Point-Box Rules

Fighting Areas for Point-Box:

  1. The fighting area has to be square. Each side must be 8m in length (8 x 8) maximum or (6 x 6) minimum.

  2. Around the fighting area, a safety zone strip of two meters has to be kept clear, only  Judges/coaches tables/chairs are allowed to be placed within this safety zone. No spectators are allowed to be within that zone. The safety strip zone can be marked.

  3. The Timekeeper and Scorekeeper are located at the Officials-table centre & facing the Head Referee.

  4. In case there is only one fighting area, sufficient space for the medics and/or emergency personnel has to be provided at the referee-table.

  5. The referee-table must be equipped with the following items:
    The Computer and Screens Draw sheets, Score displays, Stop watch, Bell or Bean-Bag, Paper and pencils.

Rounds:
In Point-Box division Eliminations in all age categories are 1 x 1.5 minute
round.

Finals in all age categories are National Event 1 x 1.5 minute rounds.

International  2 x 1.5 minute rounds unless otherwise stated before the start of the tournament.

Extra time rule in case of a draw, there is no break; 1 minute extra time will be given. If there is still no decision, this is followed by sudden death the competitor to get the first  clean point as the winner.

The Competitor
The competitor must be dressed in a clean and appropriate outfit. The competitors
should be wearing a clean T-shirt with  shorts or long trousers.

The trousers must reach the feet and be open on the bottom. There should be no zip fasteners, pockets or buttons.

Traditional Karate GI or Tae kwon do uniforms (Dobok) can be worn.
Competitors cannot wear any metal objects that may cause injuries to the opponent. Piercing, chains, watches or earrings are not allowed. Eyeglasses are forbidden; soft contact-lenses are possible but at the competitor own risk. Competitors may wear badges of their respective clubs, associations or Sponsor. Names and slogans are permitted as long as they do not offend public decency. Headbands, hairnets and scarves are not allowed since they may slip. Long hair must be tied together. This should be done with an elastic band. Hair grips are not allowed.

Required Competitor’s Equipment

  • Headguard

  • Gum shield (mouth guard)

  • 8yrs and under 8oz Boxing Gloves

  • 9yrs+ 10oz Boxing Gloves

  • Groin protector (men and women) must be worn under the clothes;

  • Breast protector for female juniors, adults and veterans is optional but strongly recommended.

  • Competitors, additionally, may wear:

  • Hand -bandages, maximum length 4.5 meters; though no tape on the fist or knuckles

  • Elbow and knee protectors (for personal protection not for striking)

  • Boxing boots or barefoot optional

The Referees Power
1.The referee, world president and doctor are the only persons that can stop the bout.
2.The referee may deduct a point from a competitor leaving the fighting area 3 times
in a bout following area warnings being notified.
3.The referee may disqualify a competitor for leaving the area on 4 occasions during the same bout.
4.The referee may deduct a point from a competitor for dissension after he has been already warned
5.The referee may deduct a point from a competitor for dissension from his coach after he has been already warned.
6.The referee may deduct a point from a competitor for serious unsportsmanlike behaviour, by either himself, their coach, team member or supporter.
7.The referee can disqualify a competitor if he does not turn up after he has been repeatedly called for his fight (usually one minute is allowed).
8.The referee can disqualify a competitor who turns up with improper safety equipment and can not replace it in the time allotted (usually one minute is allowed).

What a Referee cannot do:
1.The referee cannot disqualify a competitor for any reason other than those stated in the chapter above.
2.The referee can not at anytime impose, change or alter any of the rules.
3.The referee cannot overrule any score by a judge unless that score is a minority one.(However, if a rule has been broken that the judge is unaware of, then they may be overruled).

Beginning, Interruption and End of Fights:
A contest is refereed by a main referee and two side-judges, which are always standing opposite to him. The side-judges have to move during the fight and not stand on the same point.

Equipment Check: The side-judges have to check the competitors’ safety equipment. Each judge is responsible for the competitor at his end. He starts from the head to the toes. In the case of female competitors, the breast protector and groin protector are checked by asking only.

This is also the case with the KIDS and the JUNIORS (complying with child safety laws.).
If in case of an injury the competitor was found not to have the correct protective equipment he/she will be disqualified immediately.

The judge is also responsible for the following; that the competitor has no jewellery or metal and that the nails on toes are short. NO glasses (spectacles)are allowed to be worn during a competition. There are NO exceptions to this rule. This includes specially made unbreakable sports spectacles. Also no face shields on helmets. Soft contact-lenses are possible but at their own risk. Groin protectors, shin guards (and breast protectors for female juniors, adults and veteran) must be worn under the clothes, breast protector for female kids is recommended.

Start:
The main referee will take his place in the middle of the competitors, facing the official table. He must check that his side-judges are ready to start, that the timekeeper and scorekeeper are ready to begin and that the match medical team is by the referee table or close by in the hall. Finally he should keep an eye on the visual score cards, that they are not showing points or warning, except in a team competition.

After the command “shake hands “or“touch gloves “or “bow” to the competitors he will start the match with the command “fight”.

Interruption:
If the main referee acknowledges a point scored by one of the competitors referee shall raise their hand IMMEDIATELY then the ref will stop the fight saying “stop” and both competitors will return to their starting position.

The match time is still running! The main referee will also quickly return to his starting position and show with his hand in the direction of the competitor who has scored. Referee must look for his side-judges, and in case of a majority decision he will give the points and announce the score.

After giving the point he should start the competition again with the command “fight”. The main referee should always keep an eye on the referee table,to be sure that the visual scoreboard shows the correct points and warnings.

Important note:
When the side-judges are not showing the point by raising their hands before the main referee stopped the fight the only possible decision is no score. To raise the hand or to show a point after the command “stop” is too late and illegal.

Apart from the referee, only the doctor / medic and supervisor can stop a competition.

The coach may throw in the towel for his competitor, when he wants to retire from the
fight. The referee has to stop the time if the competitor is outside of the area, for giving warnings, penalty points and additional 10 seconds penalty time, or when the equipment is not fitting well.

End of the Match:
The time of the fight is over when the timekeeper shouts “stop” and concurrently rings the bell on the fighting area. The fight is over in any case, when the main referee stops the fight finally with the command “stop” and not earlier.

The difference of 10 points in elimination fights ends a fight by TKO. i.e. -10 / 0 and 12 /
2 on international tournaments.

If there is a score in the time between the “end of time” and “end of fight” that score is valid. Main referee turns to the referee table, takes one hand of both competitors and shows the winner,  announcing the final score.

Rules of Competition:
Scoring Areas:

  • Front, back and side of the head Front and side of the body.

  • Sweeps boot to boot.

  • Every strike must be controlled and well timed

  • Punch only a downed opponent within 3 seconds (2 points if follows sweep)

  • The referee will count until 3 in his mind before calling stop. In the event of a competitor falling on to the floor the 3 second rule still applies.

Scoring Values:

  • All hand strikes to both head and body = 1 Point

  • Successful sweep downing opponent, can strike within 3 seconds & score  = 2 Points

  • Jump Head Strike 2 Points (Both feet must leave floor)

  • 1-2 Combo landing cleanly = 2 points

  • 1-2 Comb. including  jumping strike clean = 2 points

For any point to be scored requires minimum of  2 out of the 3 Referees to have seen it.

Main Referee can overrule and score a clean/blatant strike if the line of site was not clear for another Referee to see.

If 2 Referees see a clean strike and raise their hands but the Main Referee does not. The Main Referee can stop the fight and if the Referees confirm clean strike the point/s will be awarded.

Prohibited Actions:

  • Sweep and kick to knee and thigh (low kick).

  • Kick and punch to the groin

  • Kick and punch to the back of the body or to the top of the head

  • Scratching, biting, spitting, verbal attacks to the referees or his opponent

  • Kick and punch after stop called

  • Uncontrolled actions

  • Leaving the fighting area or falling down to waste time

It is not usual to stop the time to give points, but the referee will stop time to give a warning or minus-point.

Point-Box Techniques

Permitted Techniques

  • Jab and Reverse

  • Right Cross

  • Back Fist

  • Reverse Punch

  • Ridge Hand

  • Hook Punch

  • Uppercut

  • 1-2 Blitz style combo

  • 1-2 Combo

  • Jumping Reverse Punch

  • Sweep

Illegal Techniques:

  • Punch Inside of Hand

  • Spinning Back Fist

  • Knife Hand

  • Throws

  • Elbow Strike

  • Pushing With Arms

  • Any Kick

  • L ow Kick

  • Knee Butts

  • Head Butts

In Point-Box competitions only one coach is allowed and he/she is to stay seated. If the coach feels there has been an infringement of the rules, he may indicate to the centre referee using the sign “T” -for time.

At no time may the coach enter the fighting area. The referee may give a penalty point.

On each fighting area the referees also acts as the “ring inspector “ the referee is responsible, that on their fighting area all WKO rules will be correctly applied. Referee is also responsible that neutral referees are on duty, depending on the competitors. (E.g. they are not from the same club/country.)