Welcome to Our annual Fall Tournament!

This tournament will include the following events:

1. Sparring - light contact point sparring.
2. Board-breaking - up to 3 breaks in combination.
3. Ssireum - for information, search YouTube.com where you will find some great videos on this exciting sport.
4. Weapons forms - traditional, XMA, or create your own.

This tournament is open to our friends from other academies.

Judge/Referee Certification Clinic – Friday, September 23, 2011 – 530PM

To have the best advantage in competition it is important to understand the rules completely.  Students and parents are highly encouraged to become judge/referee certified at the upcoming clinic.  Certified judges and referees are invited to help officiate at the tournament so that it runs smoothly and quickly.  The real benefit to this certification is in being able to look at the competition through the eyes of the judges.  You do not have to be a black belt, in fact you don’t have to be a practicing martial artist, to become certified as a judge.  You just need sharp eyes and quick reflexes.  And…Judging is much more fun than sitting in the audience.

Only certified judges will be allowed to officiate at this tournament.

Board Breaking Competition

Required Equipment

Real Wooden Pine Boards are available from your instructor for $5 each.  All board fees will be donated to the American Cancer Society.  Your instructor will help you determine which size board is appropriate for your age and size.

Judging Criteria

Board breaking will be judged individually in 5 categories; presentation, stances, posture, eye contact, and the success of the breaks.

General Rules – Beginners

You can choose to perform from 1 to 3 separate board breaks, called stations.  At each station you will have only 2 chances to break the board.  If the break is unsuccessful after 2 tries, you must move on to the next break.

General Rules – Intermediate/Advanced/Black Belt

You can choose to perform from 1 to 3 separate board breaks, called stations.  At each station you will have only 1 chance to break the board.  If the break is unsuccessful after 1 try, you must move on to the next break.

Weapons Form Competition

Required Equipment

Student can choose from any Weapon that we have practiced with in class (current or previous semesters) or another that they have practiced with at home.

Judging Criteria

Weapons forms will be judged individually in 5 categories; presentation, stances, posture, eye contact, and control of the weapon.

General Rules – Beginners

Beginners may perform a form of any length up to 1 minute.  Stage fright is common for beginners learning to compete, so 1 chance at restarting the form is allowed, if necessary.

General Rules – Intermediate/Advanced/Black Belt

                You are not permitted to restart the form at this level.

Point Sparring Competition

Required Equipment

Helmet, Hand pads, Foot pads, Rib guard, Shin guards, Mouth guard, Cup (for guys)

Judging Criteria

Points are awarded for a legal technique (hand pad or foot pad) that hits a legal target area (rib guard or helmet).  Deductions are issued for any technique that is illegal.

General Rules – Beginners

Beginners are allowed to ‘free spar’ without contact.  In order for the judges to award a point, a student must score a legal technique that comes within 6 inches of a legal target area without hitting the target.  Deductions will be issued for beginners who make incidental contact.

General Rules – Intermediate

Intermediates are allowed to ‘free spar’ with light contact to the rib guard only.  No head shots will be allowed.

General Rules – Advanced/Black Belt

                Light contact is allowed to the rib guard and helmet only.  Legal kicks to the helmet are worth 2 points.

Ssireum Competition

Required Equipment

                Mouth guard, cup (for guys)

Judging Criteria

A competitor wins a Ssireum match by either causing the opponent to touch the floor with something other than the feet, or forcing the opponent out of the ring.

For more information – search YouTube for ‘Ssireum’.

General Rules – All Ranks

                In this competition, weight is more important than rank. Students will be paired based on size.