Competition in Light Contact Kickboxing Should Be Executed As Its Name Implies, With

Defining Light Contact under the KBA

Competition in Light Contact Kickboxing, MOD Thai, MMA & Combudo, should be executed as its name implies, with well-controlled techniques. In light contact competitors contest continuously until central referee commands STOP or BREAK. They use techniques from Kickboxing, but these techniques must be well controlled when they land on legal targets. Equal emphasis must be placed on both punching and kicking techniques. Light contact has been created as an intermediate stage between semi and full contact kickboxing for children of 10 yrs and above and adults.

Kickboxing Australia’s definition of permissible contest ages, for Light Contact, is, for children and adolescents, between the ages of 10 – 17 yrs of age. For adults of 18 – 50 yrs. Kickboxing Australia does not promote full contact contests for players below the age of 11.

Light contact is carried out with a specific running time of not more than 3x2 min rds. Rounds can be shortened as can the time of each round depending on the promoter’s discretion and the athletic ability of the participants and their age. The central referee does not judge the fighters, but only makes sure they respect the rules. Three judges make the complete scoring decisions on normal KBA scoring sheets or by electronic scoring board.

The definition of what constitutes light is often open to wide interpretation, however for Kickboxing Australia (KBA) we have worked hard on a clear definition for this sport form. Light isn’t full and is of a level that both the participants and corner officials agree.

As each athlete has a different ability of power it is impossible to measure what would constitute an acceptable level of power, therefore to put power into percentages isn’t helpful when 50% of one athletes power my be a 100% of the other athlete, making the situation unmanageable.

Therefore, techniques must be executed with the intent to score rather than cause actual damage. If players are of equal ability and both are equally displaying an ability to defend and protect themselves and neither are upset, objectionable or worried by the level of contact, and neither side is showing clear signs of intent to hurt and both are in keeping of the rules and spirit of the contest format, then they are safe to continue until such a time; when a player is in distress, due to their defence being breached or due to exhaustion, change of gait and/or apparent pain.

When a player is in distress, or their defence breached the referee will step into intervene. Signs of distress can be crying, change of gait, turning their back, stumbling and off balance. In such a situation, the referee will walk the player to his corner, assess his/her gait and ability to continue, and then issue a count of 8 and then ask the player if they are fit to continue. If the player says yes the corner will be asked if they are happy with their player continuing. If the player or corner says no, the referee will continue the count to 10 and declare the dominate player the winner.

If the player and corner are in disagreement, and one wishes to continue and the other says no, the contest will still be stopped and the other player declared the winner.

If both agree to continue if there is one further count the contest will be stopped and the dominate player declared the winner.

If the contest is agreed to be continued by both the corner men and the player the referee will speak to the dominate player and inform him to be careful and control their techniques, and failure to do so may well lead to them being disqualified. If the player shows any clear intent to hurt then they will be disqualified. Further techniques must be well controlled with the level of power reduced; failure to comply with the instruction will result in disqualification.

If the player who has received the count becomes vengeful and shows any clear intent to hurt they could also be disqualified.

However, before a player is disqualified the referee will give in most circumstances will issue one warning. Severe or dangerous infringements of the rules can result in immediate disqualification of the player.

If one player is disqualified, neither player can continue in the tournament.

If a player KO’s, injures or damages another player in the tournament, so that they are unable to continue they will be disqualified.

There are no exceptions to this rule. It is Kickboxing Australia’s clear intention to demonstrate that there is a clear responsibility on all participants to stick rigidly to the rules and spirit of the contest, as light contact is about style and clean techniques and not about hurting your opponent. Each player is accountable for their own actions and infringements of the rules will not be tolerated and severe or repeated infringements may result in a period of suspension from future competitions as deemed fit by the director of Kickboxing Australia. Most such suspensions would be for two months, but could be extended depending on the situation.

These rules ensure there is no advantage to feigning an injury in order to get your opponent disqualified as neither competitor will be allowed to continue, thus assisting with the management of poor sports persons conduct.

Furthermore there is no advantage to applying full contact techniques with a clear intent to hurt of knockout your opponent, as the results will be disqualification.

All disqualifications will be recorded as a no contest on the player’s record card, again making disqualification a no advantage situation to either player. Disqualification will result in both participants receiving a 28 day suspension from competition.

Furthermore, if a player has an opponent disqualified at 3 consecutive tournaments, the player will be suspended from future tournaments for three months and declared unfit to participate; again this will assist in potential foul play and promote good sporting conduct.

The above definitions clearly define how a light contact competition should be conducted and managed and hold the players, their clubs and corner men accountable for their upholding of the rules and their actions.

This definition was designed by Jeff Bullock, founder of Kickboxing Australia as a clear guide on how to manage light contact in both ring and matt formats, with the intention of promoting good sporting conduct, good health and safety and nil advantage to any infringement of the rules. May Australians now enjoy Kickboxing safely?