referees may stop the Kata / Form if they
deem it too long.
DRAWS
Points
In the event of a draw during Points then a time extension of 30 seconds will be used.
In event of a draw still being the case after the 30 seconds time extension then more time will
be added with the winner being 1st to score as agreed by the Centre and Corner Referees.
Light Continuous and Submission Grappling
In the event of draw in these cases the Centre Referee may add extra time at his / her
discretion until a clear winner has been decided.