Kickboxing Rules – Small Gloves (4oz)
Index & File Selection
Athletes
- Participation is only permitted from the age of 18.
- The athlete must be in good physical and mental condition (established via medical examination).
- Participation is limited to B-class or A-class kickboxers.
- Youth, N-class, and C-class fighters are excluded from participation.
Weigh-in
- Athletes must make the agreed weight at the official weigh-in.
- The weigh-in takes place on the event day or the day before.
- Failure to make weight results in a 50% deduction of the agreed purse (25% goes to the opponent, 25% to the organization).
Medical Team & Examination
- At least two certified doctors must be present.
- All athletes undergo a medical check-up at the weigh-in or on event day.
- The doctor can disqualify an athlete due to injury, illness, substance use, or mental unfitness.
- After a knockout, the doctor determines the mandatory suspension period.
Cutman
- At least two certified cutmen must be present.
- Responsible for hand wrapping and treating minor injuries.
- Medical decisions are reserved for the doctor only.
Referee
- Fights are officiated by a certified referee.
- The referee ensures safety and checks mandatory equipment.
- The referee may stop the fight immediately in case of danger, inadequate defense, or illegal techniques.
- Mandatory commands: Fight, Stop, Break, Time.
- Repeated or intentional fouls may result in disqualification.
Judges
- Three neutral judges score the fight independently.
- The 10-point must system is applied.
- Scoring criteria: effective actions, aggressiveness, and control.
- Scorecards are handed to the head judge.
Scoring Criteria
- Knockdowns – A knockdown decides the round in favor of the athlete who scores it (unless points are deducted).
- Damage to the opponent – High-impact damage (e.g., staggering, visible impairment after a legal strike) carries the most weight. Damage is assessed cumulatively.
- Number of clean strikes – Effective, correct strikes count. Spectacular techniques (such as flying or spinning techniques) weigh more than standard ones.
- Aggressiveness and ring dominance – Active offense is valued more than defense.
- One athlete must always receive 10 points. Penalty points are deducted afterwards.
- 10-9: One athlete has a clear advantage.
- 10-8: A knockdown or heavy damage combined with dominance and aggressiveness.
- 10-7: A knockdown and a minus point
- Two knockdowns in the same round (fight ends)
Head Judge (Score Keeper)
- Collects and verifies all scorecards.
- Organizes the final score.
- Announces the result to the ring announcer.
Timekeeper
- Responsible for round times and breaks.
- Signals 10 seconds before the end of a round.
- Stops and resumes the clock during official time-outs.
Ring Announcer (MC)
- Introduces athletes, rounds, and results.
- Ensures coaches leave the competition area.
- Announces the winner.
Coaches
- Coaches must wear sports clothing; maximum 3 per athlete (only 2 allowed inside the cage/ring during breaks).
- Coaches are responsible for cleanliness and safety in the corner.
- Cutman always enters the cage/ring between rounds if needed.
- Coaches may throw in the towel to stop the fight.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct may result in penalties or disqualification of the athlete.
- Allowed during the break: 1 ice bag and water.
Competition Area
- The area must be safe and enclosed.
- Preferred: MMA cage; alternative: boxing ring.
- Dimensions: diameter 6–10 m, fence height 1.6–2 m.
- Floor: at least 2.5 cm shock-absorbing material.
Duration of the Fight
- Maximum of 3 rounds of 3 minutes.
- Break: 60 seconds.
- No extra round allowed, even for title fights.
Mandatory Equipment
- MMA gloves (4oz).
- Durable shorts.
- Mouthguard.
- Groin protection (mandatory for men, optional for women).
- Chest protection (optional for women).
- Optional: knee/ankle brace (allowed after approval by doctor/head judge).
- All equipment must be inspected beforehand.
Hand Wraps
- Maximum 10 m x 5 cm gauze + 2 m x 2.5 cm tape per hand.
- No tape on the knuckles.
- The glove’s Velcro strap must be taped over.
Allowed Techniques
- Punches, kicks, and knees to the legs, body, and head are allowed.
- Punches: to the head (not the back of the head), upper body front and side, spinning backfist (not with the inside of the glove).
- Kicks: to the neck (front and side), chest, abdomen, ribs, arms, thighs (inside and outside), push kick to the thigh (not to the knee joint).
- Calf kicks (to the shinbone) are allowed.
- Thai sweeps are allowed (sweeping the supporting leg with the shin or instep).
- Knees: to the head, chest, abdomen, ribs, and legs.
- Clinching: permitted as long as active. It must remain engaging for the audience and not be used to avoid fighting. The referee decides when to break.
Grounded Position
- An athlete is grounded when any body part other than the feet touches the floor. The referee then immediately stops the fight and orders both athletes to stand.
- Palms or wrists on the floor count as grounded.
- Being held only by the cage or ropes also counts as grounded.
Prohibited Techniques
- Any attack on a grounded opponent.
- Biting, spitting, hair pulling, headbutts.
- Strikes to the throat, spine, or back of the head.
- Knees or kicks to the head of a grounded opponent.
- Holding clothing, gloves, cage, or ropes.
- Small joint manipulation, eye pokes, fish-hooking, pinching/twisting.
- Feigning injury, spitting out the mouthguard, refusing to fight.
- Ignoring referee’s instructions.
- Unsportsmanlike behavior or striking after the bell.
- Elbows to the head or body (Allowed only as an option for A-class matches)
Appearance
- Athlete must be clean and well-groomed.
- No jewelry or piercings.
- Long hair must be tied up.
- Nails must be short.
- Only vaseline (applied by cutman) allowed on eyebrows, nose, and cheeks.
Knockdown & TKO
- When the referee determines that an athlete is down or visibly weakened after a damaging strike (even if still standing), a standing eight count may be given.
- The referee sends the opponent to the far neutral corner and begins counting.
- The opponent must remain in the neutral corner until the referee allows them to leave.
- If the opponent leaves the corner early, the referee stops counting until they return.
- During the count, coaches may not approach their athlete.
- After eight counts, the referee decides if the athlete can continue.
- In case of KO: the fight is immediately stopped.
- Any KO → mandatory medical check and possible suspension.
- 2 knockdowns in a round or 3 in the whole fight → FIGHT ENDS
Penalties
- Warning, point deduction, or disqualification depending on severity.
- In case of severe fouls or injury, the referee may stop the fight immediately.
End of the Fight
- By submission (towel thrown or verbal stoppage).
- By referee or doctor stoppage.
- By judges’ decision (unanimous, split, majority, or draw).
- By TKO, KO, technical decision, disqualification, or walkover.
Anti-Doping
- Doping use results in immediate disqualification.
- Refusal to take a test = immediate disqualification.
