SPORT MARTIAL ARTS CIRCUIT RULES AND REGULATIONS

CENTRE JUDGES

Centre Judges have the responsibility to ensure both the safety of all competitors within their ring, and operating the required divisions as set by Ring Coordinators. All Centre Judges must be certified and chosen by either Adam Molnar, or Lorenza Shamuon. No black belt that is not certified under SMAC will be allowed to conduct the ring. The Centre Judge has the responsibility to ensure that all SMAC rules are followed, and any rule infraction by a competitor, coach, or spectator will result in disqualification of the competitor. Every Centre Judge must be dressed in proper SMAC attire at all times and must be wearing their identification at all times.

COMPETITOR

Each competitor must present themselves to the referee suitably attired with proper uniform, equipment and ready to compete. If the Centre Judge deems a competitor unfit to compete, the competitor will not be allowed to compete in the divisions in which he/she has registered for. It is the responsibility of the competitor to know the rules and be ready for competition when called to do so. If a competitor is not ringside and ready to compete when his/her division is called they will miss their division. The competitor is responsible to consult the ring assignment sheet and must be ready to compete at the appropriate ring. DO NOT RELY ON RING CALLS. If a competitor arrives to a forms or weapons late and the first three competitors have not finished yet, the competitor is immediately required to compete. If they arrive after the first three have competed they will not be allowed to enter the division. If a competitor is late for sparring and the first match has begun, they are unable to enter the d ivision. At no time may a protest be made due to a judgment call. Any protests must be made immediately after the possible infraction was committed, or prior to any division start. The competitor may politely request any judge be removed prior to the division start, and with the approval of SMAC Ring Coordinators (At no time may a protest be made after ANY division has been started) a valid reason must be given in order to remove a judge.

TRANSFERING DIVISIONS

Competitors must compete at the rank they were as of January 1st, and the information marked on the SMAC Registration form to maintain points. If competitor receives a new belt, they have the choice to continue in their rank and division they were January 1st, or move up to their new level. However, as soon as a competitor moves up, points are restarted in the new division no matter how late in the season; competitors will NOT be allowed to move back down.

SPECATOR/COACH RESPONSIBILITY

Every spectator or coach will conduct themselves respectfully at all times. Any unsportsmanlike conduct will result in suspension/expulsion from the circuit without refund. There is no coaching allowed in any divisions.

SPLITTING DIVISIONS

SMAC reserves the right to split and combine divisions.

WEAPONS

If any weapon is deemed unsuitable or unsafe by the Centre Judge or Ring Coordinator; it is the responsibility of the competitor to find a replacement weapon. If the competitor is unable to do so, they will not be allowed to compete. Kyu Belts will be ranged based on the number of competitors in the divisions Kyu Belts are allowed one restart without a penalty in score. Black belt traditional weapons will be ranged based on the number of competitors in the divisions There are no restarts allowed for black belts. If a weapon is dropped or a mistake is made in the form and the competitor stops he/she will be asked to bow out. Black Belt weapons division is strictly traditional; there are no flips or open moves allowed at all, including any releases of the weapon or gymnastic acrobatics. Kyu belt weapons must be presented with martial arts merit within their forms. No throws allowed.

The traditional weapons form will be marked based on the form that is presented following the criteria of: stances, power, focus, and presentation. No form will be judged or given a lower mark because of personal preferences. The judges must mark the competitor based on the form that was presented and the above stated criteria.

FORMS

Kyu Belt traditional forms will be ranged based on the number of competitors in the divisions. Kyu Belts are allowed one restart without a penalty in score. Kyu belt forms must be presented with martial arts merit no gymnastics or acrobatic moves allowed. Black belt traditional forms will be ranged based on the number of competitors in the division. There are no restarts allowed for black belts. Black Belt forms are strictly traditional, there are no gymnastic or acrobatic moves allowed. The traditional form will be marked based on the form that is presented following the criteria of: stances, power, focus, and presentation. No form will be judged or given a mark lower because of personal preferences. The judges must mark the competitor based on the form that was presented and the stated above criteria.

SPARRING

Competitors must wear SMAC approved sparring gear at all times in every sparring division. The head gear must be a foam helmet covering the entire head, a face mask is not mandatory. A mouthpiece must be worn at all times in every sparring division, and boys/men must wear an jock. Hand pads and foot pads must cover the hands and feet entirely. Ringstar shoes are approved to wear at SMAC tournaments. Kyu belt sparring is first to 3 point. Black Belt sparring is first to 5 points or 2 minutes. There is no coaching in any divisions.

OPEN WEAPONS/OPEN FORMS

Open Weapons and Open Forms divisions: For all divisions, range will be based on the number of competitors per division. Kyu Belts are allowed one restart without penalty, while Black Belts are not allowed ANY restarts. In both divisions, judges will look at stances, completion of moves, difficulty and martial arts merit. Music is optional, with a time limit of 2:00 minutes.

ARBITRATION

In the event that a competitor or spectator wishes to arbitrate a rule violation by one of the judges or scorekeepers within a ring, or any circumstance surrounding the SMAC event, the spectator or competitor must place a $50.00 dollars deposit. If the arbitration is valid the plaintiff will receive their $50.00 back. If the complaint is not valid and no rule violation has occurred then the $50.00 deposit will be kept by SMAC.