Behavior & Performance Requirements

Following are definitions of the Five (5) Elements upon which all competitors are judged/scored.

APPEARANCE : Self-Respect

1. Personal Hygiene

Clean Body
Clean & Neat Hair
Clean & Trim Finger Nails and Toe Nails

2. Uniform

Clean (No stains).
Neat (Very minimal wrinkling… does not have to be ironed/pressed).
No hanging threads, rips, tears or holes (worn/faded fabric is okay… Does not apply to Belts).
Emblems/patches must be firmly and completely affixed to the uniform.
No torn or hanging hems.
Sleeves may be permanently shortened (hemmed).
Sleeves may be rolled up NEATLY for weapon performances only.
No rolled up pant legs (must be tacked with thread or hemmed).
In Sparring divisions… groin protectors, forearm & shin guards MUST be worn under the uniform.

3. Belt

Must wrap around the body neatly with no twisting (cross overlapping is acceptable).
Must be tied in a neat square knot (tails must exit both sides of the knot).
Tails must be the same length.

4. Exceptions

Competitors who come from schools/styles that use different types of uniforms or belts are exempt from only the specific Appearance requirements that would apply to the dress code in their school.

ETIQUETTE : Politeness, Attitude and Respect for Others

1. Tournament Behavior… Competitors – Instructors – Parents – Spectators

Proper Etiquette and Behavior is expected from all competitors, instructors, parents and spectators, at ALL times, during their attendance tournament day, whether or not they are competing.
Poor Etiquette or Misbehavior on the part of a competitor will result in one or all of the following:
- Reprimand
- Low Element Score for Etiquette in a following division performance (Judges have good memories… if misbehavior is witnessed by a Judge at any time during the tournament, that Judge may elect to decrease the violating competitor’s Element Score for Etiquette for a performance in a division that follows the misbehavior).
- Disqualification
- Expulsion
Poor Etiquette or Misbehavior on the part of an instructor, parent or a spectator will result in one or all of the following:
- Reprimand
- Disqualification of the competitor associated with the individual guilty of misbehavior.
- Expulsion

2. Ring Protocol

If your uniform needs adjustment, it must be done outside of the ring with your back to the Judging Panel.
Approach the Judging Panel, bow to them in a respectful manner and stand before them in Ready Stance.
Upon completion of your address to the Judging Panel:
- Bow to the Judging Panel.
- Step backwards to your starting position (DO NOT turn your back to the Judging Panel).
- Position your start so that you do not hit the Judging Panel, scorekeeper, other competitors and/or spectators.
Upon completion of your performance:
- Return to Ready Stance and await scoring.
Upon completion of scoring:
- Thank the Judging Panel and bow in a disciplined and respectful manner.
- Step backwards until crossing the ring line and exit the ring (DO NOT turn your back to the Judging Panel).

3. Addressing the Judging Panel

Address the JP with the following information:
- Name
- Your Martial Art School
- The Martial Art you study
- In forms divisions… the Name of your Form (Non-traditional, self-created or modified forms are acceptable, but will be judged based on the 5 Elements defined on this sheet).
- If weapon(s) are involved… ask the Chief Judge if he/she would like to inspect it/them.
- If required, ask the Chief Judge for permission to make any performance adjustments.
- Ask the Chief Judge for permission to perform… do not tell him/her.
- Make eye contact with each Judge (scan from Judge to Judge).
- Speak Loudly and Clearly in a Respectful and Polite manner.
- Convey a Positive Attitude with a Strong and Confident Presence.

TECHNIQUE : Quality of the Performance & Techniques Executed (Mechanical Integrity)

1. Your performance must reflect the following:

Balance… Proper alignment of body center over foundational center on a plumb axis with no staggering, unsteadiness or wobbling during movement.
Power… (This criteria will be adjusted for competitors who study ‘soft arts’). The formula for Force (Power) is Mass x Acceleration. A strong foundation connected to a stable stance from which a technique is executed with maximum speed and focus.
Focus… Concentration of mental and spiritual (Ki) energy. Quality, integrity and accuracy of the physical techniques executed.
Control… Personal command of all that you perform… physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. In Self-Defense and Interactive Combat divisions, the ability to execute realistic techniques without injuring your partner(s).
Degree of Difficulty… The technical level of difficulty in a performance should be as high as possible, but not so high as to make the potential for success improbable or impossible. The higher the Degree of Difficulty, relative to the competitor’s Age and Rank, the greater the potential for a high score, assuming the competitor has a successful performance.
Examples: A white belt who is successful in breaking a board with a front kick in one attempt would merit a higher Technique Element Score than a brown belt who is successful in breaking the same board with a front kick in one attempt. The difficulty factor is higher for the white belt, who has been training for months as opposed to the brown belt who has been training most likely for years.
A green belt performs a yellow belt form flawlessly. The Technique Element Score would be lower because of the low Degree of Difficulty, due to the fact that the green belt is performing techniques and movements that are not reflective of his/her rank (skill level).
Occasionally it may be difficult to determine if a competitor is performing techniques and movements reflective of his/her rank level.
*Whenever in doubt, the benefit of that doubt always goes to the competitor.

APPLICATION : Practicality, Functionality and Effectiveness in Reality

1. Your performance must reflect the following:

Realism… Martial arts training should be studied and practiced as an extension of realistic combat, and in competition should be performed as a reflection of that same reality. Techniques and movements should be executed with the same sense of reality that would be necessary to successfully defend oneself in an actual combat situation.
Effectiveness… The techniques and movements performed must be applicable in a real life combat situation. The techniques, strategies and tactics taught in a martial art must be functional and effective in defense of oneself. If not, it’s just entertainment and will result in a low Application Element Score.
Degree of Danger… The techniques and movements a warrior chooses to execute in combat should produce the greatest threat to the opponent, while at the same time exposing him/herself to the least amount of danger. The execution of techniques and performance of movements that have no practical application to the situation are not only ineffective, but also place the warrior/competitor in unnecessary danger. The Degree of Danger that a competitor creates while performing in competition will effect his/her Application Element Score accordingly.

SPIRIT : Internal and External

1. Your performance must reflect the following:

Presence… Act like a LION, not a lamb. Your body language should convey confidence, strength and courage… not weakness.
Intensity… Focus your mental, spiritual (Ki/Chi/Qi) and emotional energy like a laser beam. Your facial expressions should be serious and convey the confidence and determination of a warrior. Provide maximum physical effort to the performance… not just what feels comfortable.
Loudness… This judging criteria will be adjusted for competitors who study martial arts that do not advocate shouting. The loudness of a shout is a representation of a competitor’s vigor.
Definition of Vigor…
- a quality of physical or mental force or forcefulness.
- vigorous and effectual application and operation of power.
A shout should include all of the following components:
- Tightening of the abdominal muscles.
- The explosive expulsion of air through the mouth.
- A loud, sharp and piercing guttural noise. The absence of any of the preceding components will decrease the loudness potential of a shout.

Whenever a Judge is unsure, or in doubt about any Element of a competitor’s behavior or performance, the benefit of that doubt always goes to the competitor.