For the tournament held on Sunday October 5th, 2025.

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Forms Event Rules (Open Hand, Weapons, Team)

Students under 7 years – Precision Kicking Event

Students under 7 years – Tournament Combo Event

Respect Your School: Uniform Guidelines and School Participation

All competitors must be wearing their school’s clean uniform and appropriate patches to compete. All competitors must receive official approval from their Master Instructor/Federation school to compete. Competitors are representing their school at all times during this event so it is essential to review this document, meet with your Master Instructor with any questions you may have and represent your school with respect, kindness and courage the day of this event.

Tournament trainings will be conducted by your master instructor’s school as appropriate. Please see them for more info. AK Martial Arts & Fitness will provide competitor training and will invite other schools as deemed appropriate. AK Martial Arts & Fitness will provide free training to all red and black belts of all schools for instructor training. Please check the main SD Classic page more info as it becomes available.

For any questions or assistance, please call or text us at 760-828-7165 or email us at [email protected].

Accredited schools that have not been invited must request approval by sending a formal email to [email protected] Attention: Sa Bom Nim Estes. Please list your school location, accreditation, number of competitors you wish to bring, events you are interested in and if you need assistance with accommodations. Call or text 760-828-7165 with any questions.

Ring Management

Each Ring shall consist of one Head Referee, a minimum of 2 side Judges and a Scorekeeper/Timekeeper. Our goal is to work together with great teamwork and provide a fun, fair & successful day for everyone. The Head Referee should be an experienced tournament judge. They are responsible for overseeing the general operation of the ring. Any questions or conflicts should be directed to the Head Referee. The Head Referee should work closely with the Scorekeepers and Timekeepers to ensure proper administration of the rings.

Judges and officials must attend the pre-tournament meeting at 9:30am to go over the rules prior to the start of the tournament. If any judge or official can not attend the meeting, please notify the tournament director at 760-828-7165.

If any Head Referee, Side Judge, Official, Competitor or Guardian has any concerns about the rules in a ring, please notify the tournament organizers IMMEDIATELY for resolution. Once events are completed, changes may be impossible due to competitors and judges leaving the venue. The tournament officials will have a table near the entrance to the venue that will be staffed all day to provide support to all rings.

The 2 side Judges should watch and listen attentively to their ring. Follow the directions of’ the Head Referee and refer any questions directly to him/her. Sit at attention with confidence. Show good discipline and respect at all times. Remember, you are an example to the competitors. Do not leave your ring without permission. Scorekeepers and Timekeepers should follow the directions of the Head Referee. Fill out all paperwork completely and write neatly and clearly. Remember someone must later record the results. If you have any questions, please ask.

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EVENTS

Point Sparring

Adults, Teens, Dragons (All Belts)

The Head Referee is responsible for making decisions on competitor’s participation in the ring (gear is checked, timeliness, etc). If a competitor is late, the Head Referee will make the decision of inclusion of competitor in the ring. If included, the process of assigning competitors to sparring chart MUST start over. If a match has already been started, the Head Referee will void the match results and start over if a new competitor is to be included in the ring.

The ring is called to attention, with the three officials lining up facing the competitors. The competition is started by all the competitors being brought to attention by the Head Referee, the co-referee’s and all the competitors will then face and bow to the head table at the front of the venue. The competitors then turn and face the referee’s and bow to each other. The scorekeeper will then shuffle the playing cards and have the competitors pick a card at random to determine their starting order. When the ring is ready to begin, the scorekeeper calls the name of competitor’s up and announces the names of the next two competitors.

Both competitors enter from the side of the ring where the scorekeeper is located. Both competitors bow before entering the ring and then proceed to the center of the ring as indicated by the referee. It is the Head Referee’s full responsibility to ensure that the correct sparring protection & headgear is worn by all competitors; this is mandatory. The Head Referee extends his or her arms out with hands held at shoulder height. The hands should be held tight and strong with the palms facing outwards towards the competitors. The Head Referee simultaneously snaps the palms to face inward, indicating to the competitors to face each other. The Head Referee again simultaneously dropping the hands inward, palms facing the ground at chest height, indicating to the competitors to bow to each other.

At this time the Head Referee raises the colored tag in the right hand to indicate the person on the right, and places the colored tag around the back of the competitor’s belt. Moving back to attention the Head Referee calls “Ready” The Referee then steps between the competitors. Calling for “fighting stance” the Head Referee extends both arms outward, pushing the competitors back to their position. To begin the match the Head Referee will place one hand in the middle of the competitors then slice down and say “Fight!”.

The Head Referee then slides back into fighting stance. A point is called by any judge shouting loudly POINT!, the Head Referee then calls for verification, the two side judges simultaneously raise their hands indicating how the point/ warning should be given, the referee calls out the points voting so that everyone is aware what has been scored. Upon completing the point awarding the Head Referee the steps between the competitors. Calling for “fighting stance” the Head Referee extends both arms outward, pushing the competitors back to their position. To restart the match the Head Referee will place one hand in the middle of the competitors then slice down and say “Fight!”.

The Head Referee then slides back into fighting stance away from the competitors, indicating for the match to continue.
The time runs for two minutes continuous. Upon time running out the Timekeepers calls “Time” loudly to stop the match. The Head Referee then steps in to stop the match and shouts “stop”. The competitors return to attention. The Head Referee raises both hands, palms facing inward. The Head Referee simultaneously drops the hands inward, palms facing the ground at chest height, indicating to the competitors to bow to each other.

The Head Referee then grasps the arm of each competitors raising the arm and calling the winner of the match. The competitor’s then back out of the ring at the same point as they entered, exit and bow to the Head Referee and confirm their names to the scorer if they have won.

Matches

Each match will last two minutes. In the case of a tie, the competitors will continue, until the first point is scored. The time will not stop unless indicated by the Head Referee to do so e.g. in the case of an injury. The time does not stop for point verification.

Calling Points

In scoring points, each side judge will have one equal point. The Head Referee will make the final determination of whether a point is called. To call a point any of the judges or head referee will call “Point” to pause the match. The Head Referee will ask the corner judges to indicate by raising the right or left arm high into the air and indicating with their fingers how many points to be awarded. If a judge or referee did not see the point, they will raise both open hands crossed in front of the eyes to indicate “Did not see”. A “Did not see” indication has no effect on the total of the votes. The Head Referee will determine if a point is earned based on the input from the 2 corner judges and will have the final say for all point awards.

Warnings can be applied for excessive contact, illegal techniques, leaving the ring on purpose and other types of unsportsmanlike behavior. To signal a warning, upon calling for verification the judges points open hand down and outward calling warning. The Head Referee will determine if an official warning is given. Multiple warnings for the same type of infraction can result in a point being awarded to the other competitor.

Dissent or bad respect can lead to immediate disqualification and immediate exit from the entire tournament.

A valid technique will score:

One point, = A punch
Two points: = Any body kick
Three points: = Any head kick

(NOTE Repeat Warnings can also constitute a valid point.)

Legal Scoring Techniques:

Any Kick or punch to the following Legal Target areas:

Head -side and front of head but not top or back of head

Body –Above the belt. Side and front of body but not back

Illegal Target Areas and therefore Warning offences:

Any Attack to the following areas:

Any area below the belt

Back of Body

Back or top of Head

Additionally:

The head is a scoring area for a punching technique for all ages and grades.
Good control is Mandatory!

Contact should be:

Junior belts – No contact to face or body. Scoring techniques must pass inside the front guard hand.
Senior belts – No contact to face. Light touch to body and sides of head.

In the event of excessive contact the referee and judges will decide as to whether the contact was intentional or accidental and give warnings accordingly.

Drawing blood is an automatic disqualification unless there is a unanimous decision from all judges and referee that the cause of drawing blood was not the fault of the attacker.

Invalid techniques that will result in a Warning:

Elbow Strike
Ridge Hand
Spear Hand
Grabbing/Holding
Spinning Hand Techniques
Any technique to the back or top of head, also the back area
Below the belt techniques
Sweeping / Takedown Techniques
Persistent turning your back
Running out of the ring

After the second warning of the same type of infraction, each resulting warning will result in one point being added to the opponent’s score.

Protective Gear:

Mandatory – Supplied by each competitor. Limited quantity of Dipped Foam Boots will be available for purchase at the event ($30 cash or venmo). Limited quantities of mouthguards will be available for purchase for $5 (cash or venmo) at the event. Helmets and Hand gear will not be available to rent or purchase.

Dipped Foam Gloves/Hand pads – Must be worn, no exceptions.
Dipped Foam Boots/Foot pads – Must be worn, no exceptions. Can purchase at the event.
Dipped Foam Helmet – Must be worn, no exceptions
Mouth Guards (Can sign waiver at event to spar without)
Groin protection (Can sign waiver at event to spar without)

Additional gear that can be worn but is not mandatory

Shin pads
Forearm pads

NOTE: Chest guards are NOT allowed at this event unless medically required. Chest guards for medical conditions must be approved by the tournament director prior to your event.

Notes for Scorekeeper / Timekeepers:

Please pay close attention, the Referee needs your full attention. Write neatly and legibly. Keep track of awarded points during Sparring. Ask the Referee to verify your scoring. If you are approached with a question or complaint, refer them to the Referee.

Please do not be afraid to ask questions or for help!

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Forms (Open Hand, Weapons & Team)

Dragons, Teens, Adults & Senior Tigers (All Belts) The following form events follow the same ring guidelines and formalities:

Open Hand Forms (All Belts Dragons, Teens & Adults)
Weapons Forms (All Belts Dragons, Teens & Adults)
Team Forms (All Belts Dragons, Teens & Adults)

Forms Ring Procedures

As the competitor divisions are assembled in the staging area they are sent to their assigned ring. The Head Referee lines the competing competitors up and the scorekeeper gathers the registration information. The scorekeeper should be sure to fill out all Ring and Division information on the score sheets. The ring is called to attention, with the officials lining up facing the competitors. The Head Referee bows the competitors in and directs them to sit at attention, until they are called to compete.

The scorekeeper will then shuffle the playing cards and have the competitors pick a card at random to determine their starting order. When the ring is ready to begin, the scorekeeper calls the name of the competitor up and the next competitor on deck. The competitor bows, enters the ring and prepares to compete.

NOTE: If a new competitor arrives to a ring after the random drawing of cards the Head Referee will stop the event and distribute the random cards again with the new person included.

Based on the number of competitors in the ring either one or two competitors will perform at a time. To start the competition, the competitors name(s) will be called followed by the next competitor(s) to compete who will be ready “on deck”. This procedure will continue until the end of the competition. The first three competitors, if the ring is running one competitor at a time, or the first two groups of 2 competitors, if the ring is running two competitors at a time, will not receive their scores right away. The judges will see them all perform first and then bring them back to receive their scores. After the first 3 single or 2 pairs, the rest of the competitors will receive their scores right after their performance.

The competitor(s) enters the ring and bows to the panel of judges, the competitor(s) will then advance to towards the judges, they are required to announce their name, the school where they train and the Form that they intend to perform.

Example of Speech:

“Good Afternoon Judges. My name is Julie Smith. I train at AK Martial Arts & Fitness. Today, I will perform Sip Soo. With your permission, I will begin.” For those that are doing the Tournament form, along with the introduction, you would announce “I will perform the Tournament Form”.

The judges will then give permission to begin; the competitor(s) will then start when they are ready. In the case of children guidance can be given as to starting position. Competitor will perform form and automatically ba ro at the end of the form, bow and step back into ready position (chun bee) to await judges commands

The competitors will be judged by a minimum of three (3) judges. After the competitor is finished, the Referee will call for score. Each Judge will then present their score simultaneously to the scorekeeper via hand signals. Full points are shown with wrists apart while ½ points are shown with wrists crossed. Scores should be in the 5-10 range with one hand with all fingers out and the 2nd hand indicating the additional points to make it easier for the scorekeeper to record the correct scores.

The scorekeeper records the score for that competitor. Removing the highest and lowest scores if there are five (5) judges, then adding the remaining three tabulates the score. The highest score of the group indicates the winner. In the case of a tie, the highest and lowest scores are added back in to break the tie. If the tie still remains, the competitors are asked to once again perform their form, this time side by side. If there are less than five judges (5) then all scores will count.

For a tie, when they are finished, the two competitors are asked to stand at attention and the Head Referee calls for the decision. The Judges show their decision with the raising of their left or right hand, pointing to their choice of winner.

At the finish of the ring, all competitors are lined up facing the Judges and Referee. The place winners are called forward and the prizes are distributed. All competitors are then called to attention, bow and are photographed then dismissed.

Guidance for Judges:

Competitors may perform Forms that are not familiar, in this event you will be unable to determine if moves have been missed or performed incorrectly, in this case you should judge the performance on its technical merit; that is power, balance, technique & effort.

Any form is allowed for any grade but please make sure you receive counsel from your Master Instructor for your final selections.

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Open Hand Forms – All Belts Dragons, Teens & Adults. Senior Tigers with instructor approval

Traditional forms from your martial arts for this event. Please confirm and approve with your Master Instructor.

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Weapons Forms – All Belts Dragons, Teens & Adults

Any traditional weapon can be used (E.G.) Long Staff, Sword, Dagger, Kama and Fan. Please follow guidelines from Traditional forms above. All belt ranks are eligible to compete with their Master Instructor’s approval. No music will be allowed.

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Team Forms – All Belts Dragons, Teens & Adults

Any synchronized form with other students. Judging will be the same as Traditional Forms event & will include timing & sequencing points for any team form competitions. Teams can be made up of between 2 and 8. Please note that the higher level of complexity and/or the increased number of competitors on each team is a weighing factor. All belt levels are eligible to compete in this event with Master Instructor approval.

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Board Breaking – Dragons, Teens, Adults, Sr Tigers (all belts)

Competitors must notify the Head Judge of breaks they will perform. They must also set up the board holders for the breaks. Practice will be allowed outside the ring. Permission must be asked to the Head Judge & board holders to commence the break(s).

NOTE: ALL BREAKS WILL DONE USING AKMA PLASTIC RE-BREAKABLE BOARDS. This is done to maintain consistency across all competitors. There are 4 levels of boards available: White (easiest. Best for 7 and under), Orange (medium. Best for ages 8-12), Blue (hard. Best for 13+), Black (super hard. Best for black belts).

All competitors can break 1-3 stations of one board per station. Boards can be a mix of colors (See above).

Students will be permitted to break with any technique as long as the judging panel permits, (E.G) if the break attempted is safe.

Per Tournament Guidelines, Only 1 breaking attempt will be permitted for all belt levels. If any boards are left unbroken after the first attempt, the competitor is not scored or eligible for medals. If there is no winner then NO medals will be issued.

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One Step Sparring

The attack for the one step sparring event is a front punch towards the face from a front stance. Defenders will then perform a series of blocks and counter attack movements. Judges will base their decisions on the speed, control and complexity of the movements. Competitors will compete like point sparring unless there are 4 or less competitors. 4 or less will use a round robin format. Competitor #1 will go against competitor #2, #2 will go against #3, #3 will go against #4 etc until everyone has completed 2 rounds. During each match, each competitor will complete 3 rounds of defenses. After each round, the judges will indicate with their hands pointing towards one or the other competitor. The majority of hands dictates who wins that round. This process will repeat 3 times. Whichever competitor wins 2 out of 3 rounds, wins the match. 1st, 2nd and 3rd places will be determined first by number of wins. Ties will be broken by total rounds won.

No Takedowns and no contact during one step sparring!

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Little Tiger & Senior Tiger Precision Kicking Event – Ages 2-7

Little Tigers and Sr. Tigers will be given three small square kicking pads. The competitor will place the pad/pad holders where they think they can kick them. They will then ask for permission to begin. They will attempt to kick each of the three pads. Competitors will be judged on accuracy, height of kick relative to the competitor’s height and complexity of the kick used to strike the pads. Participants will get an overall score from each judge based on age, belt level, accuracy, and focus.

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Little Tiger & Senior Tiger Combination Event – Ages 2-7

All competitors will perform a series of hand techniques and kicks of their own choosing either with or without pads. Competitors should work with their instructors to construct their competition combination. Competitors will be judged based on focus, power and the complexity of their combination. All competitors will receive a tournament medal for competing in this event. The top two competitors will receive 1st and 2nd place medals. All other competitors will receive 3rd place medals.